Therapy for Independence

Compassionate NDIS services designed around your goals, your needs, and your life.

Our Story

Our practice grew from both a shared passion and a shared purpose: to support children and families with practical, meaningful therapy.

Michele began her journey in private paediatric practice in Australia in 1994, following her earlier work in South Africa. After many years based in Sydney, she relocated to Newcastle to be closer to her growing family, bringing with her decades of experience and a commitment to mentoring the next generation of therapists.

Caitlin entered private practice in 2015 as a Dietitian, working across various medical centres in Western Sydney. In 2020, she completed specialised training in feeding - the SOS Approach to Feeding - and began consulting with Michele in her Sydney practice.

By 2023, Caitlin had established her own Newcastle-based clinic while commuting part-time to Sydney. She began transitioning to Newcastle full-time after marrying and welcoming her daughter, and reduced her caseload to focus on family and her studies in Occupational Therapy. Michele stepped in as a locum during Caitlin’s maternity leave from November 2024 to February 2025.

We’ve always believed that working together strengthens what we offer. Families often comment on how our combination of experience and fresh ideas brings a unique and supportive dynamic to their child’s therapy journey. At heart, we’re a family helping other families.

An adult's hand holding a baby's hand, both holding each other gently.

Our Mission

At Sprout & Bloom Therapies, we are dedicated to nurturing the growth and wellbeing of children and families through compassionate, evidence-based paediatric occupational therapy and dietetic services. We believe in the power of early support, recognising the unique potential in every child and the vital roles that families play in their development.

Our family-inclusive approach embraces the whole child - mind, body, and environment - while honouring the diverse roles each family member plays in daily life. We are committed to working collaboratively within a multidisciplinary allied health team, striving to empower families with practical strategies, tailored care, and continuous support.

With care, creativity, and connection at the heart of everything we do, we help children and families sprout with confidence and bloom with possibility.

Our NDIS and Private Patient Services

A woman watching a young girl prepare food on a yellow cutting board in a bright kitchen.

Feeding Therapy

  • Occupational Therapy focuses on:

    • Improving oral motor skills (e.g. chewing, swallowing)

    • Addressing sensory sensitivities to food textures, smells, or tastes

    • Developing self-feeding skills (e.g. utensil use, cup drinking)

    • Creating positive mealtime routines and reducing mealtime anxiety

    Dietetic support includes:

    • Assessing nutritional intake and growth

    • Developing personalised meal plans

    • Providing guidance on food allergies and intolerances

    • Ensuring safe and adequate nutritional intake for development

    Together, the OT and Dietitian create an individualised feeding plan tailored to the child’s needs, promoting safe eating habits, a positive relationship with food, and healthy growth.

Group of babies and adults playing with plush toys on a blue blanket

Sensory Diets & Sensory-Motor Integration

  • We use a dedicated sensory space where children can engage in activities designed to build sensory processing skills in a calm, structured way. These experiences are carefully integrated into daily routines, helping children generalise their skills across home, school, and community settings.

A young boy sitting at a white table playing a board game with colorful pieces while an older woman and a woman with blonde hair observe. The background shows a bright room with large windows.

Planning and Executive Functioning

    • Understanding task requirements

    • Sequencing and prioritising actions

    • Remembering and following steps

    • Adjusting and problem-solving

    • Evaluating progress

    Through structured play and guided tasks, we help children improve executive functioning skills, building independence and confidence in both academic and everyday settings.

Person cooking vegetables in a frying pan on a stove with cut vegetables on a chopping board nearby.

Daily Living Skills

    • Dressing and grooming

    • Toileting

    • Feeding and mealtime skills

    • Personal hygiene

    • Managing routines at home and school

    We use developmentally appropriate, play-based strategies to teach these skills and promote confidence and autonomy in daily life.

A woman and a girl preparing vegetables in a kitchen, slicing zucchini on a blue cutting board, with vegetables and a black frying pan on the table.

Functional Capacity Assessments (FCA)

  • Areas assessed may include:

    • Self-care (e.g. dressing, grooming, toileting)

    • Mobility and transfers

    • Communication and social participation

    • Fine and gross motor skills

    • Sensory processing

    • Cognitive functioning (e.g. attention, memory, problem-solving)

    FCAs help inform therapy goals, funding applications (such as through the NDIS), and support planning for children with additional needs. Caitlin is available to complete these assessments as part of our team.

A woman and two boys sitting on the floor playing a tabletop game with hexagonal tiles and various game pieces in a bright room with wooden floors and a window.

Social Skills Groups

  • These groups are designed to help children build meaningful relationships, develop emotional regulation strategies, and practise essential daily living skills in real-time social settings.

    • Relationship Building: Through collaborative games, shared tasks, and group discussions, children learn how to initiate and maintain friendships, read social cues, take turns, and resolve conflicts.

    • Emotion Regulation in Real Time: Group settings naturally present opportunities for emotional ups and downs. Our therapists guide children through recognising their feelings, practising calming strategies, and navigating challenging interactions in the moment.

