General FAQ
Do I need a referral to book with Therabees?
In many cases, no referral is needed to make an enquiry or book an appointment. Some families come to us directly, while others are referred by a GP, paediatrician, school, kindergarten, or another therapist. If a referral or supporting document would be helpful for your funding pathway or assessment type, we will let you know.
What age groups do you support?
Therabees supports children and young people from as young as 3 to age 18. The age range may vary slightly depending on the service or assessment type, so if you are unsure whether your child is within scope, please get in touch and we can guide you.
How do I know which service is right for my child?
That is a very common question. You do not need to have it all figured out before contacting us. If you are unsure whether your child would benefit most from occupational therapy, speech therapy, physiotherapy, psychology, social work, or an assessment, our team can talk through your concerns and help point you in the right direction.
What happens in the first appointment?
Your first appointment is usually about understanding your child, your concerns, and your goals. Depending on the service, this may include discussion, observation, play-based activities, questionnaires, or assessment tasks. We then explain what we have noticed and talk through recommendations and next steps.
How long are appointments?
Appointment length can vary depending on the service, the type of session, and whether it is an assessment or therapy appointment. When you book, we will let you know the expected duration and any preparation needed.
How often will my child need therapy?
There is no one schedule that suits every child. Frequency depends on your child’s goals, current needs, the type of support required, and what is realistic for your family. Some children attend weekly, some fortnightly, and others come in blocks or for review appointments.
Will I get home strategies after sessions?
Usually, yes. We aim to give families practical ideas they can use in everyday routines so progress can continue between appointments. These recommendations are tailored to your child and to what feels manageable for your family.
Can you work with my child’s school, preschool, or other supports?
Where appropriate and with consent, collaboration can be an important part of support. This may include sharing strategies, contributing to goal planning, or communicating with educators and other professionals involved in your child’s care.
Do you offer reports or letters?
Some services include written summaries, reports, or letters where clinically appropriate. The type of document, timing, and any additional fees can vary depending on the service and the purpose of the report. We can talk this through with you before proceeding.
Do you support NDIS participants?
Yes, Therabees supports children and young people accessing therapy through a range of funding pathways, including NDIS in line with the supports and goals available to the child. If you are unsure how your funding works, our team can help explain the basics and what information we may need from you.
Can I use private health insurance or Medicare?
Yes, Therabees supports children and young people accessinFunding options can vary depending on the service you are booking, your level of cover, and whether you have a relevant referral or care plan. We recommend checking directly with your health fund or GP about rebates and eligibility. Our team can also explain our payment process and what information to have ready.
g therapy through a range of funding pathways, including NDIS in line with the supports and goals available to the child. If you are unsure how your funding works, our team can help explain the basics and what information we may need from you.
How much do appointments cost?
Fees depend on the service, appointment type, and whether the session involves therapy, assessment, reporting, or other non-face-to-face work. For the most accurate and up-to-date pricing, please contact our team.
g therapy through a range of funding pathways, including NDIS in line with the supports and goals available to the child. If you are unsure how your funding works, our team can help explain the basics and what information we may need from you.
What if I need to cancel or reschedule?
If you need to change an appointment, please contact us as early as possible. Cancellation policies can apply, and we will let you know the notice period and any relevant fees when you book.
g therapy through a range of funding pathways, including NDIS in line with the supports and goals available to the child. If you are unsure how your funding works, our team can help explain the basics and what information we may need from you.
Can I stay in the room during sessions?
Sometimes yes, sometimes no, and sometimes only for part of the session. This depends on your child’s age, goals, and what helps the session run best. We will talk with you about what is most supportive for your child.
g therapy through a range of funding pathways, including NDIS in line with the supports and goals available to the child. If you are unsure how your funding works, our team can help explain the basics and what information we may need from you.
How do I get started?
The first step is to contact our team. We will ask a few questions about your concerns, explain the most suitable service options, and guide you through booking an initial appointment.
g therapy through a range of funding pathways, including NDIS in line with the supports and goals available to the child. If you are unsure how your funding works, our team can help explain the basics and what information we may need from you.
Ready to take the next step?
