The Willow Tree Clinic

10/09/2025

✨ Our team has just spent 3 days learning from some of the best minds in the field, diving deep into Polyvagal Theory 🧠

We’re excited to bring this knowledge back to our work—helping kids and families feel safe, connected, and supported!

27/08/2025

✨Speech Pathology Week 2025 - Impact Through Communication✨

This week we celebrate the power of communication and the incredible work of speech pathologists. Communication connects us, and with the right support, everyone can have a voice and be heard 😀

06/08/2025

🌟 We’re Hiring Support Workers! 🌟
Are you passionate about making a real difference in people’s lives? Join our team of dedicated support workers and help empower individuals to live with dignity, independence, and joy.
👥 Position: Support Worker
📍 Location: Newcastle and Lake Macquarie
🕒 Hours: Flexible shifts available (including weekdays, weekends, and evenings)
💼 Employment Type: Casual

💙 What You’ll Do:
- Provide person-centered support in daily living, social engagement, and community participation
- Assist with personal care, routines, and goal-based activities
- Foster meaningful relationships and promote emotional well-being
- Work collaboratively with families and allied health teams

✅ What We’re Looking For:
- Genuine compassion and commitment to inclusion
- Experience or interest in disability support and mental health
- Certificate III or IV in Disability Support (desirable)
- Current Working with Children Check (WWCC) and National Police Check (or willingness to obtain)
- NDIS Worker Screening Check, First Aid & CPR (or willingness to obtain)
- Driver’s license and reliable transport

📩 Apply Now!
Send your resume to reception@thewillowtreeclinic.com.au or click the link https://thewillowtreeclinic.com.au/join-our-team/

Know someone who’d be perfect for this role? Tag them below or share this post!

25/07/2025

✨ Meet the Team – Amy ✨

I graduated from university in 2024 and have been working as an Occupational Therapist for the past 7 months. 🎓

I’ve always enjoyed working with children and supporting them to build their confidence, independence, and skills in fun and meaningful ways. Seeing their confidence grow as they achieve something they’ve been working on is incredibly fulfilling. It’s a rewarding and impactful area to be part of!

Outside of work, you’ll usually find me at the gym, grabbing a coffee, or spending time at the beach. 🏋️‍♀️☕🌊

I love being part of such a supportive and positive team at TWTC. It’s incredibly rewarding to meet and work with so many amazing kids and families every day. 😀

16/07/2025

✨ Meet the Team – Sami ✨

I graduated from the University of Newcastle in 2022 and have been working as an Occupational Therapist for almost 3 years now. 🎓

I always grew up with the passion to be an OT, seeing the positive impact small changes can make in someone’s life really motivates me and brings me a lot of joy.

When I’m not at work, you will find me walking my dog, enjoying anything out in the sun, reading books or trying my best to improve my cooking skills. 🐶☀️📚🍳

My favourite part of being an OT is seeing the progress my clients make, knowing I’ve been a part in helping them build confidence and independence in their daily life. It's those meaningful moments that make the work so rewarding. 😀

09/07/2025

🍦🚚 Meet our Social Play Explorers! These two turned their imaginations into action and built their very own ice cream truck!! From teamwork to turn-taking and big scoops of fun 🍨—this project was all about social connection, communication, and playful problem-solving! 🙌💬

07/07/2025

Welcome Tessa and Isabella, our 4th Year Speech Pathology Students! 💬🧠✨

We’re so excited to have some bright and passionate future speechies joining our team for their paediatric placement! Tessa and Isabella will be with us from 7/7/25 until 14/8/25. They’ll be learning from our amazing clinicians and working alongside little ones to grow their skills and make a real impact.

If you see them around the clinic, don’t be shy — say hi and give them a warm welcome! 😀

26/06/2025

New uniform has us feeling fresh 😎

18/06/2025

Recent changes to the NDIS Pricing Arrangements are likely to have a significant impact on the availability and delivery of allied health services for participants.

Key changes include:
• A 50% reduction in the hourly rate allocated for provider travel
• Freezing of pricing limits for allied health services, despite rising operational costs
• Reduced pricing limits for some therapy disciplines

What this means for participants and families:
• Reduced access to in-home, community and school-based therapy, particularly in rural or hard-to-reach areas
• Increased likelihood of gaps in service due to reduced provider capacity
• Difficulty accessing consistent, high-quality allied health support as services become less sustainable under current funding conditions
• Reduced flexibility in using therapy budgets, as funding becomes locked to specific disciplines rather than supporting a team-based, goal-focused approach

Long-term impact:
• Reduced access to early intervention and ongoing therapy can lead to fewer opportunities to build skills, capacity, and independence over time
• Without consistent support, participants may face greater reliance on higher-level supports in the future, reducing their autonomy and increasing long-term costs to the scheme

These changes may limit participant choice and control and create further barriers to achieving NDIS goals. We remain committed to delivering the best possible outcomes for every participant. However, these funding reductions make it increasingly difficult to provide accessible, flexible, and high-quality services where and when they’re needed most.

We encourage participants, families, and advocates to make their voices heard. If you believe in sustainable and equitable support for NDIS participants, please consider signing the petition below:
https://www.change.org/p/stand-up-for-disability-support-stop-the-ndis-cuts

Together, we can work to protect participant outcomes and ensure the NDIS remains focused on long-term independence and inclusion.

Stand Up for Disability Support: Stop the NDIS Cuts

10/06/2025

July school holidays are nearly here, and we are so excited about our holiday groups! From boxing to painting, and Anime to cooking, there's something for everyone! 🧑‍🍳👂🐣🥊🎲🖌
Chat to your therapist or phone 02 4989 7878 for further information ☺️