Early Start Australia provide neuro-affirming, fun and friendly therapy services to children and their families across Australia. In the southeast Queensland region alone, they have nine therapy clinics providing both in-clinic and mobile services, which means there is likely to be a therapist near you!
Early Start Australia’s therapists are highly trained and experienced health professionals, and are particularly skilled working with children with developmental delays and neurodevelopmental disorders such as autism, ADHD, sensory processing challenges, and more. Their multi-disciplinary teams include occupational therapists, speech pathologists, psychologists, dietitians, physiotherapists and allied health assistants.
School holiday group therapy programs
If you have any concerns about any aspect of your child’s development, Early Start Australia’s therapists can help. Early Start Australia’s group therapy programs can assist with a range of challenges your child may be experiencing, including in the areas of:
- Play skills
- Making friends and maintaining friendships
- Confidence and self esteem
- School readiness skills
To enquire, call their Client Care Team on 1300 372 439 or email careteam@earlystartaustralia.com.au.
Upcoming school holiday group therapy programs
Some of the group therapy programs at Early Start Australia include:
Prep Readiness
This fun and engaging group program is led by paediatric occupational therapists and/or speech pathologists and focusses on important school skills such as:
- Fine motor skills (including pre-writing, shapes, pencil grasp and scissor skills)
- Social skills (e.g. turn taking and sharing)
- Whole body listening
- Gross motor skills
Minecraft Social Group
This group helps kids aged 7 to 12 to develop their social skills and make lasting friendships through the ever-popular world of Minecraft. Each set of sessions focuses on a different group of skills.
Craft Groups
Practice fine motor skills, problem solving, teamwork, and connect with peers with the support of ESA’s friendly allied health team.
Science Squad
This is a group for children aged 7 to 10 years. Learn about interoception while doing fun science experiments and learning science based vocabulary.
Teen Connect
This is a group for children aged 13 – 17 and aims to provide a social opportunity guided by an occupational therapist to support peer friendships using common interests. This program was developed on common need of a “gap” in social opportunities for teens that find social skills difficult. This program is developed to support those individuals who find social interactions challenging to be able to feel safe within a controlled environment to support their interactions and improve skills with forming friendships.
Playgroup Pals
ESA’s Early Intervention Occupational Therapists are excited to announce their upcoming play group! Your child can attend and experience supported joint play with same aged peers creating opportunity for social, emotional and physical development.
Connect With Sports
For ages 6 to 10 years. Learn the basic skills associated with basketball, soccer, athletics and cricket while supported by allied health professionals to participate.
Secret Agent Society
Lead by trained SAS Facilitators, this term based small group program helps autistic children aged 8 to 12 to develop their social and emotional skills. This world renowned program equips children with strategies to manage big emotions, make friends, deal with bullies and more. The program also includes weekly parent groups, which helps parents learn how they can best support their children while they are learning these new skills.
Lego Group (also known as Construction Crew)
This group builds social confidence and friendship skills while using the ever-popular and super fun Lego! Each clinic is offering a slightly different Lego program, so you can find one that suits your child and availability.
We Thinkers!
The We Thinkers! Program is a fun and engaging Social Thinking curriculum-based program that combines a social learning framework with structured play and music activities. The activities reinforce social concepts and give kids the tools they need to better manage day to day social interactions. The group is suitable for kids aged 5 to 7 and has been developed with young autistic children in mind.
Social Seekers
This group supports the development of fine and gross motor skills, social skills flexible thinking and conversation skills for children aged 6 – 10.
The Social Scene
This group provides social opportunities for teens and young adults with similar interests to connect in a way that is safe and supported by our experienced therapy team. The goal is to facilitate interactions with peers and grow friendships.
