Kids’ OT · Norwest

Occupational Therapy for Norwest families

Between the school run and a working day in the business park, therapy has to fit or it quietly stops happening. Our occupational therapists help Norwest kids with sensory, fine motor, regulation and self-care skills, in Northmead.

About 11 km from Norwest · usually 20–25 min by car
  • Children and teens up to 16
  • No referral needed
  • Supports NDIS self-managed & plan-managed families
For Norwest parents

Plain answers for parents short on time

Norwest parents rarely have a spare hour to decode a long report. So at the end of each session we tell you plainly what we saw, what we think is driving it, and what we plan to do next.

You’ll also leave with one or two things to try at home that take minutes, not whole evenings. And if your week changes, tell us, and we’ll look for a regular time you can keep.

Child crashing onto soft play blocks during an occupational therapy session
Why families choose us

Why Norwest families choose our occupational therapists

From the Norwest business park, our Northmead clinic is about 11 km south via Old Windsor Road.

No referral or diagnosis is needed to book. Call us, describe what you’re seeing, and we’ll suggest a first step.

Clear feedbackWhat we saw, why it matters and what comes next, in plain words.
Minutes, not eveningsHome activities that fit around work, dinner and bedtime.
Times you can keepTell us your week and we’ll look for a regular slot that works.
An easy run southAbout 11 km from Norwest, usually 20–25 minutes by car, with free parking.
Getting here

Getting to our Northmead clinic from Norwest

Every OT session is held at our one clinic in Northmead, south of Norwest.

  • The Bridge Effect, Northmead clinic7/185 Briens Rd, Northmead NSW 2152
  • By car from NorwestTake Old Windsor Road or Windsor Road south to Northmead, then Briens Road to the clinic. About 11 km, usually 20–25 minutes.
  • By busBuses connect Norwest and Northmead. Allow about 30 minutes, and check Transport NSW for current timetables.
  • By Uber or taxiAbout 20 minutes door to door.
  • Free parkingFree parking is available at the clinic.
Also near Norwest
We can help with

Occupational therapy for Norwest children

Our occupational therapists help children build the everyday skills they need at home, at kindy and at school.

Sensory Processing

For children who find everyday sounds, textures or movement overwhelming, or who are always on the move.

School Readiness

Sitting, listening, drawing and the independence children need for kindy and big school.

Emotional Regulation

Helping children understand big feelings and find their own ways back to calm.

Not sure where to start? See all occupational therapy services or talk to our client care team.

What to expect

What occupational therapy looks like

A typical children’s OT program at The Bridge Effect includes:

  1. Regular sessions

    Weekly or fortnightly sessions with a qualified occupational therapist. Frequency depends on your child’s needs and goals.

  2. A clear therapy plan

    Specific, measurable goals based on your child’s assessment results and your family’s priorities.

  3. Parent and carer coaching

    We show you the strategies we use so practice fits into everyday routines at home, kindy and school.

  4. Progress reviews

    We review progress regularly and adjust goals as your child develops.

Google reviews

What families say

Reviews from families who visit our Northmead clinic.