If you have questions or would like help deciding which service may suit your child, get in touch with the Therabees team. We are here to support you with clear guidance and practical next steps.
g therapy through a range of funding pathways, including NDIS in line with the supports and goals available to the child. If you are unsure how your funding works, our team can help explain the basics and what information we may need from you.
Physiotherapy FAQs
How do I know if my child might benefit from physiotherapy?
Paediatric physiotherapy may be helpful if your child is having difficulty with movement, balance, strength, posture, coordination, or physical confidence. Parents often contact us when their child is late to reach gross motor milestones, falls more than expected, avoids physical play, walks on their toes, or finds running, jumping, climbing, or keeping up with peers difficult.
What happens in a physiotherapy assessment?
Your child’s first appointment usually includes a phone conversation about your concerns, your child’s medical, developmental history and goals setting. During the second appointment the physiotherapist may look at strength, balance, coordination, mobility, posture, and gross motor skills. At the end, we explain what we have noticed, answer your questions, and talk through practical next steps.
Is it better to wait and see if my child grows out of it?
Sometimes children do catch up with time, but not always. If you are concerned, it is reasonable to seek advice early. Early support can help identify whether your child simply needs monitoring, a few strategies to use at home, or more regular therapy to build skills and confidence.
Can physiotherapy help with toe walking, clumsiness, or poor coordination?
It can help assess these concerns and guide the next steps. Depending on your child’s needs, therapy may focus on strength, balance, body awareness, flexibility, motor planning, and movement practice through play. If another medical review is recommended, we will explain why and help you understand what to do next.
What does physiotherapy for children actually look like?
Paediatric physiotherapy is usually active, practical, and play-based. Sessions may include obstacle courses, balance games, jumping, climbing, strengthening activities, stretches, and movement tasks tailored to your child’s goals. Therapy should feel engaging and achievable, while still targeting the skills your child is working on.
Will I be given activities to do at home?
Yes. Parent involvement is an important part of therapy. We may suggest simple activities, games, or movement ideas to practise at home so your child can build skills between sessions. We aim to make these strategies realistic and easy to fit into daily life.
Can physiotherapy be combined with hydrotherapy?
For some children, yes. Hydrotherapy can be a helpful option when warm water and buoyancy support movement, confidence, strength, or comfort. If hydrotherapy is suitable for your child, we can talk with you about whether it fits your goals and therapy plan.
Do I need a referral for paediatric physiotherapy?
No referral is needed to book privately. Some families are referred by a GP, paediatrician, school, or another therapist. If your child is accessing therapy through a particular funding pathway, we can explain any documents that may be helpful.
Occupational Therapy FAQs
What does an occupational therapist help with?
Paediatric occupational therapists help children build the everyday skills they need for home, school, and community life. This can include fine motor skills, handwriting, self-care, sensory processing, emotional regulation, attention, play skills, school readiness, and independence with routines such as dressing, eating, and toileting.
How do I know if my child needs occupational therapy?
You might consider OT if your child finds everyday tasks harder than expected for their age. Common parent concerns include difficulty with handwriting, using scissors, dressing, tolerating certain textures or sounds, following routines, managing big emotions, coping with transitions, or joining in with peers.
Is OT only for children with a diagnosis?
No. A diagnosis is not always required. Many children access OT because there are functional concerns affecting daily life, participation, or independence. Therapy is guided by your child’s strengths, needs, and goals rather than diagnosis alone.
What happens in an occupational therapy assessment?
The first appointment usually includes discussing your concerns, learning about your child’s routines and strengths, and observing how they manage specific tasks. Depending on your child’s age and needs, the OT may look at fine motor skills, sensory responses, play, self-care, attention, emotional regulation, or school-related tasks. We then explain our findings and recommend next steps.
Can occupational therapy help with sensory sensitivities?
Occupational therapy can help understand how sensory differences may be affecting your child’s comfort, participation, and regulation. Support may include identifying patterns, adjusting the environment, building self-awareness, and developing practical strategies that help your child feel safer and more settled in daily routines.
Can OT help with handwriting and school skills?
Yes. If handwriting is hard work for your child, an OT may look at posture, hand strength, pencil grasp, visual motor integration, motor planning, attention, and the physical demands of classroom tasks. Therapy may focus on the underlying skills that support writing, not just handwriting practice on its own.
