First Choice Allied Health

13/12/2025

We're excited to welcome Dr Atefeh Taghizadeh to the Occupational Therapy team.

Atefeh completed her PhD in Occupational Therapy at La Trobe University, where she deepened her expertise in paediatric, evidence-based practice. Her doctoral research focused on developing a practical tool to support clinicians working with children with cerebral palsy to implement motor learning strategies within upper limb therapy.

With over 15 years of experience as a Paediatric Occupational Therapist, Atefeh brings extensive knowledge, clinical skill, and passion to her role. Her professional interest lies in upper limb therapy and motor learning, where she draws on a diverse range of motor, behavioural, and cognitive approaches to support children’s development and participation.

She has worked with children presenting with a wide range of conditions, including Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), Learning Disabilities (LD), Developmental Delays, and Cerebral Palsy, with a strong focus on promoting independence across self-care, play, education, social participation, and daily living.

Atefeh’s therapeutic approach is deeply rooted in evidence-based, child- and family-centred practice. She is dedicated to helping children and their families set meaningful goals, enhance functional capacity, and build confidence through collaborative and strengths-based intervention. Advocating for children’s rights, dignity, and opportunities for participation remains at the heart of her work.

We're so lucky to have her on the First Choice team! 🧡

09/12/2025

Last Friday, The First Choice Team celebrated the achievements of 2025 on the beautiful Yarra River, at Byblós - modern Lebanese restaurant.

The team enjoyed a delicious dinner together with lots of raucous conversation and laughter. The Bad Santa Kris Kringle tradition continued this year. 'Naughty' guests stole their colleague's gift. Poor Hong and Mel F had their cherished gifts stolen - these two gifts were seriously sought-after! In the end Hong received a substitute present of an egg cooker and Mel got some sweet treats.😆🐓🍫

Thank you to Mai and Hong for providing such a brilliant night and a special mention to Anh who graciously facilitated the Bad Santa hijinks.🧡

29/11/2025

Psychologists support children and adolescents to understand their thoughts, emotions, and behaviours, and to build the skills they need to cope, connect, and thrive. They assess emotional, social, and behavioural development and provide evidence-based strategies to help young people feel more confident and in control.

Specifically, psychologists can help children and teens to:

👉 Understand and manage big emotions such as anxiety, anger, or sadness
👉 Build coping skills for stress, worry, and daily challenges
👉 Develop healthy thinking patterns and improve self-esteem
👉 Strengthen social skills, friendships, and communication
👉 Learn problem-solving skills and positive behaviour strategies
👉 Work through difficulties related to school, peer pressure, or family changes
👉 Receive tailored support for neurodivergent children and those with conditions such as anxiety disorders, depression, and learning or behavioural concerns

With psychological support, children and teens can learn practical tools that build resilience, support their wellbeing, and help them navigate life with greater confidence and connection.

First Choice Allied Health have a number of psychology appointment slots available now. Please complete our intake form at https://www.firstchoiceallied.com.au/intake-form, or reach out to our reception on (03) 9687 2365 if you have any questions.💛

28/11/2025

Occupational Therapists assess and treat delays and disorders related to fine motor skills, sensory processing, motor planning and coordination, visual processing and perception, self care, and social emotional skills and regulation.

Specifically, OTs can help children to:

👉Develop fine motor skills so they can grasp and release toys and develop good handwriting or computer skills
👉Improve eye–hand coordination so they can play and do needed school skills such as copy from the whiteboard or hit a ball
👉Master basic life skills such as bathing, getting dressed, brushing teeth, and self-feeding
👉Learn positive behaviours and social skills by practicing how they manage frustration and anger
👉Get special equipment to help build their independence such as wheelchairs, bathing equipment, and dressing aids

Through occupational therapy children can learn strategies that set them up for success in the daily activities and interactions of their life.

First Choice Allied Health have a number of occupational therapy slots available now. Please complete our intake form at https://www.firstchoiceallied.com.au/intake-form, or reach out to our reception on (03) 9687 2365 if you have any questions.💚

25/11/2025

Due to recent growth in the First Choice team we currently have no waitlist for two of our three disciplines. This doesn't happen very often! If you've been considering therapy for yourself or a family member, now is a great time to get in contact.

⭐ Occupational Therapy: Immediate Availability
⭐ Psychology: Immediate Availability

Please complete the intake form: https://www.firstchoiceallied.com.au/intake-form or contact our reception for further information.

19/11/2025

It’s important to seek professional support from a qualified health professional if your child:

👉 Eats fewer than 15–20 different foods

👉 Avoids entire food groups (such as all fruits or all vegetables)

👉 Gags, chokes, or vomits when eating certain foods

👉 Becomes distressed or anxious around mealtimes

👉 Has trouble chewing or swallowing safely

Helping a child with fussy eating is never about forcing or pressuring them to eat it. It’s about understanding, patience, and building trust.

Seeking support early can make a big difference. With the right guidance, most children can learn to enjoy mealtimes, build confidence with food, and take positive steps toward a healthy relationship with eating.❤️

17/11/2025

A key part of feeding success is parent involvement. Whilst medical assessment and intervention are necessary in many cases, parents should not underestimate the role they can play to help children develop a positive relationship with food, and the skills they will need for the future.

Parents can get children involved in activities such as:

🛒 Grocery shopping (giving them a list of items they need to get)

🍇 Helping to wash fruits and vegetables

🥫 Helping to put groceries away

🥣 Stirring and mixing during cooking

🔪 Cutting with kid-safe knives and supervision

📖 Getting them to help read and follow recipes

These strategies help your child to interact with those newer foods in a pressure-free way where they aren’t expected to eat the foods in the moment. In addition, having shared mealtimes and modelling the behaviour you want to see is incredibly valuable to children as they grow up. 💛

17/11/2025

Speech pathologists are able to provide feeding therapy that is tailored to individual needs and may include:

👉 Play-based food exploration: Using games and sensory play to help children interact with food in fun, low-pressure ways.

