Do you have any concerns about your child? Has someone indicated that it may be worthwhile to seek further information about your child’s development?

Early Childhood Nurses, Preschool staff, School staff and GPs are all sources that you can discuss whether there are concerns about development.

If you are concerned about the cost of therapy, there are funding schemes available to support you.

NDIS (National Disability Insurance Scheme)

This funding is for people between 7 and 65 years of age, with an eligible diagnosis. In the Lithgow area, Uniting assist people to access this funding.

NDIS funding covers the cost of therapy sessions – up to the amount allocated.

NDIS ECEI (National Disability Insurance Scheme – Early Childhood Early Intervention)

This funding support is for children up to 7 years of age. In the Lithgow area, Lifestart assist families to access this funding.

Medicare

GPs can choose to refer some children for therapy. They may decide that your child is eligible for 5 sessions. These sessions are not fully covered. After payment you can claim a rebate through Medicare. 

Once you decide that you would like support, it is time to contact us to make a referral.

The easiest way to refer is to fill in the form on this website.   

However, you can also contact us by email or phone.

Unfortunately, Ripples Therapy currently has a waiting list. 

We apologise for this and will endeavour to see your child as soon as possible.

However, we value high quality service, which can take time.

You will be contacted as soon as an appropriate keyworker has availability. 

If you have funding, a copy of the NDIS plan or Medicare paperwork will be required.

Once the service agreement is signed, an appointment is offered.

At your first session, your keyworker will meet with you at your home.

You can let them know about all the concerns you have.

They will start to gather specific information about what is happening now for you and your child. They will ask about situations that are working well, situations that are difficult, activities the family enjoys doing together and daily routines.

This is an important part of the assessment process.

We may use assessment tools such as:

• RBI: Routines Based Intreview
• ALSUP: Assessment of Lagging Skills and Unsolved Problems

Your keyworker will work with you to develop and prioritise goals for therapy.

We aim to create specific goals that are meaningful to you and your child in everyday life.

Having clear goals allows us to know what direction therapy should take, and what supports to include.

Clear goals also lets us know when we have achieved those goals.

Ideally, no more than 1-3 goal areas are addressed at a time.

Once the overall goals have been discussed and prioritised, more in depth information can be gathered about each specific goal area.

We use the appropriate assessment for the goal area.

Your keyworker may use:

• Observation
• Discussion
• CPS: Collaborative & Proactive Solutions. This is a system of problem-solving communication used in both assessment and therapy.
• Your keyworker may also bring in another therapist for assessment of specific areas, as appropriate.

Speech Pathologists and Occupational Therapists will use assessments as appropriate to the goal and situation. These may be standardised or non-standardised.

Your keyworker will gather information from the assessment and other therapists in the team.

They will work with you and your child to determine which strategies will work best for your family.

During therapy, your keyworker will:

• Provide strategies that will increase your child’s skill in order to achieve the goal of therapy.
• Demonstrate these strategies with your child so you can see what they look like.
• Allow time for you to try the strategies
• Problem solve with you to determine what are the barriers to using the given strategy.
• Provide other strategies if you feel the strategy given is not working for you.
• Consult with the transdisciplinary team 
• Bring other therapists to consult 
• Support you to feel empowered and knowledgeable about how to help your own child.
• Support other people who spend time with your child – at home, preschool, school, or in the community. 

If you feel like you are comfortable with the strategies for the first goal, your keyworker will discuss adding other goals.

Assessment of this new goal area will occur, followed by therapy as for the first goal.

This process will continue for all goals.

You and your keyworker will need to regularly review how you feel with the progress and demands of therapy.

Therapy can continue until you decide:

• All goals are achieved
• You no longer want to receive therapy
• You move area

We would prefer that you let us know if you are leaving due to conerns about any aspect of therapy. 

Our aim is always to be assisting you and your family to meet your goals. If we have not met your expectations in this – please let us know. We will work with you to ensure therapy is the best experience it can be.