Summer 2023/2024 Programs
Book now for the following programs at Early Start Australia’s South-East Queensland locations:
Ashmore
- Get Ready for High School (social & executive function skills): 9, 10, 11 January 2024 | For kids 11-12 years entering high school
- Loose Parts Play group (Motor coordination & social skills): 20 December 2023 & 15 January 2024 | For children 5-12 years
- Social Science Squad (social & motor skills): 14 December 2023 | For children 7-12 years
- Sports Club (Motor coordination & social skills): 13 & 20 December 2023 | For children 6-11 years
- Dino Dig (Play, Language, social, sensory & motor): 17 January 2024 | For children 3-5 years old
- Shop & Chop cooking group (Mealtimes, sensory skills): 17 January 2024 | For children 10+ years
Coomera
- Creative Club (social skills): Over 3 days, 14, 19 & 21 December 2023 (9-12pm each day) | For kids 8-13 years
- S.T.E.M (social skills): Over 3 days, 5, 7 &12 December 2023 (9-12pm each day) | For kids 8-13 years
- S.T.E.M (social skills): Over 3 days, 9, 10 & 11 January 2024, (9-12pm each day) | For kids 8-13 years
Toowong
- Christmas Craft (Fine motor & social skills): 13, 14 & 15 December 2023 | For 6-9 years olds
- Steps to Prep (Prep readiness): 15, 16 & 17 January 2024 | For kids 4-5 years commencing prep in 2024
Strathpine
- Prep readiness: 16 & 17 January 2024 (2 day program) | For 4-5 year olds starting prep in 2024
Upper Mount Gravatt
- Construction Crew (Social & fine motor skills): 11 & 18 December 2023 (2:15-3:45pm) | For children 5-12 years
- Playground Pals (Social & Gross motor skills): 12 & 19 December 2023 (8-9:30am) | For children 8+ years
- Transport Group (Social & language skills): 13 & 20 December 2023 (2:15-3:15pm) | For children aged 4-7 Years
- Transport Group (Social & language skills): 13 & 20 December 2023 | For children aged 8+years
- Dino Dig (Language & social skills): 14 December 2023 | For children aged 3-6 years
- Christmas Craft (Social & fine motor skills): 15 December 2023 | For children aged 4+ years
- Pokemon Group (Social connection): 15 December 2023 | For children 8 years+
- Painting group (Social & fine motor skills): 19 December 2023 | For children 4+ years
- Prep Readiness (Fine motor, language and school skills): 9, 10, 11 January 2024 | For children 4-6 years beginning prep in 2024
- Imaginative play (Social connection): 12 January 2024 | For children 5-8 years
- Puzzle group (Social & problem solving skills): 9, 11 & 16 January 2024 | For children 8-12 years
- Minecraft group (Social & problem-solving skills): 10 & 17 January 2024 | For children 8-12 years
- Book Club (Language development): 15 January 2024 | For children 6-10 years
- Pokemon Group (Social & fine motor skills): 16 January 2024 | For children 5-7 years
Multiple funding options available
Early Start Australia is an approved NDIS provider and provider of Early Childhood Early Intervention services, which means that children and young adults with NDIS funding can access fully funded therapy.
Early Start Australia’s therapists are registered Medicare Providers. Children eligible for a relevant Medicare referral or who have allied health services covered in their private health fund cover can receive a rebate for services.
Flexible services to meet the needs of your child and family
Early Start Australia has well-appointed and welcoming clinic facilities, however if you need a therapist to come to you or to your child’s school or childcare centre they offer a mobile therapy service too.
Can’t attend an in-person appointment, or do you live in a rural or remote location? Early Start Australia offers telehealth appointments. Their therapists are very skilled in engaging children during online therapy, and can also offer parent coaching and support online too.
Highly skilled and experienced therapists
Early Start Australia’s Queensland team includes occupational therapists, speech pathologists, psychologists, dietitians, physiotherapists and allied health assistants who are all trained specifically to work with children and young people.
Their therapists all participate in ongoing professional development, specialised training, and supervision to ensure they are providing your child with the best possible service that is underpinned by research evidence and best practice principles.
Testimonials
Due to AHPRA regulations, health services are unable to obtain testimonials, however a great indication of a health service can be gained from staff testimonials. Click here to read more about the business and read some staff testimonials for Early Start Australia.
Early Start Australia’s School Holiday Program Locations
Carina – 798 Old Cleveland Road, Carina Qld 4152
Murarrie – Gateway Central, 4/22 Palmer Place, Murarrie Qld 4172
Springfield – Level 1 (Ground Floor), L106 Springfield Tower, Springfield Central, 145 Sinnathamby Boulevard, Springfield Central QLD 4300
Toowong – Level 11, 39 Sherwood Road, Toowong QLD 4066
Upper Mt Gravatt – First Floor, 1990 Logan Road, Upper Mt Gravatt Qld 4122
Strathpine – First Floor, 454 Gympie Road Strathpine Qld 4500
To find out more about how Early Start Australia can help your family with their School Holiday Programs, head to the Early Start Australia website. or phone 1300 372 439.