WHAT WE DO
We make it easier for families across the Illawarra & Shoalhaven to access paediatric allied-health supports. Our team works with children and adolescents—in clinic, at school, at home and in the community—to build confidence, skills and participation in everyday life.
OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY
Our Occupational Therapists support children and adolescents across the Illawarra and Shoalhaven to build the skills they need for everyday life. OT helps children participate more fully in their world. This might mean learning at school, joining in play, or becoming more independent at home. We use evidence-based, best-practice approaches so each child can develop at their own pace and capacity.
What we support with:
- Emotional and sensory regulation
- Fine and gross motor development
- Handwriting and school readiness
- Self-care (eating, dressing, toileting)
- Play and social participation
- Transitions, such as starting school
Why families choose us:
- Best-practice approach — our OTs follow the latest Australian capability framework for paediatric practice, with measurable goals and outcomes.
- Strengths-based and neuro-affirming — we build on each child’s abilities and interests, supporting them to thrive in their own way.
- Family-centred — parents, grandparents, teachers, and carers are part of the team, so strategies carry over into daily routines.
- Evidence-based expertise — our team combines day-to-day therapy with senior OT support for areas like parent coaching, feeding and fussy eating, and the SenseUp model.
- Local and trusted — based in Kiama Downs, we work alongside families across the Illawarra and Shoalhaven to deliver therapy that fits real life.
Complete our secure OT Intake Form so we can match your child with the right therapist.
Get to know our OTs who support families across Kiama, the Illawarra and Shoalhaven.
Our Accredited Exercise Physiologists (EPs) support children and adolescents across the Illawarra and Shoalhaven to move with confidence. Through play, structured activity, and individualised programs, EP helps kids build strength, coordination, and endurance so they can join in at school, at sport, and in the community.
What we support with:
- Gross motor skills and coordination
- Balance and posture
- Strength, flexibility, and endurance
- Physical literacy for sport and recreation
- Healthy movement habits for long-term wellbeing
- Stamina for everyday life — sitting through class, joining in the playground, or keeping up in PE
- Return to activity after illness or injury
Why families choose us:
- Best-practice approach — our EPs follow evidence-based Australian guidelines for children and adolescents, designing safe, effective, and individualised exercise programs.
- Strengths-based and engaging — sessions are fun, practical, and tailored to each child’s abilities and interests.
- Measuring what matters — instead of relying only on standardised assessments (which aren’t always suitable for children with communication or processing differences), we track progress toward goals that are meaningful to families — like building stamina to sit through a school day or confidence to play with peers.
- Flexible and affordable — families can choose from one-to-one, small group, or aquatic programs, with options delivered in our Kiama Downs clinic, local gyms, schools, preschools, or at home.
- Local and connected — we work alongside parents, grandparents, teachers, coaches, and health providers so children can apply skills in everyday settings.
Complete our secure Intake Form so we can match your child with the right therapist.
Get to know our EPs who support families across Kiama, the Illawarra and Shoalhaven.
CREATIVE ARTS THERAPY
Our Creative Arts Therapist works with children and adolescents across the Illawarra and Shoalhaven using Dance and Movement Therapy, a modality recognised by ANZACATA, the peak professional body for creative arts therapists in Australia, New Zealand and Asia.
Creative Arts Therapists are trained mental health professionals who use the creative process — including movement, rhythm, imagery, and play — to support emotional, social and physical wellbeing. Unlike an art class, Creative Arts Therapy focuses on expression, exploration, and growth in a safe, therapeutic space.
What we support with:
Exploring and expressing feelings that are hard to put into words
Identifying and regulating emotions
Improving self-awareness and resilience
Reducing anxiety and stress
Building body awareness, coordination and confidence
Developing social and communication skills
Supporting participation and belonging in groups
Why families choose us:
- Evidence-based and professional — Creative Arts Therapy is a recognised allied health profession worldwide and in Australia through ANZACATA.
- Strengths-based and neuro-affirming — children are encouraged to explore creativity in ways that build confidence and self-identity.
- Body and mind connection — because trauma and stress are often held in the body, creative movement can help children regulate emotions and find calm.
- Flexible and cost-effective —sessions are available one-to-one or in small groups, giving families affordable options. Group settings are also an important way for children to practise social skills, connect with peers who share similar challenges, and build a sense of belonging.
