Making Sure Cooee is the Right Fit
At Cooee Speech Pathology, our goal is to support children, young people and families through meaningful developmental therapy that helps participation, connection, growth and independence.
We understand that every child and family journey is different. Sometimes needs change over time — and the best support may also change.
To make sure therapy is safe, effective and within our team’s scope of practice, we carefully consider whether our clinic and therapy models are the right fit for each child, young person or adult we support.
What We Can Help With
We support children and young adults with developmental goals related to areas such as:
- Communication
- Speech clarity
- Language development
- Social communication
- Emotional regulation
- Daily living skills
- Independence and self-organisation
- Participation at home, school and in the community
We are primarily a paediatric clinic, and most of our therapy is clinic-based, sometimes with flexible or hybrid options depending on goals and needs.
We aim to work collaboratively with families over time and support transitions through different stages of development.
When Another Service May Be More Appropriate
There are some situations where another service, specialist team, or therapy model may be better suited to support a child, young person or adult.
We aim to ensure clients receive the safest and most appropriate support for their needs.
Examples where we will refer on may include:
- Complex feeding or swallowing needs
- Intensive rehabilitation after injury
- Home modifications
- Some specialised AAC assessments or device prescription
- Behaviour support services
- Goals that are primarily vocational or tutoring-based rather than developmental
If this happens, we will do our best to:
- Explain our recommendations clearly
- Help families understand next steps
- Support referrals or transition planning where appropriate
Safety and Supported Access
Some children, teens or adults may experience distress, emotional dysregulation, or behaviours that could create safety concerns in a clinic environment.
Our priority is always the wellbeing and safety of:
- The child or young person
- Their family
- Other clients in the clinic
- Our team members
In some situations, we may complete a risk assessment before therapy begins or while therapy is ongoing.
Sometimes we can continue supporting families using a Supported Access approach. This may include:
- Parent or carer support during sessions
- Collaborative planning with behaviour support teams
- Adjustments to how therapy is delivered
- Regular review meetings to make sure therapy remains safe and meaningful
As children grow older, particularly through adolescence and adulthood, their therapy needs and service models may also need to change. We aim to talk openly and proactively with families about these transitions over time.
Our Commitment to Families
At Cooee, we believe therapy journeys are collaborative and evolving.
Even when we recommend a transition to another service, our intention is to:
- Support families with care and respect
- Plan ahead where possible
- Avoid sudden changes wherever we can
- Help families feel informed and supported during transitions
We know these conversations can sometimes feel difficult, and we aim to approach them thoughtfully, transparently and compassionately.