Meet the Thrive™ team
Feeding, swallowing and infant feeding specialists in Newcastle & the Hunter Region
At Thrive Feeding Clinic™, our team brings together experienced Speech Pathologists, Occupational Therapists, Psychologists and Behaviour Support Practitioners who specialise in feeding therapy, swallowing (dysphagia) management, sensory feeding support, support for restrictive eating patterns and infant feeding across the lifespan.
We provide multidisciplinary feeding and swallowing assessment and therapy for infants, children, adolescents, adults and older adults across Newcastle, Lake Macquarie and the Hunter Region. Our clinicians work collaboratively to understand the sensory, motor, emotional and medical factors that influence feeding and mealtime participation — delivering coordinated, evidence‑based care that supports safety, confidence and meaningful progress.
Clinical Leadership
Dr Stefani Knijnik
/ˈstɛfəni ˈkniːdʒnɪk/
Clinical Lead
THRIVE Feeding Clinic is clinically led by Dr Stefani Knijnik, Senior Speech Pathologist, Team Leader, researcher, and educator with more than 15 years of international experience across Australia, Brazil, and the United States.
Stefani has extensive experience supporting infants, children, and adults with feeding, swallowing, breastfeeding, and communication needs across hospital, community, and multidisciplinary settings. Her clinical experience includes neonatal intensive care (NICU), paediatric feeding clinics, videofluoroscopic swallowing assessments, complex dysphagia management, and multidisciplinary feeding intervention.
Stefani recently completed her PhD at the University of Sydney, where her research focused on early feeding challenges and their impact on later feeding outcomes. Alongside her clinical work, she has contributed to teaching and supervision within the University of Sydney, including delivering lectures in paediatric feeding and dysphagia and supervising student research projects.
THRIVE grew from a shared passion for improving outcomes for children and families experiencing feeding and swallowing difficulties. Although clinically led by Stefani, the service reflects the dedication, expertise, and collaboration of an exceptional multidisciplinary team. Together, our clinicians bring diverse perspectives and specialist knowledge to better understand each child’s unique needs and provide coordinated support across home, school, and community environments.
Stefani is passionate about creating collaborative, family-centred services that empower both families and clinicians. She believes the best outcomes occur when evidence-based practice, multidisciplinary teamwork, and meaningful family involvement come together to support each child’s feeding journey.
Qualifications and Advanced Training Include:
- PhD (Medicine and Health) – University of Sydney
- Master’s Degree in Biomedical Gerontology
- Postgraduate Specialisation in Dysphagia
- Postgraduate Specialisation in Neonatology and Paediatrics
- Postgraduate Specialisation in Lactation and Solids Introduction
- Certified Lactation Consultant
- SOS Approach to Feeding Practitioner
- Advanced training in paediatric feeding and swallowing
- Advanced Positive Behaviour Support Practitioner
- Certified Practising Speech Pathologist (Speech Pathology Australia)
Speech Pathology Team
Belinda Greig
/bəˈlɪndə grɛg/
Speech Pathologist
Belinda is an engaging and approachable Speech Pathologist with a strong interest in paediatric feeding, sensory‑based feeding challenges, restrictive eating patterns, and swallowing assessment. She supports families across Newcastle and the Hunter Region, creating warm, playful and supportive therapy environments.
Belinda has experience in speech, language, literacy and functional communication, and is trained in the Sounds‑Write program. Through her work at THRIVE, she has developed additional expertise in feeding and swallowing assessment, mealtime participation, and collaborative care for children with complex feeding needs.
Outside the clinic, Belinda enjoys reading, crocheting, volunteering and playing football.
Kui Noi Tan
/kwɪ ˈnɔɪ ˈtæn/
Speech Pathologist
Kui Noi is a warm and empathetic Speech Pathologist with experience supporting children, adolescents and adults with feeding, swallowing and dysphagia needs across private practice, community health and hospital settings. She supports families across Newcastle and Lake Macquarie, working collaboratively with educators, families and allied health teams.
Her clinical experience includes speech, language, literacy, functional communication, social communication and swallowing. Within THRIVE, she contributes to multidisciplinary feeding and swallowing assessment, with particular interest in mealtime participation, functional swallowing skills, and family‑centred dysphagia management.
Outside of work, Kui Noi enjoys reading, hiking, camping and spending time outdoors.
Occupational Therapy Team
Victoria Hayes
/vɪkˈtɔːriə heɪz/
Occupational Therapist
Victoria is an Occupational Therapist with a strong interest in sensory processing, emotional regulation, and participation in everyday activities. She supports families across Newcastle and the Hunter Region, empowering children and teenagers to achieve their goals through strengths‑based, collaborative and family‑centred support.
Within THRIVE, Victoria contributes to sensory‑based feeding assessment, mealtime participation support, and environmental adaptations that help children feel safe, regulated and confident during feeding. She creates playful, engaging therapy environments that support connection and meaningful progress.
Outside the clinic, Victoria enjoys bushwalking, beach days and spending time in nature.