- Local and family-centred — delivered in Kiama Downs, with practical strategies families can carry into home, school, and community life.
Complete our secure Intake form and discover how Creative Arts Therapy can support your child’s confidence, emotional regulation, and self-expression
Registered Creative Arts Therapist specialising in Dance and Movement Therapy
Fiona Gordon, Paediatric Dietitian at Savouring Nutrition, provides dietetic services at Koru Allied Therapies. Fiona supports children and families across the Illawarra and Shoalhaven to develop healthy, sustainable eating habits. Her approach is not about restrictive diets, but about practical, family-centred strategies that make mealtimes less stressful and more nourishing.
Areas of support include:
- Fussy and selective eating
- Expanding food variety and textures
- Supporting growth and healthy weight gain
- Gastrointestinal comfort (bloating, constipation, reflux)
- Nutrition for energy and sport
- Family mealtime routines and reducing mealtime stress
- Specialist support for complex feeding needs — including PEG feeding and tailored nutrition management for children with medical or developmental conditions
Why families value Fiona’s approach:
- Evidence-based practice — Fiona follows national guidelines and research-informed approaches for paediatric nutrition.
- Family-centred and practical — strategies are tailored to each family’s routines and culture, focusing on realistic changes that stick.
- Supporting sensory needs — with experience working alongside OTs, Fiona helps children whose eating challenges overlap with sensory regulation.
- Reducing stress at mealtimes — her focus is on replacing food battles with calm routines, giving children confidence to try new foods at their own pace.
- Expertise in complex cases — Fiona has experience with PEG feeding, enteral nutrition, and medical dietary management, ensuring safe, specialised care.
- Accessible and local — Fiona offers sessions in Kiama Downs, with options for parent-only consults or whole-family appointments.
Our Allied Health Assistants (AHAs) work as part of the Koru team to help children and families get more out of their therapy. AHAs are not independent therapists — instead, they carry out programs designed and supervised by our Occupational Therapists and Exercise Physiologists. This model ensures safety, accountability, and consistent progress, while giving families a cost-effective way to increase therapy hours.
What AHA's support with:
- School visits to help children practise therapy strategies in real classroom settings
- Home and community sessions to build independence in daily routines
- Gym- or pool-based practice to reinforce motor skills, strength, and regulation
- Group programs, supporting children to participate and engage confidently
- Repetition of therapy programs designed by OTs and EPs, with clinical oversight
Why families choose AHAs:
- Safe and supervised — all AHA sessions are clinically designed and monitored by our registered allied health professionals.
- Cost-effective — AHAs provide a more affordable way for families to increase therapy intensity within NDIS or private funding plans.
- Real-world practice — AHAs help children embed skills in the places they matter most — school, home, playground, or community.
- Consistency and confidence — families often notice faster progress when therapy programs are repeated regularly between clinician sessions.
- Local and connected — based in Kiama Downs, our AHAs know the community and work alongside families, teachers, and carers.
Get to know our AHAs who support families across Kiama, the Illawarra and Shoalhaven.
About Koru Allied Therapies
Koru Allied Therapies is a multi-disciplinary allied health hub where children and their familes can learn, grow and reach their goals. Our vision is to ensure that the families we support spend more time on accessing appropriate and professional care, and less time commuting between appointments across the Illawarra!
Using a client and family centred approach, we are passionate about empowering individuals and their families to take control of their own goal setting and achievements.
Resources for Families
We know how hard it can be to navigate all of the information out there, so we’ve compiled a selection resources for you. Whether you’re after interesting articles, checklists, or information on local service providers, we’ve got you covered.
FUNDING
Funding options are available to families wishing to access our services.
Koru Allied Therapies services can be accessed through a variety of funding pathways, making therapy more affordable and flexible for families.
NDIS — we see both self-managed and plan-managed participants across the Illawarra and Shoalhaven.
Medicare — eligible children may access rebates through GP care plans and referrals.
Private health insurance — claims can be processed instantly via HICAPS at our Kiama Downs clinic.
Private payment — families without funding can pay directly, with flexible options available.
We’re happy to discuss which option best suits your child’s therapy needs and guide you through the process.
