Next Challenge

Feelings can show up in our bodies too! ⭐️

This OT session focused on exploring different body cues and learning to recognise what our bodies might be telling us when we experience different emotions 🧠✨

Book Week fun! 📚✨

Our client loved Speechie Lauren’s Book Week costume so much that she requested the same hairstyle - matching braids included! 🎀🩵

We think it’s safe to say the matching look was a pretty big hit! ⭐️

We love these moments of connection, fun and shared interests that make therapy so special 💜

*Photo shared with consent from the child’s family*

One of our OTs recently used this fun activity, integrating role play and a love of animals to create a fun, comfortable space for exploring emotions and practising regulation skills. By giving the animals different feelings and scenarios, they could explore those emotions through play! 💜✨

Our team had so much fun bringing some of our favourite book characters to life for Book Week! 📚🦁🌈

And the fun didn’t stop at the clinic… 👀✨ Swipe to see some of our characters out and about in the community! 🏡

We love celebrating the stories that spark imagination, encourage connection and bring joy to the children and families we support 💜

🌸 GIRLS GROUP 🌸

Our Girls Group is designed to provide a safe, supportive and welcoming space for girls aged 8–14 to build friendships, develop social confidence and connect with like-minded peers✨

Through fun, engaging and age-appropriate activities, girls will have opportunities to:

💗 Build confidence and self-esteem
🤝 Make meaningful connections and friendships
💬 Practise communication and problem-solving skills
🌟 Develop confidence

📍 Next Challenge – Osborne Park
👧 Ages 8–14
📅 Fortnightly on Thursdays
⏰ 3:30pm | 60 minutes

⭐️ Places are limited, so get in touch with us ([email protected] or 9201 0707) to find out more or register your interest!

💜 Meet Monique! 👋💜

Monique is one of our Physiotherapists who brings an enthusiastic, supportive and child-centred approach to every session ⭐️

She has a special interest in Developmental Coordination Disorder (DCD), motor planning, and supporting children to participate confidently in sport and everyday activities ⚽️

With a passion for creating engaging and individualised therapy, Monique loves helping children build their movement skills, confidence and independence so they can participate in the activities that they love 🏃🏽‍♀️

Perth Speech Pathologists 👋💜🧠 We are hiring!

📍 Next Challenge – Osborne Park
✨ Full-time or part-time roles available
💬 We welcome all experience levels

Come and join our supportive, nurturing and passionate team of Speechies, OTs and Physios! 🙌 We are passionate about supporting children and families in a fun, collaborative environment where all children can learn, grow and thrive 💫

✨ Follow your clinical passions and build a caseload you love
✨ Enjoy regular mentoring + PD support
✨ Thrive in a flexible, heart-led workplace

Whether you’re just starting out or looking for your next adventure, we’d love to hear from you! 🙌🏼

📧 Send your CV or expression of interest to Julie Hunt ([email protected]) by Friday 7th of August
🌐 Learn more about us: www.nextchallenge.com.au

❓📚 What skills are required to become a confident reader?

🟢 Phonemic awareness helps children hear and manipulate the individual sounds in words.
🟣 Phonics teaches the relationship between letters and sounds, allowing children to decode unfamiliar words.
🩷 Fluency is the ability to read accurately, smoothly and with expression.
🔵 Vocabulary gives meaning to the words children read and hear.
🟠 Comprehension involves understanding, interpreting and thinking about what has been read.

Research shows that each of these skills plays an important role in reading development. When reading is challenging, identifying the building blocks that need support can help guide targeted intervention and help children grow in their confidence as readers ⭐️

🍓🥦 Our favourite food related games and activities 🍎🧁

Whether it’s reading food-themed stories, playing games, pretending to cook, or feeding our favourite therapy friends, food-based activities can support so many important skills while keeping children engaged and having fun.

These activities can help develop:
🍓 Language and vocabulary
🧁 Turn-taking and social interaction
🥕 Play skills and imagination
🍉 Following directions
🥦 Early requesting and commenting
🍎 Cause and effect
🍰 Confidence exploring food in a fun, low-pressure way

💬✨ Celebrating every way we communicate!

These books by Amanda Hartmann are a wonderful way to introduce Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC), celebrate different ways of communicating, and promote understanding and inclusion.

Our Speech Pathologists love using books in sessions to support communication, spread awareness, and help every child know that all forms of communication are valuable 💜