Malvern
When can a paediatric physio help?
We are a small team of paediatric physiotherapists with extensive knowledge and practical experience working with children with a wide range of disabilities, medical conditions, orthopaedic conditions, neurological conditions and developmental delays from infancy to adolescence.
We are passionate about helping children to achieve their full potential by using evidence-based assessments and interventions. We work collaboratively with families to find out what motivates each individual child and set goals that are relevant and meaningful. Where possible, we help families identify ways therapy can be integrated into daily routines to maximise the opportunity for promoting development. We believe that therapy should be FUN and play-based so that children are motivated to exercise both during and outside of Physiotherapy appointments.
Our early intervention program (children aged from birth – 7 years) monitors and assists infants and young children with developmental delays, diagnosed or undiagnosed, to maximise their motor and sensory development using play and age-appropriate activities.
Clinic Appointments
We offer clinic-based appointments in Yarraville (within Sum of Us Kids Therapy Hub) and Malvern (within Victorian Children's Clinic), Melbourne where we work alongside Paediatricians and other allied health professionals.
Home & community appointments
We offer a mobile service in the Western and Eastern suburbs of Melbourne where we can provide Physiotherapy & Allied Health Assistant sessions in the home, childcare, kindergarten, school or other community settings (e.g., the local playground or swimming pool).
Hydrotherapy
We offer aquatic Physiotherapy (Hydrotherapy) sessions in the Western Suburbs, Malvern and Albert Park. Hydrotherapy sessions can be very effective in working towards your child’s functional goals while also being fun! Children also have the opportunity to develop skills in water safety, water confidence and swimming.
NEURODEVELOPMENTAL ASSESSMENT
We offer comprehensive neurodevelopmental assessments for infants, including Prechtl's General Movements assessment and the Hammersmith Infant Neurological Examination (HINE). These assessments may be recommended when a baby has risk factors such as prematurity, low birth weight, brain injury, and/or admission to the NICU. More information can be found in the Early Assessment and Diagnosis of Cerebral Palsy Guide for Parents published by the Cerebral Palsy Alliance.
EQUIPMENT
PRESCRIPTION
We work collaboratively with families to understand the child's specialised equipment needs and prescribe equipment that meets the family goals. The Physiotherapists in our team are skilled in writing Assistive Technology reports to assist families to access NDIS funding to pay for the equipment their child needs.
NDIS PLANNING &
ADVOCACY
We assist families to apply for and maintain their NDIS funding by completing evidence-based assessments and writing reports to support funding requests. We help families navigate the NDIS system to access therapy and equipment for their child.
What do Paediatric Physiotherapists do?
The experienced paediatric physiotherapists at Little Movers Physiotherapy (Melbourne) assess and treat children of all ages, from newborns through to adolescents. We work with children with a wide range of conditions affecting their movement and motor development. We are skilled in assessing and identifying developmental delays and possible underlying conditions and providing advice and interventions to maximise gross motor development and participation.
We value the importance of building a strong team around the child, so we liaise closely with parents, educators, and other healthcare practitioners (for example, Paediatricians, General Practitioners, Maternal Child Health Nurses, Speech Therapists, Psychologists, Occupational Therapists and Social Workers) to facilitate an integrated team approach.
Some of the conditions we regularly see include:
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Genetic syndromes (e.g., Down Syndrome)
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Neurological conditions (e.g., Cerebral Palsy)
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Developmental delays
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Premature infants
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Common newborn conditions musculoskeletal conditions (e.g., plagiocephaly and torticollis)
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Poor tummy time tolerance
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Postural and gait concerns
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Autism Spectrum Disorders
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Hypotonia
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Neuromuscular diseases
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Sporting injuries
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Gait (walking) concerns (e.g., in-toeing or walking on tippie toes)
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Complex medical conditions
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Childhood cancer
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Rehabilitation after surgery
If you are concerned about your child's movement or gross motor development (movement), please contact us to arrange a comprehensive assessment completed by one of our experienced paediatric physiotherapists at one of our clinics (located in Yarraville and Malvern, Melbourne). Home and community visits are also available in the Western suburbs and Eastern suburbs (Malvern and surrounding suburbs).
NDIS
Our Melbourne-based paediatric Physiotherapy clinic is a NDIS provider. Our fees and terms of service provision are in accordance with the NDIS recommendations. If your child has NDIS funding, please feel free to complete the ‘appointment request’ form on our website and we will contact you to arrange a paediatric Physiotherapy appointment at your home or one of our clinics located in Yarraville and Malvern, Melbourne.
Medicare Rebates
We accept Medicare EPC plans (also known as Chronic Disease Management Plans). Please note there is a gap payment (the rebate is approximately $53 per session).
Private appointments
If you have Private Health Insurance you may also be eligible for a rebate depending on your extras cover.