👉 Skill development: Practising chewing, sipping, or tongue movements in enjoyable and supportive sessions.

👉 Family coaching: Helping parents build calm, consistent mealtime routines and respond confidently to food refusals.

Progress often happens step by step – the goal isn’t just to add more foods to your child’s plate and to eat a greater variety, but to make eating a relaxed and positive experience for the whole family. 🙌

14/11/2025

Speech pathologists support fussy eaters by looking beyond the behaviour to understand why a child is struggling, and then they find practical ways to help. Speech pathologists can:

👉 Assess feeding and swallowing skills to identify any oral-motor difficulties.

👉 Explore sensory preferences to find out which textures, tastes, or smells your child enjoys or avoids.

👉 Develop positive mealtime strategies that reduce pressure and build comfort and curiosity around food.

👉 Support gradual food expansion using gentle, play-based steps to increase a child’s confidence in trying new foods.

First Choice's speech pathologists have been trained in the “Get Permission Approach” to feeding — a responsive, sensitive, and supportive approach to feeding therapy. “Get Permission” strategies lovingly support children and their families to create positive change at mealtimes.

Regardless of the cause of your child’s fussy eating, our speech pathologists work closely with each child and family to help them manage food and fluid safely, and improve their ongoing relationship with food through a responsive, child-led therapy approach. 🧡

14/11/2025

Tham dự buổi hội thảo đặc biệt

KẾT NỐI & LAN TỎA - Thương nghiệp & Cộng đồng

Một sự kiện ý nghĩa nhằm gắn kết cộng đồng và thương nghiệp, tuyên dương vai trò của phụ nữ, và ghi nhận những đóng góp xuất sắc của các cá nhân và tổ chức người Việt tại Brimbank.

⏰Thời gian:
Thứ Sáu, ngày 21 tháng 11 năm 2025
Lúc 6:30pm để bắt đầu chương trình đúng 7pm
Buổi ăn tối sẽ phục vụ từ 7:10pm

📍Địa điểm: Lamour Reception, 85 Henry St, St Albans

Đây là một cơ hội để quý vị:

 Kết nối và mở rộng mạng lưới giữa các nhà lãnh đạo, tổ chức, thương nghiệp và cộng đồng người Việt chúng ta

 Lan tỏa vai trò của phụ nữ thông qua chia sẻ kinh nghiệm, câu chuyện truyền cảm hứng và các hoạt động hỗ trợ cho cộng đồng

 Vinh danh những thành viên và tổ chức tiêu biểu đã có đóng góp nổi bật cho sự phát triển và gắn kết tại Brimbank

** Nếu quý vị muốn đề cử các doanh nghiệp hay cá nhân phục vụ tốt cho cộng đồng sống trong Brimbank, xin vui lòng email qua: info@serlink.com.au

Quý vị có thể scan QR Code để mua vé hoặc qua link:

https://www.eventbrite.com.au/e/ket-noi-lan-toa-thuong-nghiep-cong-ong-tickets-1969155840126?aff=oddtdtcreator

Hoặc liên lạc trực tiếp với các số điện thoại trong poster.

Một sự kiện ý nghĩa nhằm gắn kết cộng đồng và thương nghiệp và ghi nhận những đóng góp xuất sắc của các cá nhân và tổ chức người Việt

14/11/2025

If mealtimes feel like a daily struggle, you’re not alone. Many families find themselves worrying when their child refuses to try new foods, eats only a few familiar meals, or becomes upset at the sight or smell of something different.

While occasional pickiness is a normal part of childhood, ongoing feeding challenges can affect a child’s nutrition, growth, and family harmony – and that’s where a Speech Pathologist can help.

Fussy or selective eating can happen for lots of reasons. For some children, it’s simply part of how they explore their independence and preferences. But for others, it may be linked to underlying challenges such as:

👉 Sensory sensitivities: certain textures, smells, or temperatures may feel overwhelming.

👉 Oral-motor difficulties: chewing or swallowing certain foods might be physically harder.

👉 Feeding experiences: stressful mealtimes, medical conditions, or early feeding issues can affect a child’s comfort with food.

Rest assured that with the right guidance, most children can learn to enjoy mealtimes, build confidence with food, and take positive steps toward a healthy relationship with eating. ❤️

31/10/2025

The First Choice Team have been celebrating Occupational Therapy Week this week. 🎉

On Wednesday, the team got together for some OT-inspired games designed by our dynamic OT Team: Phoebe, Cherry and Ivy.

Game One: The Colour Challenge 🌈

This game tested cognitive, perceptual, social, and emotional skills. Each team had four pieces of coloured papers in front of them, and when Ivy (acting as game master) called out a colour (for example, “yellow”), competitors were not allowed to touch the yellow piece of paper or any paper with the word “yellow” written on it.

Our brilliant Director Mai was feeling confident after watching a few teammates play but she was the very first one 'out' in the first round. 😂 We shall never speak of this again!! 🙊

Game Two: Cup Stacking Tower Challenge 🥤

This activity focused on teamwork, planning, and problem solving. Each team had to stack cups as high as possible without them falling.

Despite a lot of 'talk' by psychologist Richard (who was trying to will a win) it was the admin/speechie team, who showed that they had nerves of steel and took the crown!!! 🏆

To finish off the occasion, the team had a “cups of questions” activity over lunch, where everyone picked one question from a cup and shared their answer. The questions were fun, thoughtful, and meaningful. Thank you so much to our wonderful OT team for preparing such enjoyable games and helping us strengthen the First Choice team's bond. 🧡