    • Planning, Meal Preparation, and Shared Mealtimes:Sessions often include cooking and shared eating experiences. Children plan and prepare simple meals together, follow multi-step instructions, and enjoy the social aspect of eating with peers.

    By combining the expertise of an Occupational Therapist and a Dietitian, our groups integrate developmental goals across social, emotional, and functional domains. Families often report improved confidence, greater self-awareness, and more successful peer interactions. We create a safe and inclusive space where children feel supported to grow, connect, and succeed.

Children and adult engaging in clay modeling and painting activity at a white table, surrounded by various art supplies such as brushes, paint, and clay.

Interoception

  • We offer group programs focused on developing interoceptive awareness. These groups give children opportunities to explore their internal signals and learn from peers in a supportive environment. Michele is trained in Theraplay © techniques that build interoception through engaging, hands-on activities.

A group of children and women playing a board game at a white table in an office or waiting room, with a copier in the background.

Visual Perception and Learning

    • Visual discrimination (identifying differences between objects)

    • Visual memory (recalling visual information)

    • Visual spatial relations (understanding object positions)

    • Visual sequential memory (remembering visual sequences)

    • Visual closure (identifying objects from incomplete information)

    Our therapy supports children in developing these skills through fun, targeted activities that lay the foundation for academic success and daily functioning.

A young girl with blonde hair, wearing a denim jacket and a purple bow in her hair, is drawing on a piece of paper with a large orange marker.

School Readiness

    • Fine motor skills (e.g. pencil grip, cutting)

    • Executive functioning (planning, organisation)

    • Daily living skills (e.g. toileting, dressing)

    • Emotional regulation and self-control

    • Social skills and communication

    • Memory and attention

    We offer tailored support to ensure each child is equipped for a successful school transition.

A young boy placing colorful foam animals on a whiteboard with a woman sitting nearby, watching him.

Fine Motor Skills

    • Holding a pencil and writing

    • Using scissors

    • Tying shoelaces

    • Buttoning clothes

    • Opening lunch boxes

    • Feeding with a spoon or fork

    Occupational therapists support the development of fine motor skills through play-based interventions that strengthen hand muscles, improve coordination, and build dexterity - essential for independence at home, school, and in the community.

A boy balancing on a green rocking toy with a blue ball nearby, while a woman watching, in a room with a white bookshelf.

Emotional Regulation

  • At our clinic, we use sensory and cognitive-based strategies to help children learn how to regulate their emotions. We encourage parent involvement to support the use of these strategies in everyday life. With consistent practice, emotional regulation can become a natural and accessible skill.

A young girl with long blonde hair, wearing a purple bow and a light blue denim jacket, playing a colorful board game with an older woman with short gray hair, glasses, and a pink sweater at a white table in a bright room.

Memory and Information Processing

    • Recognise letters and symbols

    • Follow instructions

    • Complete patterns

    • Manage routines

    Michele has a special interest in supporting children with memory and visual perceptual challenges. Having navigated learning difficulties herself, she brings empathy and expertise to help children discover their strengths and succeed in their learning journey.

A young child riding a balance bike marked with yellow, green, and red details, navigating around colorful traffic cones in a hallway, with an older woman watching happily.

Building Independence

    • Planning and preparing meals

    • Budgeting and money management

    • Time organisation and task sequencing

    We support children and young people in building these skills through practical, meaningful tasks that reflect real-life responsibilities.

What People Are Saying

“My son has been attending Michele and Caitlin’s cooking classes for quite a few years now. He has gained a lot of confidence in the kitchen and quite often will go in and cook up something for either lunch or Sunday ‘fend for yourself’ nights. He has formed close friendships with his fellow students as well as Michele and Caitlin.”

— Rachel

“Our family has been so grateful for the support and guidance we've received from Michele and Caitlin who works with both our son and daughter. From the very beginning, they have taken the time to truly understand each of our children as individuals, meeting them exactly where they are and helping them build the skills and confidence they need to thrive. Their sessions are always thoughtfully planned, engaging, and tailored to each of our child's unique needs. We’ve seen wonderful progress from improved emotional regulation and fine motor skills to better focus and independence in daily tasks. Most importantly, both of our children genuinely enjoy their time with Michele and Caitlin, which speaks volumes about the trust and connection they’ve built. As parents, it’s incredibly reassuring to have someone so skilled, patient, and compassionate walking alongside us. We’re deeply thankful for the positive impact Michele and Caitlin has had on our children’s lives and feel lucky to have them as part of their support team.”

— Laura and Daniel

“The team at Sprout and Bloom Therapies made the NDIS process simple and stress-free. They genuinely care.”

— Sarah

Contact Us

Phone: 0439 647 099
Email: caitlinarundale@gmail.com
Address: 10 Nott St, Edgeworth NSW 2285
ABN: 47 282 861 146