Allied Health and NDIS for Children: A Workshop for Allied Health Practitioners in the Northern Rivers

A workshop for allied health practitioners on the Mid North Coast

The Allied Health & NDIS For Children workshop brings together AHPs working with children to explore recent NDIS reforms, best practices, and collaborative solutions to improve services for children with disabilities. The forum will feature presentations by experts, a lived-experience perspective, and interactive group workshops designed to foster innovation in service delivery.

Themes from the guest speakers include:

• Local Area Coordinators and Allied Health
• Optimal Planning for NDIS Participants
• Getting the Best Outcomes for Your Clients
• NDIS Process in Private Practice
• Navigating the NDIS: Insights from Lived Experience

Workshop Presenters & Topics:

Amy Jenkins, Northcott Early childhood Northern NSW Team leader.  

Amy is an early childhood teacher with a background in supporting children with additional needs. Amy joined Northcott Early Childhood (NDIS partner) in 2018.  Over the past 6 years she has worked in all streams of the early childhood partner role including early supports, intake, access and planning. Since early 2024 she has held the position of Northern NSW Early Childhood Team leader for Lismore and Grafton offices and teams.  

Presentation Title - Northcott Early Childhood - Access, Eligibility & Early Intervention pathways 

Amy will discuss NDIS access requirements under early intervention, how we can support families to access NDIS funded support plans and the evidence required.  She will also discuss Northcott Early Childhood pathways for children who don’t meet NDIS criteria and what early intervention can be provided in this pathway.  

Brooke Whitaker, Senior Manager at Social Futures for Local Area Coordination (LAC) services in Northern NSW 

Brooke has worked in the Social Futures LAC program for 7 years. Prior to that, Brooke worked in the NDIS provider space, in managing service delivery teams and supporting organisations with NDIS Third Party Verification. Brooke leads four LAC teams from Tweed Heads to the Clarence Valley delivering Local Area Coordination to over 5,000 NDIS participants.

Presentation Title: NDIS Local Area Coordination Explained 

Brooke will be talking about a LAC's primary role and how they support NDIS participants. 

Chelsea Luker, Psychologist and Principal of Connect Us Psychology.  Also, mother of a NDIS participant 

Chelsea dedicates her professional life to supporting Autistic/ADHD individuals across the lifespan. 

She is also a mother to two neurodivergent children, and a significant motivator for her is to work toward a world where they feel valued and safe. Drawing from her lived and clinical experience, Chelsea has written "Square Me, Round World", providing a deep dive into the lives and minds of Autistic and ADHDer individuals, as a contribution to an inclusive world where every individual is celebrated and embraced.   

Presentation Title: Navigating the NDIS Journey: Insights and Recommendations from a Lived Experience Perspective. 

Chelsea will explore the challenges of navigating the NDIS system from the perspective of a parent of an NDIS participant. She will discuss the complexities and barriers often encountered, while offering practical suggestions for easing these challenges. Chelsea will also share her personal experiences managing these difficulties as a disabled person, providing insights into balancing advocacy, self-care, and system navigation. 

Samantha Poole, Manager Therapy Services, Cerebral Palsy Alliance – Alstonville  

Samanatha trained in physiotherapy and has spent the past 15 years working within disability services across three states, seeing the introduction and growth of NDIS to where it is today. She brings a person-centred approach to her current role leading a specialist allied health team at the Cerebral Palsy Alliance providing services to the Northern Rivers region. She has a strong interest in enabling equal opportunities to quality health care for people living in regional and rural areas of Australia and a commitment to early intervention therapy.

Presentation Title: Getting the Best Outcomes for Your Clients 

Samantha will review the therapy cycle and client journey/experience when receiving allied health support within the NDIS framework, discuss the importance of goal-setting and evidence-based interventions and will introduce the READ model to support evidence-based therapy.

Stacey Walker, Occupational therapist and principal of Rainbow Region Occupational Therapy 

Stacey trained as an Occupational Therapist at Southern Cross University and has specialised in paediatric care. She has developed a strong reputation for her work within multi-disciplinary teams, particularly in early intervention and developmental support for children with diverse needs. She has founded her business, Rainbow Region Occupational Therapy, to provide tailored therapeutic interventions that empower children to achieve their personal and developmental goals. Stacey also administrates the Northern Rivers Paediatric OT Interest Group to facilitate collaboration and knowledge-sharing among local paediatric OTs.  

Presentation Title: NDIS Process in Private Practise: From Referral to Discharge 

Stacey will provide a step-by-step visual overview of the entire NDIS process as it applies to a private practice, breaking down each phase in this journey, from initial referral to final discharge. She will offer a clear framework for allied health professionals to navigate the NDIS.  

This event is proudly supported by: