Lively Eaters Feeding Therapy

Get to know Lively Eaters Feeding Therapy

From Lively Eaters Feeding Therapy's website.

• Our approach

  Feeding therapy at Lively Eaters is built on family-centred, responsive approaches designed to make eating and drinking enjoyable and achievable for each child and family. Sessions integrate evidence-based strategies to develop mealtime skills while building family awareness of responsive mealtime environments. Therapy is tailored to your family's specific goals and needs, and can be conducted in person, in groups, via telehealth or in your home when clinically appropriate. The team works holistically, considering your child's mealtime behaviours, nutritional and health history, and development, rather than applying a one-size-fits-all program. For families managing more complex challenges like tube feeding or selective eating, intensive home-based therapy is available, offering hands-on support over a week to develop new daily routines and mealtime interactions. Throughout the process, the focus remains on empowering families to understand and execute change within their own capabilities.

• Working with families

  Your family is at the centre of everything Lively Eaters does—you are never expected to fit into a pre-determined program, but rather receive support tailored to your unique situation and goals. The team provides education, practical and realistic strategies, and ongoing guidance to help you and your child every step of the way, not just one-off consultation. Your family's specific mealtime goals drive the direction of therapy, with therapists working together with you as equals to develop functional daily routines and interactions that suit your circumstances. The team remains accessible and responsive throughout your journey, whether you're receiving therapy in sessions, during intensive home-based weeks, or via telehealth. Clear communication and partnership with parents and carers is embedded in the service philosophy—the focus is on empowering your family to understand and sustain change within your own capabilities.

• Meet the team

  The team is led by Dr Emily Lively (PhD), who brings over 25 years of experience in childhood feeding disorders and enteral tube dependency. Lively Eaters comprises experienced Paediatric Therapists including Dietitians, Infant Mental Health specialists, a Paediatrician, Occupational Therapists and Speech Pathologists. The Senior Feeding Therapists on staff have delivered home-based intensive therapy for over 15 years, providing hands-on support for complex mealtime challenges and tube weaning. All practitioners contribute their specialist expertise to create comprehensive, multidisciplinary assessments and therapy plans for each family. Professional training and mentoring is also provided by the Senior Feeding Therapists to enhance knowledge and skills among healthcare professionals, educators and families.

• Your first visit

  Your first appointment begins with contacting the support services team to discuss your child's specific needs and explore available assessment and therapy options. A comprehensive parent and child assessment follows, providing a detailed understanding of your child and family's challenges, including mealtime behaviours, nutritional history, growth and development, and family dynamics. This holistic assessment process helps identify what's working and what needs support, then offers tailored therapy options suited to your particular circumstances. Once assessment is complete, you and your feeding therapist will discuss the results and begin planning your family's individual feeding therapy program together. The whole process is designed to give you a clear picture of where your child is and a realistic pathway forward toward more functional and enjoyable mealtimes.