Protea Therapy

Protea Therapy Protea Therapy provides evidence-based speech pathology services for children with eating and drinking difficulties in Melbourne and via telehealth

Sensory play (or messy play) is a common tool that therapists use to help kids who are worried or selective eaters. This...
05/03/2026

Sensory play (or messy play) is a common tool that therapists use to help kids who are worried or selective eaters. This free kit has been developed by researchers into selective eating at De Montford University and has ideas for getting started with this kind of play at home. https://sensoryplaytoolkit.weebly.com/

If you need additional support and ways to support kids who struggle with eating, as a parent or as a clinician, we can help! Call (03) 7034 6944, email info@proteatherapy.com.au or head to our website at http://www.proteatherapy.com.au/

Is dinner the hardest meal for your family? You are NOT alone! Kids are often tired out by dinner time, *and* it's often...
28/02/2026

Is dinner the hardest meal for your family? You are NOT alone! Kids are often tired out by dinner time, *and* it's often the time when we serve the most challenging foods. You might have more luck serving veggies and meats at other mealtimes; and at dinner, try offering at least one or two foods that you know your child enjoys, even if they're not conventional 'dinner' foods.

For more individualised problem-solving, get in touch at (03) 7034 6944 or https://www.proteatherapy.com.au/new-clients

For kids who are worried about food or mealtimes, there are so many opportunities to learn about food! Growing, buying, ...
11/02/2026

For kids who are worried about food or mealtimes, there are so many opportunities to learn about food! Growing, buying, cooking, prepping, and serving food are all amazing ways to build confidence and competence... and curiosity. So, if you have a child who won't even look at broccoli, take a step back and see if they'll help you bag it up at the supermarket, or chop it up (with a child safe knife like a ), or serve it to you.

If your child's eating and drinking problems are too big for you to handle on your own, that's what we're here for! Get in touch by filling out our intake form at http://www.proteatherapy.com.au/new-clients or email us at info@proteatherapy.com.au or call on (03) 7034 6944

It's my first day back in the office, you guys! (Which means... the kids are back at school)I am so excited to be back a...
28/01/2026

It's my first day back in the office, you guys! (Which means... the kids are back at school)

I am so excited to be back and ready to dive back into working with families and professionals who support kids with eating and drinking difficulties. Day 1 is a mixture of email catch-ups, a Mealtime Management Plan review (summer VFSSs mixing things up, thanks to my amazing colleagues at RCH), supervision, talking professional support options with a speechie practice lead, and prepping for a new assessment next week. And if I have time, amongst all that, I have a peer-review to do for the International Journal of Language and Communication Disorders.

Who needs a slow start?!

I've started booking some new clients for 2026, and my waiting list is open. So, if you have a child that needs eating and drinking support (especially if their needs are complex, e.g., tube feeding, unsafe swallowing), please get in touch with my team at info@proteatherapy.com.au, (03) 7034 6944, or https://www.proteatherapy.com.au/new-clients

I also have some space for professional supervision sessions (https://www.proteatherapy.com.au/supervision-bookings) or single-session consultations (https://www.proteatherapy.com.au/single-session-consultation).

I hope you all enjoyed your holiday season, and I'm looking forward to an amazing 2026.

Thank you so much to our clients, supervisees, colleagues, and community, all of whom make working in this space an utte...
18/12/2025

Thank you so much to our clients, supervisees, colleagues, and community, all of whom make working in this space an utter joy. We hope you're able to spend the coming weeks doing whatever rests and recharges you for the new year ahead.

Protea Therapy will be completely closed from next week until January 5th. Our admin team will be back on the phones in January, but we won't return to clinical services until the start of term 1, at the end of January.

Wishing you a wonderful holiday season full of nourishment!

Throwing food can be one of THE most frustrating behaviours that babies, toddlers and children engage in when they are l...
12/12/2025

Throwing food can be one of THE most frustrating behaviours that babies, toddlers and children engage in when they are learning to eat! If you get stressed about the mess and food waste, you're definitely not alone. The good news is that this is a very normal stage that many children pass through as they explore foods, implements, mealtimes, gravity, and the reactions of people around them. For most kids, the food throwing stage will end on its own. If you want to help it pass, you can try:
1. Staying calm and not reacting (your reactions make throwing more interesting)
2. 'Redirecting' by showing or helping your child to place the food in a 'no thank you' bowl
3. Finishing the mealtime when your child starts throwing
4. Keeping the dogs outside at mealtimes! (Feeding the dogs is often one of our clients' favourite reasons to throw food. That said, it does provide an easy way to clean up...)