Will I be involved in sessions?
Usually, yes. Parent and caregiver involvement is important because children make progress best when strategies are carried over into daily life. We may talk with you about routines at home, goals for school, and practical ways to support your child between sessions.
How long does OT usually take?
That depends on your child’s goals, strengths, and level of support needed. Some children benefit from a short block of therapy and home strategies, while others need longer-term support. We review goals regularly so the plan stays relevant and realistic.
Psychology FAQs
How do I know if my child might benefit from psychology?
You may wish to explore psychology support if your child is experiencing ongoing anxiety, big emotional reactions, low mood, behavioural changes, school refusal, difficulty coping with transitions, sleep concerns linked to worry, or challenges with social relationships or self-esteem.
What happens in a psychology appointment for children?
A psychology appointment usually begins with getting to know your child and family, understanding your concerns, and exploring the situations where difficulties are showing up. Depending on your child’s age and needs, sessions may involve talking, play-based activities, parent guidance, practical coping strategies, and collaboration around goals.
Will the psychologist work with me as a parent too?
Usually, yes. Parent involvement is often a key part of paediatric psychology. Children make progress best when the important adults around them understand the strategies being used and feel confident supporting them between sessions.
Can psychology help with anxiety and emotional regulation?
Psychology can support children to understand feelings, build coping strategies, and practise skills for managing worries, frustration, and overwhelm. Support is tailored to the child’s age, developmental stage, and goals.
Does seeing a psychologist mean something is seriously wrong?
Not at all. Many families seek psychology support early because they want to better understand what their child is experiencing and help them build healthy coping skills. Getting support early can be a positive, proactive step.
What if my child does not want to talk?
That is common, especially in the beginning. Paediatric psychologists often use developmentally appropriate approaches to build trust first. Depending on the child, this may include play, drawing, visual supports, or parent work alongside the child.
How many sessions will my child need?
There is no one-size-fits-all answer. Some children benefit from a small number of sessions focused on a specific issue, while others need more ongoing support. We review progress regularly and adjust the plan based on your child’s needs and goals.
Can psychology be part of a wider therapy team?
Yes. For some children, psychology works best alongside other supports such as OT, speech therapy, physiotherapy, social work, school supports, or medical care. A collaborative approach can help everyone work toward shared goals.
Speech Therapy FAQs
What is the difference between speech therapy and speech pathology?
These terms are often used interchangeably. In Australia, the profession is usually called speech pathology, and the clinician is a speech pathologist. Families also commonly say speech therapy when talking about support for communication, speech, language, literacy, fluency, or feeding.
How do I know if my child might need speech therapy?
You might consider speech therapy if your child is hard to understand, is talking less than expected for their age, struggles to follow instructions, has difficulty putting words together, stutters, finds social communication hard, or has challenges with feeding or mealtimes. If you are concerned, an assessment can help clarify whether support is needed.
What happens in a speech therapy assessment?
The first appointment usually includes talking with you about your concerns and your child’s development, followed by play-based observation and assessment. Depending on your child’s needs, we may look at speech sounds, understanding and using language, social communication, fluency, literacy-related skills, or feeding. We then explain what we have found and discuss recommendations.
My child is a late talker. Should I wait a bit longer?
Some children do catch up naturally, but others benefit from support. If you are worried about your child’s communication, it is a good idea to seek advice rather than relying on guesswork. An early assessment can help determine whether monitoring, parent strategies, or therapy would be most appropriate.
Can speech therapy help if my child understands more than they can say?
Yes. Some children know what they want to communicate but find it difficult to get the words out clearly or use sentences effectively. Therapy can support both expressive language and the confidence to communicate across everyday situations.
Does speech therapy always mean sitting at a table doing drills?
No. Paediatric speech therapy is often play-based, interactive, and tailored to your child’s interests. Sessions may include games, books, movement, turn-taking activities, visuals, and practical strategies that help communication develop in natural ways.
Can speech therapy support social communication as well as talking?
Yes. Communication is about more than speech sounds. Speech therapy can also support conversation skills, understanding social cues, turn-taking, flexible language, and confidence interacting with other people.
