Kids First Children's Services

30/11/2025

👋 Meet the newest face at Kids First Children's Services - Danielle O’Brien, our brilliant Practice & Operations Manager!

Danielle joined us just last week, and true to form, she brought in a batch of homemade mini cheesecakes on her very first day! Safe to say the team was won over pretty quickly 💛

But there’s a lot more to Danielle than delicious desserts. With a background in teaching and years of experience leading local allied health practices (if her face looks familiar, it just might be!) she brings a calm, capable presence to our Brookvale clinic.

Danielle’s already making her mark by ensuring our systems run smoothly, supporting our multidisciplinary team behind the scenes, and helping families feel confident and cared for from the moment they walk through our doors.

We’re absolutely thrilled to have Danielle on board, and we can’t wait for you to meet her!

Learn more about her here: https://kids-first.com.au/teams/danielle-obrien/

26/11/2025

Last Friday, we said a very fond (but not forever!) farewell to Kirsty Pollard - the Early Childhood Teacher who helped shape the heart and soul of early intervention at Kids First 😌

Kirsty’s journey with us began on the other side of the table - as a Kids First parent. Over the past six years, she’s been a steady, intuitive, and quietly powerful presence in our team. Her vision helped turn the Early Intervention Teacher role into the essential part of our multidisciplinary team that it is today.

Kirsty has walked beside hundreds of families - helping children with additional needs thrive in classrooms and playgrounds across the Northern Beaches. She’s mentored colleagues, strengthened and encouraged local educators, and supported our team through the best of times… and some truly challenging ones (who could forget the COVID lockdowns and all those online sessions?!) 😂

Steadfast, loyal, and never one to seek the spotlight, Kirsty has changed lives with her deep knowledge, calm presence and unwavering belief in the potential of every child. Her legacy lives on not just in the programs she’s helped build - but in the lives of children who feel more confident, connected and capable because she believed in them.

So no - it’s not goodbye to 'Kirst'… because we know where she lives! If she doesn’t make good on her promise to visit us regularly, we’ll just have to bring the coffee to her!!! ☕️

Kirsty, we’re excited for your next chapter - one we hope will be filled with rest, joy and time with your beautiful family. Thank you for everything. 💛

25/11/2025

🎉 We’ve got news!

Educational and Developmental Psychologist Roberto Tamayo is joining the Kids First team – and we couldn’t be more thrilled!

Roberto brings years of experience supporting children with learning, behaviour, attention and emotional regulation challenges. He’s currently based in Melbourne and will officially start seeing families at Kids First from 12 January 2026 – but assessment bookings are open now!

If your child is showing signs of ADHD, Autism, dyslexia, anxiety, or giftedness – or if you're just not sure what's going on – Roberto’s assessments provide clarity, guidance and practical next steps.

✔ Uncover your child’s unique learning profile
✔ Understand attention, anxiety or emotional needs
✔ Get ready-to-implement strategies for home and school
✔ Receive professional reports to share with paediatricians, schools and the NDIS

At Kids First in Brookvale, you’ll also find experienced Speech Pathologists, Occupational Therapists and Child Psychologists working closely together – making it easier to support your child in a way that really works.

📞 Call us on 9938 5419 to book your child’s January assessment with Roberto

19/11/2025

🌟What a lovely way to welcome Danielle O’Brien, Kids First’s new Practice and Operations Manager. Her first morning with us began with a visit to One Meal - Northern Beaches, delivering some of the beautiful Christmas hampers that our families have so generously donated.

A huge thank you to the children who decorated the bags with such creativity and kindness. Your drawings, colours and messages are already brightening someone’s Christmas. 💛

Want to see what Sonja and Dani were up to? 👉 Watch our video!!

18/11/2025

Sonja’s been browsing one of her favourite bookstores and has found some lovely ideas to share. 📚✨

17/11/2025

Say hello to Corinna Dixon, our Speech Pathology Team Leader here at Kids First Children’s Services.

Corinna is a popular clinician known for her kind, practical approach and deep professional passion for supporting neurodivergent children. She brings years of experience to her role - and a knack for making even the trickiest goals feel achievable.

She’s trained in evidence-based programs like Hanen – It Takes Two to Talk and Sounds-Write, and delivers therapy that’s tailored, realistic, and always focused on building confidence and connection.

Corinna is also bilingual and can provide speech therapy in both English and German, supporting families in a way that truly meets their communication needs.

Whether it’s helping a child find their first words, become more confident at school, or strengthen their social language skills, Corinna combines warmth, know-how, and a belief that every child’s way of communicating deserves to be understood and celebrated.

📍 Corinna supports children aged 2 to 17 from our Brookvale clinic and collaborates closely with families, educators and colleagues across our multi-disciplinary team.

15/11/2025

Do you know a child who might like to participate in this opportunity with the iconic Australian TV show, Play School?

Do you know a child who'd love to be on Play School? 👀

Play School are on the lookout for children with disability to appear in our 'Through The Windows' segments for new and exciting upcoming series! ✨🎥

Full instructions on how to make a submission can be found below.
Submissions close Friday 28th November at 11:59pm AEST.

14/11/2025

🎅 Is your child afraid of Santa?

It happens more often than you think!
Between the loud crowds, bright lights and the big red suit, the whole “photos with Santa” experience can be a bit much for some children.

If this sounds familiar, our latest blog shares practical, down-to-earth ideas to help your child feel calm, safe and supported this Christmas – without the pressure or tears. 💛

👀 Read it here: https://kids-first.com.au/what-to-do-if-your-child-is-afraid-of-santa/

Child psychologists explain why it's not uncommon for young children to be scared of Santa. Preparation for a visit to Santa can make it more successful for children and parents.

13/11/2025

One Meal - Northern Beaches LOVES to welcome young people who want to give back to their community. 🌟

It’s a wonderful way for teens to build confidence, make friends and experience the joy of helping others – all while supporting locals who are doing it tough.

If you know a young person with a kind heart and a few hours to spare, encourage them to get involved!

10/11/2025