Swallowing & Dysphagia Services
Specialist swallowing assessment & dysphagia management for children and adults in Newcastle & the Hunter Region
THRIVE provides evidence‑based swallowing and dysphagia assessment for infants, children, adolescents, adults and older adults across Newcastle, Lake Macquarie and the Hunter Region. Swallowing difficulties (dysphagia) can occur due to neurological conditions, developmental differences, disability, ageing, medical conditions or unexplained changes in swallowing function.
Our Speech Pathologists specialise in dysphagia assessment, mealtime safety and practical recommendations that support safe eating and drinking across home, school, community and aged‑care environments.
What we support
- Coughing or choking during meals
- Difficulty swallowing food, fluids or medications
- Recurrent chest infections
- Wet or gurgly voice after eating or drinking
- Food getting stuck or frequent throat clearing
- Weight loss related to swallowing difficulties
- Disability‑related swallowing difficulties
- Dysphagia associated with neurological conditions
- Feeding tube transitions and mealtime planning
- Unexplained swallowing concerns
Who we support
- Children with swallowing difficulties
- Adults with swallowing difficulties
- Stroke
- Parkinson’s Disease
- Dementia
- Cerebral Palsy
- Intellectual Disability
- Autism
- Progressive neurological conditions
- Head and neck conditions
We support individuals across home care, aged care, community settings, and NDIS environments.
Our approach
Swallowing assessment at THRIVE is speech‑pathology‑led, with multidisciplinary collaboration when sensory, behavioural or emotional factors are contributing to mealtime challenges.
We provide:
- Comprehensive swallowing assessments
- Mealtime recommendations
- Texture modification advice
- Dysphagia management plans
- Feeding tube transition support
- Carer, family and support‑worker training
- Collaboration with medical and allied health teams
Our goal is to improve safety, participation and quality of life through practical, evidence‑based recommendations.
What to expect
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes — we support adults and older adults with swallowing difficulties across the Hunter Region.
Yes — we provide swallowing assessments, mealtime recommendations and staff training.
No. You can contact us directly to arrange an appointment. Referrals from GPs, paediatricians, or other health professionals are welcome but not required.
You’ll receive clear information about the findings, along with practical strategies and recommendations tailored to your goals and routines. If further support or collaboration with other health professionals is helpful, we will discuss this with you.
We are based in Newcastle, NSW, and support families across the Hunter region and Central Coast, including Lake Macquarie, Maitland, and Port Stephens.
No. Swallowing and dysphagia assessments cannot be completed via telehealth because they require direct, in‑person observation of oral‑motor skills, swallowing safety, mealtime behaviours and physical responses. For safety reasons, all swallowing assessments must occur in person.
Yes — we support self‑managed, plan‑managed and NDIA‑managed participants through our parent company’s (EduCare) NDIS registration.
Yes, we are able to take bookings for Flexible Endoscopic Assessments (FEA) from August.