What can I do at home to help my child’s communication?
We usually share practical ideas you can use during everyday routines such as play, bath time, meals, reading, or getting ready for school. Small changes in how you model language, pause, respond, and create opportunities to communicate can make a big difference over time.
Child Assessments FAQs
How do I know whether my child needs an assessment or therapy?
An assessment is often the right first step when you are looking for clarity about your child’s strengths, challenges, diagnosis, learning profile, or support needs. Therapy is usually focused on building skills over time. In some cases, a child may start with an assessment and then move into therapy. In others, therapy can begin without a formal diagnostic assessment.
What types of assessments does Therabees offer?
Therabees offers child assessments to help identify developmental, behavioural, cognitive, or emotional needs. Depending on the service scope, this may include autism assessments, ADHD assessments, cognitive or IQ testing, and combined assessments where clinically appropriate.
What happens during an assessment?
The process depends on the type of assessment, but it commonly includes gathering background information, talking with parents or caregivers, questionnaires, observation, standardised testing where relevant, and a feedback session. We explain the process clearly before you begin so you know what to expect.
How long does an assessment take?
The timing varies depending on the assessment type and complexity. Some assessments involve one main appointment and a later feedback session, while others involve several stages. We will explain the expected process, timeframes, and any preparation required before you book.
Will I receive a report?
In many cases, yes. If a written report is part of the assessment process, we will explain what is included and when you can expect it. Reports often summarise findings, identify strengths and areas of difficulty, and outline recommendations for support.
Can assessments help with school supports or NDIS?
An assessment can sometimes provide useful information for planning supports, understanding needs, and guiding conversations with schools, doctors, or funders. Whether a particular report is suitable for a specific purpose depends on the type of assessment and the requirements of the school, service, or funding body.
Can my child have both autism and ADHD assessed together?
In some situations, combined assessments may be available. This depends on clinical suitability and the assessment pathway being offered. If you are unsure which assessment is most appropriate, we can talk you through the options.
What age can my child be assessed?
Assessment suitability depends on the type of assessment and your child’s developmental stage. If you are unsure whether your child is at the right age for a particular assessment, we can guide you on the most appropriate next step.
Social Work FAQs
What does a social worker do in a paediatric service?
A social worker supports the wellbeing of the child within the context of their family, relationships, school, and community. This may include counselling, emotional support, advocacy, care coordination, family support, parent coaching, and helping families navigate challenges that affect day-to-day life.
How is social work different from psychology?
Both professions support emotional wellbeing, but they can have different roles. Psychology often focuses on assessment and therapeutic intervention for mental health, behaviour, and emotional concerns. Social work may also provide counselling, but often includes practical family support, advocacy, systems navigation, and collaboration across home, school, community, and support services.
What kinds of concerns can social work help with?
Families may seek social work support for school refusal, family stress, emotional regulation, adjustment to diagnosis, social difficulties, behaviour concerns, parenting challenges, grief and loss, community access, or help coordinating supports around the child.
Can social work support parents as well as children?
Yes. Parent and caregiver support is often a central part of social work. Sessions may help you understand your child’s needs, strengthen routines, reduce family stress, and build practical strategies that support the whole family.
Does my child need to attend every social work session?
Not always. Depending on your goals, some sessions may involve the child directly, while others may be parent-only sessions focused on planning, support, advocacy, or strategy. We work with you to decide what format is most helpful.
Can a social worker help with school, NDIS, or other services?
Social workers can often assist families to better understand support pathways, communicate with schools or other services, and advocate for the child’s needs. If there are practical barriers affecting your child’s wellbeing or participation, social work can be a valuable part of the support team.
What happens in a first social work appointment?
The first session usually focuses on understanding your concerns, what is happening at home or school, what strengths already exist, and what support would feel most useful. Together, we identify priorities and discuss a plan that is realistic and family-centred.
Is social work only for families in crisis?
No. Social work can support families across a wide range of situations, including early support before problems become more overwhelming. Many families seek help simply because they want practical guidance, emotional support, or someone to help connect the dots.
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Together, we help children and young people thrive, one step at a time.