Hungry Monkeys Feeding Therapy

03/02/2026

For all of our NDIS funded families, watch this space!

ANPA position statement on the Thriving Kids advisory group report released today

We are responding directly to the Thriving Kids advisory group report released today. We are going to be blunt. Strap in, Mark Butler MP.

Fast facts about Thriving Skids:

1. 60 - 81 percent of children in the Thriving Kids pilot did no better or went backwards. Big yikes.

2. Individual therapy will not exist under this model and it'll all be delivered in schools and early childhood centres. Kid can't attend school? Pay for support yourself, I guess.

3. This is bait and switch and a massive distraction from the fact that the ALP are already robbing Disabled kids. Autistic children are *already* being removed from the NDIS at a rate of knots - around 70 children a day.

This is happening through reassessments, plan cuts, delay, and diversion. In many cases it appears it is unlawful in effect.

By the time Thriving Kids fully rolls out, there will be no Autistic children left on the Scheme anyway, because they will all have been illegally yeeted off first by the Agency with the Minister's foot in their back. Shame.

Here's the sitch, brother:

Families hate this idea.

Schools hate it.

Unions hate it.

Disability professionals hate it.

Disabled People’s Representative Organisations hate it.

Families hate it - across socio-economic strata.

The claim of “consultation with Disabled people” does not stand up, either, so don't bloody look at us to justify your poor life choices, Min.

Disabled people made up only around 13 percent of consultation participants. That is not co-design. It is a sham. We are not responsible for this mess, and don't you dare stand behind us. We ain't being your human shield anymore.

Against this backdrop, your comments telling Australians to “remember life before the NDIS” are reckless.

Life before the National Disability Insurance Scheme meant abandonment, crisis, and exclusion and often social isolation, unemployment and death. The NDIS exists because that system failed.

This report does not justify a damn thing. It tries to sell us a dodgy car with a busted timing belt and calls it progress.

Nah, mate. Nah.

This is not reform. It is removal of rights and chucking families, workers and most importantly CHILDREN, under a fast moving bus.

Here is the blunt political reality.

How keen are you to lose the next election?

Because this will do it, Mark. This'll do it.

07/11/2025

'Team work makes the dream work'

SUCCEED- I had the opportunity this week to attend tube feeding training led by the team from Succeed Child Feeding Alliance.

A professional development opportunity offering practical experience with tube feeding, as well as the opportunity to hear from and speak to those with lived experience (tube fed themselves or parent/carer of a tube fed child).

This method supports safe, enjoyable, and responsive mealtimes. However, a family chooses to feed.

28/09/2025

Fantastic post by Coastwide Therapy Services outlining:

1) New NDIS needs assessments that will come into effect Mid 2026

2) Importance of having goals that are specific and individualised to your child and outline what is important to them, not for them.

3) Why regular review of your child's goals is necessary

''It's not enough to say at plan review...my child's OT/Speech/Physio/Psych"

18/06/2025

I've been largely absent from social media processing the news of the NDIA price review 2025-2026, it's impact on my clients, their families and my capacity to continue providing a mobile service. However, in the background, like so many of my Allied Health colleagues, we have been advocating.

I wanted to share that whilst a small step, today we were heard. Myself and fellow Allied Health colleagues and met with MP and MP for Murrumba to advocate and voice our concerns.

There was tension but the Member's listened and we have opened a door for further conversations with a Teams meeting booked for next week. Thank you Ali and Steven for your time!

13/06/2025

⚠️ Warning ⚠️ Distressing content ahead! The NDIA annual price review has been released and it is devastating for the families that so desperately need our services, for our fellow Dietitian/Physio/Podiatry colleagues whose services have been disgustingly undervalued and for 100% mobile therapists (like ours) whose travel reimbursements have been cut by 50% making our service unsustainable. It's time to say, 'enough is enough!'

18/05/2025

As of tomorrow, NDIS will be changing how funds may be accessed. A great summary regarding these changes can be found in this post by Coastwide Therapy Services.

03/03/2025

A weekend of professional development, with Speech Pathologist Linda D'Onofrio from Portland, Oregan discussing diagnosis and treatment of Orofacial Myofunctional Disorders (OMD).

Speech Pathologists are trained in the structure and functional of the muscles of the head and neck.

07/11/2024

'For children, behaviour is communication'

Parents often express concern about their child's mealtime behaviours such as:

⭐️ food refusal
⭐️ mealtime refusal
⭐️ refusing to sit at the table
⭐️ running from the table
⭐️ whinging, crying, shouting, arguing
⭐️ throwing food, plates, utensils
⭐️ using words like 'yuck', 'I don't like that',
'I'm not eating' etc

These behaviours are a child's way of saying that something isn't ok. Perhaps:

⚡️they know that eating causes them pain
⚡️they have difficulty knowing when they
are hungry, thirsty or full
⚡️they don't feel safe
⚡️they remember that scary choking
incident
⚡️eating is hard work and takes a lot of
energy
⚡️ they feel out of breath when they eat
⚡️ mealtimes are not a positive or
enjoyable experience
⚡️eating is too overwhelming for their
sensory system

Our role as feeding therapists is to look beyond the surface of behaviours and help parents unpack the 'why' ⁉️

27/08/2024

🌟Happy Speech Pathology Week 2024- 'Communicate Your Way'🌟

Everyone communicates differently.
Whether it’s spoken, signed, digital, or written, communication bridges gaps, fosters meaning and understanding, and strengthens relationships.

There is communication in everything we do.

At Hungry Monkeys Feeding Therapy🐵, we focus on understanding and supporting each child's unique way of communicating to build positive and supportive mealtime connections with those around them. This creates a strong foundation for any mealtime challenges they may face.

A big shout-out to the incredible Speech Pathologists working tirelessly to support every form of communication!

23/08/2024

Bookweek 2024-The Magic of Reading

Lively Eaters Feeding Services highlight the benefits of sharing books about food, eating, drinking and mealtimes with our children experiencing feeding challenges.

Some of our favourite books:

Piranhas don't Eat Bananas- Aaron Blabey
The Very Hungry Catepillar Australian Feast- Eric Carle
Artichoke to Zuchinni- Alice Oehr
Bluey and Bingo's Fancy Restaurant Cookbook
Eating the Alphabet- Lois Elhert

26/07/2024

Did you know......we are keeping up with the evidence!

Here at 🐵, we regularly attend professional development opportunities to provide the most up-to-date, evidence-based feeding therapy to our clients.

Today it was all about 👄 Oral Motor Feeding Therapy.

Yes! You guessed it, it was all about looking at and working on the function of the lips, cheeks, tongue, jaw (and more) used in eating & drinking.

Quote of the day:
'The best way to get better at eating is to eat'
(whenever safe to do so)

Evidence brought to us by two amazing feeding therapists and Katherine from . Thanks ladies!

19/06/2024

Two huge days listening to,
'Hot topics in Paediatric dysphagia'
presented by Pamela Dodrill and Memorie Gosa.

Added bonus was the amazing networking opportunity with fellow feeding therapists from around Australia!