Esther McKenzie
/ˈɛstə məˈkɛnzi/
Occupational Therapist
Esther is a creative and compassionate Occupational Therapist who supports children, adolescents and young adults with sensory‑based feeding challenges, emotional regulation needs, and mealtime participation goals. She brings experience from both NSW and Far North Queensland and now supports families across Newcastle and Lake Macquarie.
Esther has supported individuals with sensory processing differences, emotional regulation needs, fine and gross motor development, handwriting, school readiness and social participation. Within THRIVE, she focuses on the sensory, environmental and participation factors that shape mealtime experiences, using a holistic, family‑centred and collaborative approach.
Outside of work, Esther enjoys music production, film, swimming, pilates, meditation and learning Japanese.
Jessica Tindall
/ˈdʒɛsɪkə ˈtɪndəl/
Occupational Therapist
Jessica is a warm and collaborative Occupational Therapist who works closely with families to understand their goals and support children and teens in developing key skills for everyday life. She supports families across Newcastle and the Hunter Region, with experience across clinics, schools and early childhood settings.
Her clinical experience includes learning and academic engagement, attention and focus, emotional regulation, social skills and motor development. Within THRIVE, Jessica contributes to multidisciplinary feeding assessment, sensory‑motor feeding support, and mealtime participation planning, helping families understand the factors influencing feeding and mealtime success.
Outside the clinic, Jessica enjoys swimming, bushwalking, camping and creative writing.
Psychology & Behaviour Support
Maria Andreoli
/məˈriːə ændriˈoʊli/
Psychologist
Maria is a warm and experienced registered psychologist who supports children and teenagers with learning differences, trauma histories and mental health challenges such as anxiety and depression. She supports families across Newcastle and the Hunter Region, using a blend of Cognitive Behaviour Therapy, play‑based therapy and art‑based approaches to make sessions engaging and meaningful.
Within THRIVE, Maria provides psychological insight into feeding anxiety, mealtime stress, restrictive eating patterns, and the emotional factors that influence feeding and swallowing participation. She conducts assessments for learning differences, ASD and ADHD, always emphasising a child’s strengths and individuality over labels.
Outside of work, Maria enjoys spending time with her husband and children, painting, reading and relaxing at the beach.
Ariah Yeo
/ˈaːriə joʊ/
Behaviour Support Practitioner
Ariah is a Behaviour Support Practitioner with more than six years of experience across the disability sector, including group homes, trauma‑informed therapeutic care and family support. She supports NDIS participants across Newcastle, Lake Macquarie and the Hunter Region, bringing a strong understanding of daily support needs, team coordination and consistent, respectful care.
Within THRIVE, Ariah provides behaviour support for mealtime stress, feeding‑related behaviours, routine‑based challenges, and capacity‑building for families and support teams. She develops evidence‑based Behaviour Support Plans, completes functional behaviour assessments, provides staff training and offers practical, strengths‑based strategies.
Ariah has experience supporting individuals with complex presentations, including severe mental illness, psychotic disorders and neurological conditions, and provides guidance on restrictive practices in line with least‑restrictive principles. Her practice is grounded in person‑centred planning, cultural awareness and collaborative decision‑making.
How we work together
Feeding and swallowing challenges are rarely caused by one factor alone. Our multidisciplinary team collaborates to understand sensory processing, oral‑motor skills, swallowing safety, emotional wellbeing, behaviour, medical history and family routines. This coordinated approach ensures every person receives safe, evidence‑based and compassionate feeding and swallowing support across the lifespan.
Our connection with EduCare™
THRIVE Feeding Clinic works in close collaboration with the broader EduCare™ team. Through shared clinical learning, supervision and aligned feeding and swallowing approaches, we contribute to strong, safe, evidence‑based practice across the service. As part of EduCare’s NDIS registration, we support self‑managed, plan‑managed and NDIA‑managed participants.
Frequently Asked Questions
We support infants, children, adolescents, adults, and older adults. Feeding and swallowing needs change across the lifespan, and our approach adapts to each stage.
A feeding or swallowing assessment explores what is happening during mealtimes, how feeding skills are developing, and whether any medical, developmental, sensory, or oral‑motor factors may be contributing to difficulties. It includes discussion, observation, and evidence‑based clinical reasoning to guide next steps.
Yes. Most feeding assessments include both Speech Pathology and Occupational Therapy.
Families often seek support when feeding feels stressful, effortful, or uncertain, or when mealtime routines are becoming difficult to manage. If you have concerns about safety, comfort, skill development, or mealtime confidence, an assessment can help clarify what’s happening.
Yes. We collaborate with GPs, paediatricians, lactation consultants, dietitians, OTs, and other clinicians to support coordinated, consistent care.
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.
Yes — we support self‑managed, plan‑managed and NDIA‑managed participants through our parent company’s (EduCare) NDIS registration.
Yes. We support families with early feeding development, including challenges related to coordination, endurance, transitions to solids, and mealtime routines. We work alongside medical teams and other professionals involved in your infant’s care.
Never. We use a low‑pressure, child‑led, neurodiversity‑affirming approach.
Yes — including neurological conditions, disability‑related dysphagia and age‑related swallowing changes.