Feeding Support for Children & Teens

Support for selective eating, sensory feeding challenges & mealtime stress across Newcastle & the Hunter Region

Feeding challenges in school‑aged children and teenagers can affect nutrition, growth, social participation and family routines. THRIVE provides gentle, evidence‑based feeding assessment and support for children and adolescents aged 4–17 years across Newcastle, Lake Macquarie and the Hunter Region.

Our multidisciplinary team supports young people experiencing selective eating, sensory feeding challenges, oral‑motor concerns, mealtime stress and eating‑related anxiety, using approaches that prioritise safety, regulation and confidence.

We also support families navigating more complex feeding presentations, including significant restriction or difficulty expanding foods, using low‑pressure, child‑centred strategies.

What we support

Selective eating
Restricted food variety
Significant food restriction
Sensory‑based feeding challenges
Autism‑related feeding differences
Food refusal or mealtime distress
Gagging or difficulty trying new foods
Oral‑motor feeding concerns
Suspected swallowing concerns
Mealtime participation challenges
Eating‑related anxiety
Children reaching into a container of cherries outdoors, representing food curiosity and sensory exploration.

Our approach

Feeding support for children and teens at THRIVE is Speech‑Pathology‑led, with Occupational Therapy, Psychology and Behaviour Support involved when sensory, emotional or behavioural factors are contributing.

Our goal is to help young people feel safe, confident and capable around food while supporting families with practical, achievable strategies.

Teenagers sitting at a school lunch table eating fruit and vegetables, representing mealtime participation and social eating.

We explore:

Sensory preferences and sensitivities
Oral‑motor skills for chewing and swallowing
Mealtime routines and structure
Emotional and anxiety‑related feeding factors
Behavioural responses to food
Family and school mealtime environments
Participation in social eating situations
Children preparing vegetable skewers outdoors, representing sensory food exploration and positive, low‑pressure feeding experiences.

Signs your child or teen may benefit from a feeding assessment

Eats fewer than 10–20 foods
Avoids entire food groups
Strong sensory reactions to smells, textures or temperatures
Gags or becomes distressed with new foods
Anxiety around eating or mealtimes
Difficulty chewing certain textures
Mealtimes feel stressful or exhausting
Feeding challenges linked to autism or developmental differences
Avoids eating at school or social events
Concerns about nutrition, growth or weight
Group of people sharing a meal at a dining table, representing mealtime participation and social eating for children and teens.

What to expect

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Comprehensive feeding assessment

A detailed assessment exploring feeding history, sensory preferences, oral‑motor skills, mealtime routines, emotional factors and family goals.

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Individualised feeding plan

Clear, practical recommendations tailored to your child’s needs and your family’s routines.

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Therapy sessions

Gentle, child‑centred feeding support using sensory‑motor, oral‑motor and low‑pressure approaches that prioritise safety and regulation.

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Parent coaching

Support to reduce stress, build confidence and create positive mealtime experiences.

Icon representing multidisciplinary feeding and swallowing care at Thrive Feeding Clinic

Multidisciplinary input

OT, Psychology and Behaviour Support involvement when sensory, emotional or behavioural factors are contributing to feeding challenges.

Telehealth for children & teens

Some aspects of feeding therapy — such as parent coaching and strategy sessions — can be delivered via telehealth. However, assessments are usually best completed in person to observe oral‑motor skills, sensory responses and mealtime behaviours.

Telehealth Options
Adult and child sitting together at a kitchen table using a tablet, representing telehealth parent coaching for children and teens’ feeding support.

Ready to support your child or teen’s feeding journey?

We help young people build confidence with food using gentle, evidence‑based strategies.

Book an assessment

Frequently Asked Questions

Yes — we support young people with significant restriction or difficulty expanding foods using low‑pressure, ARFID‑informed approaches.

Yes — we support sensory‑based feeding challenges and autism‑related feeding difficulties.

Yes — we can provide recommendations to support mealtime participation in school settings.

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.

Some aspects — such as parent coaching — can be delivered via telehealth. However, hands‑on assessment is usually best completed in person.

Yes — we support self‑managed, plan‑managed and NDIA‑managed participants.

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