nuran yatkin profile picture
nuran yatkin
3 months ago
Alysha Bee profile picture
Alysha Bee
3 months ago
My son has been coming here for years, and I honestly can't recommend them enough. We've seen so much progress in his speech and communication since he was dignosed with non verbal autism LVL 3 and everyone has always been so kind, supportive, and easy to deal with. Cindy has been absolutely amazing from the very beginning. She has built such a lovely relationship with my child, and it's obvious how much she genuinely cares about the kids she works with. She's patient, encouraging, and has made such a positive impact on him over the years. Honestly the best speech pathology we have been too.
Katie Cooper profile picture
Katie Cooper
3 months ago
My 4 year old son visits every week for speech therapy and occupational therapy with miss Cindy and miss Melanie! He absolutely loves his therapists and has the time of his life! Not only is he receiving life changing intervention to benefit his language and social skills for his future, but he has developed a beautiful bond with these amazing women!!! Not only has Ashton learnt so much, but it has been incredibly helpful to be able to apply the practices we learn here, and apply them to our everyday lives!
Lianru Han profile picture
Lianru Han
4 months ago
We feel incredibly fortunate to have The Bridge Effect right here in Northmead. We lives in Baulkham Hill and our son has been attending both Occupational Therapy and Speech Therapy, and the support our family has received has been outstanding. From the very first appointment, everyone has been warm, welcoming and genuinely invested in helping our son reach his potential. His therapists are knowledgeable, patient and engaging, and every session is thoughtfully tailored to his individual needs. Over the past few months, we’ve seen wonderful progress in his communication, confidence and everyday skills. The biggest compliment we can give is that he genuinely looks forward to coming each week. The clinic itself is absolutely incredible. It is one of the most impressive purpose-built children’s allied health centres we’ve seen in Sydney. Every space has clearly been designed with children in mind—from the spacious therapy rooms to the sensory areas and welcoming reception. The environment is bright, modern and beautifully maintained, creating a space where children feel comfortable, confident and excited to learn. The administration team also deserves a special mention. They’re always friendly, organised and responsive, making appointments and communication effortless for busy families. The Bridge Effect has made a real difference to our son and to our family. We’re so grateful to have such a high-quality service in Baulkham Hills and would happily recommend them to any parent looking for exceptional Occupational Therapy and Speech Therapy in a purpose-built environment where children can truly thrive.
Daniel profile picture
Daniel
1 year ago
My son attended CDI as part of the Social Therapy Group for over 1 year up until he was about to start Kindergarten. He really loved attending CDI and our personal experience was our son showed improvement with social interactions as well as his ability to function with certain everyday tasks as a result of CDI's programme. Allison and her team were always responsive to any concerns we raised and Allison in particular always went out of her way to help us. Highly recommended.
Clo profile picture
Clo
2 years ago
CDI changed my son’s life. In particular the social therapy group was the only reason we were able to transition him into daycare within 3 days! My son has high support needs ASD and the staff at CDI were absolutely amazing. I am so sorry that Beacon Hill closed and am even more sorry that STG is no longer offered. I don’t know who the recent people are voting them 1 stars across campuses but that’s was NOT our experience. To all the staff there, we miss you, and you have changed our lives forever.
Von Le profile picture
Von Le
5 years ago
The Child Development Institute has been amazing in helping our child with autism. Since attending CDI, he has shown greater improvements in communication. We have seen more engagement, greater eye contact and looking when we talk to him, he is starting to babble more and being more vocal in trying to express himself. He has even shown greater engagement at the daycare he attends. He has more social skills by playing and try to communicate more with his peers at the daycare.
My son, who has ASD L3 and is non-verbal, has been receiving intensive therapy at CDI for almost a year and a half now. The progress my son has made while attending CDI has been very noticeable and encouraging from the very beginning in terms of awareness, ability to communicate intentionally with gestures, ability to tolerate changes and adapt to routines, as well as to interact socially with adults and peers. My son is now receiving PECS therapy at CDI and in only 3 weeks, my son is now able to discriminate the visual images on the cards to pick the appropriate one to request what he wants. This is huge for my son as he had been doing PECS while in speech therapy and it never worked for him before. Another great development is that my son didn’t tolerate being around other children before CDI and now he’s happy to do parallel play and participate in group routines. These are great developments that will make my son’s transition into kindy next January 2022 much easier for him. CDI works with the ESDM (Early Start Denver Model) method which has been great for my son as it follows and nurtures the interest of the child to maximise his potential for learning. For example, my son is a sensory seeker and nurturing his interest in sensory driven activities has been key in improving his attention span and engagement in therapy. I highly recommend the services provided by CDI to any parents with children in the autism spectrum.
Funding options

Ways to fund occupational therapy

Most families use NDIS, Medicare, private health insurance, or a mix, to help fund OT.

All funding options

Children under 9 without an NDIS plan may be eligible for early intervention support through the NDIS Early Childhood Approach, without needing a formal diagnosis. Where emotional regulation is part of your child’s goals, a GP Mental Health Treatment Plan may give rebates for up to 10 individual sessions a year with a Medicare-registered OT. See all Medicare pathways.

Meet our occupational therapists

The people who’ll work with your child

Our occupational therapists are AHPRA-registered and work side by side with our speech pathologists, so your child’s goals are joined up across both services.

FAQs

Occupational therapy near Norwest: your questions

Can’t see your question? Call us on (02) 9037 1163.

How far is The Bridge Effect from Norwest?

Our Northmead clinic is about 11 km from Norwest, usually 20–25 minutes by car via Old Windsor Road or Windsor Road. Free parking is available at the clinic.

Is there a children’s occupational therapist near Norwest?

Yes. Our occupational therapists see Norwest children at our Northmead clinic. Call us on (02) 9037 1163 and we’ll talk through your concerns and a time that suits your week.

We both work. How much will we need to do at home?

Not much at a time. We give you one or two short activities that fit into what you already do, like getting dressed, the drive to school or bath time. Small, regular practice makes more difference than long sessions at home.

Can we get to the clinic by bus from Norwest?

Yes. Buses connect Norwest and Northmead. Allow about 30 minutes and check Transport NSW for current timetables. A taxi or Uber takes about 20 minutes.

Do I need a referral for occupational therapy near Norwest?

No referral is needed. You can contact The Bridge Effect directly to book an OT assessment for your child. If you already have a referral or report from a paediatrician, GP or school, please bring it along, but it isn’t required.

Do you see NDIS families from Norwest?

Yes. The Bridge Effect supports NDIS self-managed and plan-managed families. If your child’s plan includes funding for occupational therapy (typically under Capacity Building – Improved Daily Living), we can work within your plan. More about NDIS funding.

What other areas do you serve?

We serve many suburbs around Norwest. See all the areas we serve, or our speech therapy in Norwest page.

Getting started

Ready to take the first step?

Early support can make a big difference, and we’re here to walk this journey with you.

  1. Reach out or get referred

    Contact us directly, or speak with your GP, paediatrician or support coordinator about a referral. A referral is not required.

  2. Book your first appointment

    Our client care team matches you with the right clinician and books an initial consultation.

  3. Meet, assess and plan

    We get to know your child, assess their strengths and needs, and set goals together with you.