Little Birds Allied Health

Get to know Little Birds Allied Health

From Little Birds Allied Health's website.

• Our approach

  Little Birds Allied Health adopts neurodivergent affirming principles into their speech pathology and occupational therapy intervention. The service is family-centred and aims to help individuals learn, grow and speak to their full potential by developing life skills, building friendships and self-esteem. For younger children, therapy is often incorporated into play-based activities tailored to individual needs. Sessions are planned specifically for each child depending on what was discussed during the first appointment, and families are encouraged to follow up with home practice between sessions. The team works collaboratively, sometimes bringing together multiple in-house therapists to provide comprehensive support for families.

• Working with families

  Parents and carers are involved from the start through the intake process and are generally asked to be present for at least part of the first session so the clinician can gather important information about your child and your concerns. Families are encouraged to follow up with home practice between sessions, as this supports your child's progress. You can request a copy of your child's information to be shared with the service, though you're not required to do so. The administration team will contact you via phone to offer appointment times that match your preferences, and the service offers both in-clinic and telehealth options to suit family needs.

• Meet the team

  The team includes Sarah Yeung (Director & Team Leader), speech pathologists Min Li (Team Lead), Maddy Chiu, Natalie Hung, Michelle Jiang, Olivia Lau, Koolla Tang, Pearl Lau, Bella Xiang, Debbie Pu and Jessica Hsu, occupational therapists Li Wei (Senior), Phoebe Yeung, Frances Bosque and Grace Zheng, and play therapist Cindy Chan. Several therapists speak Mandarin, Cantonese and Vietnamese in addition to English. The practice has been providing care to Melbourne families since 2014 and is owned and run by allied health experts with client care at the front of their work. The team regularly receives internal and external professional development with scheduled frequent supervision and tailored support.

• Your first visit

  At the first appointment, the clinician will set aside time to get to know you and understand your concerns through a detailed assessment of your child's speech, language or occupational therapy abilities, depending on what brought you in. The assessment usually involves activities designed to naturally draw out speech, language or functional use for the clinician to observe. You will generally be asked to be present for at least a portion of this session as the clinician may ask you questions about your child and your specific concerns. A brief initial summary will be provided free of charge after the assessment, and if you need a formal written report for NDIS or other purposes, there will be an additional cost. Before your appointment, you'll need to complete a new client intake form online.