If you need additional support with mealtimes, eating or drinking, we're here to help! Call us on (03) 7034 6944 or use our website form here: https://www.proteatherapy.com.au/new-clients

So many parents get really stressed when their baby or child doesn't eat much (or eats heaps) at a particular mealtime o...
04/12/2025

So many parents get really stressed when their baby or child doesn't eat much (or eats heaps) at a particular mealtime or on a particular day. But most kids are really good at being intuitive eaters, responding to their body's signals that can be influenced by their growth, their activity levels, their sleep, their mood, their health, their development... and much more! Allowing your baby or child to eat as much or as little as they feel that they need at that moment helps them develop a positive relationships with food, and can decrease mealtime stress.

If your baby or child is showing signs that they struggle to eat enough (for example, they're not growing or gaining weight as expected), that could be a sign that some extra support might be helpful. Speak to your GP, maternal and child health nurse, or paediatrician. And if you need help with your child's eating and drinking skills, you can contact Protea Therapy on (03) 7034 6944 or at https://www.proteatherapy.com.au/new-clients

It can be tricky as a parent to know whether problems or struggles with feeding are 'normal', or something to seek help ...
27/11/2025

It can be tricky as a parent to know whether problems or struggles with feeding are 'normal', or something to seek help for. This free questionnaire from is a quick and easy tool you can use to help you figure out whether you need to chat to your child's doctor or therapy team about their feeding. You can also print out the results and take them along to your appointment to show your provider why you might be concerned. Access it here: https://questionnaire.feedingmatters.org/

Thanks for this amazing free resource!

It's World Prematurity Day! (Or at least it was, over the weekend)Premature (or preterm) birth refers to birth before 37...
17/11/2025

It's World Prematurity Day! (Or at least it was, over the weekend)

Premature (or preterm) birth refers to birth before 37 weeks of gestational age. Babies born early have higher rates of medical and developmental struggles, especially if they are born very early (e.g., before 32 weeks of gestation.) This is a day close to our hearts, because Dr Katherine Sanchez's PhD focused on communication and feeding development in children born before 30 weeks of gestation, and has worked with lots of children and families affected by premature birth once they have been discharged home from the hospital.

Life's Little Treasures and Miracle Babies are two amazing not-for-profits that offer support to families affected by premature birth.

We love supporting children and families who need help with feeding, eating and drinking, including those born prematurely. Get in touch on (03) 7034 6944 or at https://www.proteatherapy.com.au/new-clients to enquire and/or be added to our waiting list.

It shouldn’t be a hot take… but somehow it is.Just here to let you know that we believe that you want the world for your...
30/10/2025

It shouldn’t be a hot take… but somehow it is.

Just here to let you know that we believe that you want the world for your kid, and that you are trying your absolute best. Human milk and breast/chestfeeding are awesome, but they’re not right for every baby and parent. However you fed your baby, I bet you did everything you could to nourish them, and help them grow up safe and healthy. 🎉Go you! 🎉

If feeding has been a bumpy road for you and your kid, we provide judgement-free assessment and therapy to support eating and drinking skills. Give us a call on (03) 7034 6944 or email us at info@proteatherapy.com.au

When should I first start offering my baby food?Most official health advice recommends introducing food to babies when t...
16/10/2025

When should I first start offering my baby food?

Most official health advice recommends introducing food to babies when they are around six months of age, and not before four months of age. If your baby was born before 37 weeks of gestation, use their corrected age. Within this range, look for signs of readiness, like interest in food, head and neck control, and the ability to sit in a supported position, to guide you.

Following these guidelines may be associated with a lower risk of illness, allergies, and other issues. You can find more information at the Raising Children website, here: https://raisingchildren.net.au/babies/breastfeeding-bottle-feeding-solids/solids-drinks/introducing-solids

Working out what to do when introducing food isn’t going smoothly or figuring out how to adapt this process to suit babies with disabilities or vulnerabilities can be tricky! If you need help with your baby’s eating and drinking, you can speak to us about making an appointment on (03) 7034 6944 or via our website at http://www.proteatherapy.com.au/

Address

2 Holden Street
Melbourne, VIC
3068

Opening Hours

Monday 9am - 5pm
Tuesday 9am - 5pm
Wednesday 9am - 5pm
Thursday 9am - 5pm
Friday 9am - 5pm

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