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
Who we support
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, emotional or mealtime‑response factors are contributing to swallowing or eating challenges. We work carefully within speech pathology scope and partner with medical teams whenever medical assessment or intervention is needed, ensuring every person receives safe, coordinated care.
Our goal is to support safety, comfort and participation at mealtimes through recommendations that are practical, evidence‑based and tailored to each person’s needs.
We provide:
What to expect
Initial swallowing assessment
A detailed assessment exploring swallowing safety, mealtime behaviours, medical history, oral‑motor skills and functional eating.
Clear, practical recommendations
Texture modifications, pacing strategies, positioning, mealtime routines and safety considerations.
Dysphagia management plan
A written plan that can be shared with families, support workers, schools, aged‑care staff and medical teams.
Ongoing support
Review sessions, training, and collaboration with your broader care team.
Ready to book a swallowing assessment?
We provide safe, evidence‑based dysphagia support for children and adults across Newcastle and the Hunter Region.
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.