NDIS
Feeding, swallowing & mealtime support for NDIS participants in Newcastle & the Hunter Region
THRIVE provides specialist feeding, swallowing and mealtime participation support for NDIS participants across Newcastle, Lake Macquarie and the Hunter Region. Our multidisciplinary team includes Speech Pathologists, Occupational Therapists, Psychologists and Behaviour Support Practitioners who work together to support safe, confident and meaningful participation in mealtimes.
We support self‑managed, plan‑managed and NDIA‑managed participants.
What we support
Feeding
Swallowing (Dysphagia)
Mealtime Participation
Who we support
Support across the lifespan
Babies
(0-12 months)
Toddlers
(1-3 years)
Children
(4-12 years)
Teens
(13-17 years)
Adults
(18-64 years)
Older Adults
(65+ years)
Our NDIS‑aligned approach
Feeding and swallowing support at THRIVE is Speech‑Pathology‑led, with Occupational Therapy, Psychology and Behaviour Support involved when sensory, emotional or behavioural factors are contributing.
We focus on:
Our goal is to support safe, confident and meaningful mealtime participation across home, school, community and supported environments.
What to expect
Initial assessment
A comprehensive feeding or swallowing assessment exploring oral‑motor skills, sensory needs, mealtime routines, emotional factors and support needs.
Individualised plan
Clear, practical recommendations aligned with NDIS goals and functional outcomes.
Therapy sessions
Feeding therapy focused on sensory‑motor skills, oral‑motor development, mealtime participation strategies and caregiver coaching.
Capacity‑building
Training for families, support workers, educators and teams to ensure safe, consistent mealtime support.
Reports & documentation
Assessment reports, progress summaries and recommendations aligned with NDIS requirements.
What we do not offer under NDIS
To ensure clarity and reduce confusion:
Everything we offer is strictly within feeding, swallowing and mealtime participation.
Telehealth for NDIS participants
Some aspects of feeding therapy — such as parent coaching, strategy sessions and team training — can be delivered via telehealth.
Note:
Swallowing (dysphagia) assessments cannot be completed via telehealth. For safety reasons, dysphagia assessments must be completed in person.
Ready to get started with feeding or swallowing support?
We provide safe, evidence‑based feeding and swallowing support for NDIS participants across Newcastle and the Hunter Region.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes — we support self‑managed, plan‑managed and NDIA‑managed participants.
Yes — we provide assessment reports and progress summaries aligned with NDIS requirements.
Yes — we communicate with support coordinators, plan managers and care teams as needed.
Yes — we offer capacity‑building training for safe, consistent mealtime support within feeding, swallowing and mealtime participation.
No. You can contact us directly to arrange an appointment. Referrals from GPs 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 for feeding, swallowing or mealtime participation, 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 of feeding therapy — such as strategy sessions, sensory‑motor support and carer training — can be delivered via telehealth. However, swallowing assessments cannot be completed via telehealth for safety reasons and must be done in person.
Yes, we are able to take bookings for Speech‑Pathology‑led Flexible Endoscopic Assessments (FEA) from August.