Children’s Services
Areas We Support
Clinically reviewed by Tim Angel, AHPRA-registered Occupational Therapist and Director of Ability Rehab — last reviewed June 2026.
Wondering which children's service is the right fit? We're happy to talk it through, no pressure.
Make a ReferralAbout Our Children's Services
Ability Rehab provides children's therapy services that support development, participation, and confidence in everyday life. Our team works with children and families across Melbourne's north-east. Above all, we keep support practical and individualised. It then fits daily routines at home, at school, and in the community.
Experienced paediatric occupational therapists and speech pathologists deliver our children's services. Our clinic sits in Ivanhoe East. However, we also offer home, school, and community sessions where appropriate. Furthermore, we're a registered NDIS provider, and many of the children we see access therapy through their NDIS plan.
Children's services at Ability Rehab cover paediatric occupational therapy and paediatric speech pathology. In addition, our speech pathology team offers bilingual Mandarin and English support. In every case, we tailor therapy to the child's needs, strengths, and goals. Specifically, we focus on building functional skills and confidence over time.
For adult services, visit our main occupational therapy and speech pathology pages.
Three Ways to Access Therapy
We offer three ways to access therapy, so you can choose whichever works best for your family.
Choose Your Service
We organise our children's services into two main streams. If you're not sure which fits, our team is happy to talk it through. After all, some children benefit from one stream, and some from both.
Paediatric Occupational Therapy
Supports fine and gross motor skills, sensory processing, and emotional regulation. It also covers self-care, school readiness, and everyday participation. Typically, it suits children with developmental, sensory, motor, or neurodevelopmental needs.
Learn about Paediatric OT →Paediatric Speech Pathology
Supports speech sounds, language development, social communication, AAC, feeding, and literacy. It also includes bilingual Mandarin and English therapy, a rare service across Melbourne's north-east.
Learn about Paediatric Speech Pathology →Who Our Children's Services Support
Children's therapy helps when a child finds everyday life harder than expected for their age. Common reasons families come to us include:
We tailor services to the individual child, and we work in collaboration with families and educators. If you're not sure whether your child would benefit, our team is happy to talk it through. So you can submit a referral or call us on 0478 491 188.
Children's Service Areas
We organise our children's services across the following clinical areas. Each one links to a dedicated page with more detail:
NDIS Children's Services
Ability Rehab is a registered NDIS provider. Specifically, we offer paediatric occupational therapy and speech pathology for children who are NDIS participants. We work with families across NDIA-managed, plan-managed, and self-managed plans. Furthermore, we give clear guidance throughout the funding and intake process.
Our team can help with:
- Initial assessments, plus ongoing therapy supports aligned with each child's NDIS plan
- Functional and developmental goal-setting in collaboration with families
- AAC and assistive technology assessment and recommendations
- Coordination with support coordinators and plan managers, and also the child's broader support network
- Therapy delivered in clinic, at home, in school settings, or in the community
For more about accessing therapy through the NDIS, visit our NDIS for Families page.
Our Approach to Children's Therapy
At Ability Rehab, we take a collaborative and family-centred approach to children's therapy. Our therapists work closely with parents, caregivers, and educators. As a result, strategies translate into everyday environments, not just the therapy room.
Where appropriate, our occupational therapists and speech pathologists work together. Consequently, support addresses a child's overall development rather than one part of it. We develop goals collaboratively with families. Furthermore, we review those goals regularly as each child grows.
Our practice draws on trauma-informed, neurodiversity-affirming, and culturally responsive frameworks. Therefore, therapy respects each child's identity and lived experience. It also helps families feel confident applying strategies between sessions.
Meet Our Children's Therapy Team
Our team consists of AHPRA-registered paediatric occupational therapists and SPA-registered speech pathologists. Specifically, their experience covers sensory integration, autism and neurodevelopmental support, and AAC. It also covers school readiness, early intervention, and literacy. Furthermore, our team includes bilingual Mandarin/English speech pathology. We then match each child with the therapist best suited to their goals and stage of development.
Our therapists work collaboratively with families, educators, and other health professionals. As a result, therapy strategies translate into everyday life — at home, at school, and in the community.
Meet our full clinical team. View bios, qualifications, and clinical interests for every Ability Rehab clinician on our Our Clinicians page.
Children's Therapy Across Melbourne
Our clinic is based in Ivanhoe East. However, we work with children and families anywhere across Melbourne. Specifically, we offer three service modes — in-clinic, telehealth, and mobile home visits. Most of our in-home and community sessions happen across Melbourne's north-east, including:
Ready to get started, or want to talk through whether our children's services are the right fit?
Helpful Reading for Parents
If you're thinking about therapy for your child, these articles may be useful starting points:
Children's Services – Frequently Asked Questions
What children's services does Ability Rehab provide?
Ability Rehab provides paediatric occupational therapy and paediatric speech pathology, from infancy through adolescence. Within those two streams, we cover assessment, speech and language, and self-care. We also cover movement and coordination, and social and emotional development. Furthermore, we support learning, school readiness, and assistive equipment prescription. Bilingual speech pathology in Mandarin and English is also available.
How do I know if my child needs therapy?
Common signs include developmental delays, or communication and language difficulties. Similarly, some children show sensory sensitivities, or struggle with coordination and motor skills. Others find self-care routines hard. Finally, some children struggle to participate at school or in social settings. If you notice several of these, an assessment can help identify whether therapy would help, and which type. The same applies if your child's development feels out of step with peers. You're welcome to call us on 0478 491 188 to talk it through.
What's the difference between paediatric OT and paediatric speech pathology?
Paediatric occupational therapy focuses on the practical skills children need every day. Specifically, that covers fine and gross motor skills, sensory processing, and emotional regulation. It also covers self-care and participation in daily activities. By contrast, paediatric speech pathology focuses on communication. That means speech sounds, language development, social communication, AAC, literacy, and feeding. Some children benefit from one stream, and some from both together. Our team is happy to help you work out which fits.
At what age can a child start therapy?
Children's therapy at Ability Rehab supports children from infancy through adolescence. Early intervention, typically from birth to age 6, is particularly valuable. Because young children's brains respond strongly to targeted support, earlier help often goes further. That said, therapy helps at any stage when functional or communication challenges affect daily life, learning, or relationships.
Where do children's therapy sessions take place?
Our clinic is at 1/223-225 Lower Heidelberg Road, Ivanhoe East, with on-site parking. However, depending on funding and clinical need, we also deliver therapy at home, at school, or in the community. Many families combine clinic sessions with home or school visits. Consequently, strategies translate more easily to everyday environments.
Do you offer bilingual speech pathology for Mandarin-speaking families?
Yes. Ability Rehab is one of a small number of clinics in Melbourne's north-east offering bilingual paediatric speech pathology. Specifically, we work in Mandarin and English. Our bilingual speech pathologist supports culturally and linguistically diverse children and families. Therapy then runs in either or both languages.
How is children's therapy funded?
You can access children's therapy at Ability Rehab through NDIS funding or private health insurance, depending on your policy. You can also use Medicare's Chronic Condition Management (CCM) plan with a GP referral, or attend as a private client. We're a registered NDIS provider, so we work with NDIA-managed, plan-managed, and self-managed participants. Visit our NDIS for Families page for more detail.
Do I need a GP referral?
No. Private clients and NDIS participants do not need a referral. However, you do need a GP referral if you access therapy through a Medicare CCM plan. Meanwhile, support coordinators, plan managers, and family members can all submit a referral on behalf of a child.