Kickstart Collective

09/10/2025

Messy Play Day!!!! 🌈⭐🐋

Messy play creates opportunities to explore textures, experiment with cause and effect, and express creativity. Sensory experiences support brain development, problem-solving skills and fine motor skills — all while having fun! 🫧

09/10/2025

📚 Maitland Libraries Book Sale is back!

It’s time to stock up on great reads at bargain prices. From much-loved novels to non-fiction gems, children’s books, cookbooks, magazines, and more — there’s something for every book lover.

Want first pick of the bargains? Buy a presale book bag and get early access before doors open to the public. You’ll skip the queue and be among the first to browse the full range.

📍 Maitland Town Hall
🗓️ Saturday 8 Nov, 9am–1pm
🎟️ Presale bags available now — general entry is free

Grab your presale bag ⬇️ Link in the comments!

02/10/2025

Kickstart to Kindergarten Week 4 - Space Week!! 🚀👨‍🚀

Space themed activities with our fantastic little learners. This week we made astronaut masks, played 'Rob the Nest' - planet style, listened to a Space Book and engaged in sensory space play! 💫💫

23/09/2025

Kickstart to Kindergarten Week 3 - Transport Week!!! 🚂🚂

This week our fantastic friends engaged in activities all about transport. We completed an obstacle course, watching the traffic lights and waiting for the green signal to go. We listened to a book about a Teddy Bear who caught the train. We worked very hard on their name writing to create a Kickstart to Kindy name train. And we used our listening skills to play transport Bingo!! 🤩🤩

Eilish and Ruby can't wait to see you all again next week ⭐🌈

15/09/2025

Week 2 of Kickstart to Kindergarten - our school readiness group run by Occupational Therapist Ruby and Speech Pathologist Eilish. This week was animal themed! 🐻

We listened to a book about a very cranky bear, used fine motor skills to make animal masks, followed directions to sort animals into their sensory homes and completed an obstacle course jumping like kangaroos! ⭐🌈

Please contact hello@kickstartcollective.com.au to register interest for our term 4 Kickstart to Kindergarten group.

08/09/2025

Thursday 11 September is R U OK? Day - a reminder to check in with the people around us, because a conversation could change a life.

Here are the 4 steps of an R U OK conversation:

1. Ask
🌻 Choose a time and place where they’ll be comfortable opening up.
🌻 Ask in a way that works for you. You don’t have to use the exact
words, ‘are you OK?’.
🌻 You could even gently point out what you’ve noticed or mention something that’s going on for them.

2. Listen
🌻 Take what they say seriously and don’t interrupt or rush them.
🌻 Don’t judge their experiences or reactions but acknowledge their feelings.
🌻 Encourage them to explain by asking open ended questions like: “How are you feeling about that?” or “How long have you felt that way?”

3. Encourage action
🌻 Ask them what have they’ve done in the past to manage similar situations.
🌻 Encourage them to think of something that could help them lighten the load.
🌻 If they’ve been feeling really down for an extended period of time or they seem to be really struggling, encourage them to seek professional support. Offer to help them research appropriate services.

4. Check in
🌻 Set yourself a reminder to check in with them again soon.
🌻 You could say: “I’ve been thinking of you and wanted to know how you’ve been going since we last chatted.”.
🌻 You might need to repeat the above steps. Your ongoing, genuine care will help them feel supported.

For more resources and tips on how to ask 'Are you okay?' visit
https://www.ruok.org.au/how-to-ask.

03/09/2025

Week 1 of Kickstart to Kindergarten, our school readiness group run by speech pathologist Eilish and occupational therapist Ruby. This week was focused on getting to know one another, and forming social connections as a group. Our fantastic friends made beautiful 'All About Me' posters, engaged in show and tell, and worked together to make our class tree. We can't wait to see you all again next week!! ⭐ 🌈🖌️

Please contact hello@kickstartcollective.com.au to register interest for our term 4 Kickstart to Kindergarten group!

28/08/2025

Good news! Our speech pathology team have capacity! 🥳

We are now accepting referrals for speech pathology assessment and intervention, with availability from October. If you are looking for support for your child, please head to our website and complete the service request.

https://www.kickstartcollective.com.au/service-request

We can't wait to meet you!🤸‍♀️

27/08/2025

Speech Pathology Week Spotlight! ⭐️💛

Meet Emily, one of our awesome speechies. Emily has been with Kickstart for 2 years now, sharing her passion for early speech and language.

Emily is a born and raised Maitland local with a plethora of knowledge about the local area, allowing her to support families to access relevant services.

An animal fanatic, Emily has pets of all shapes and sizes! From her golden retriever Marty, to a bearded dragon, cat, canary and fish, we love hearing Em's stories of chaos! 🦎

Emily's favourite game to play with her clients is 'The Sneaky Snacky Squirrel Game'. Next time you're in, challenge her to a round or two!

Happy SP Week Emily! We love having you on the team. 🫶

25/08/2025

This week is Speech Pathology Week and the theme is 'Impact through Communication'. Communication is a fundamental human right, facilitating connection, confidence, inclusion, empowerment, opportunity, wellbeing and independence. 🌟

Speech Pathology Week is an opportunity to reflect on the critical role that speech pathologists play in working with people across the lifespan to achieve meaningful goals.

Here are just SOME of the areas our fabulous speech pathologists can help with:
👄 Speech sounds
👂🏻 Expressive and receptive language
📣 Voice
🌊 Stuttering
👯 Social communication
🖐🏻 Key Word Sign
📱 AAC
💘 Self-esteem and self-advocacy

We are so grateful to have a team of speech pathologists who deeply care for their clients and who feel passionate about achieving the best outcomes for the children they work with.

Happy Speech Pathology Week! 🌈🎉

Impact through communicationSunday 24 August – Saturday 30 August 2025

20/08/2025

Head down to Maitland Regional Sportsground this Thursday 21 August as the Maitland Pickers Rugby League Club host an open training session with the Brisbane Broncos 💥

Gates will open from 4pm - 5.45pm, so you can catch a glimpse of your favourite players in action ahead of their clash with the Newcastle Knights.

16/08/2025

One of our favourite events, Surfing the Spectrum, is back on the 13th of September at Nobby’s! 🏄‍♂️🩵🌞

Such an awesome free event for young people to develop their confidence in the ocean, supported by an amazing team of coaches and volunteers.

Head to https://www.eventbrite.com.au/e/surfing-the-spectrum-nobbys-beach-13-september-2025-tickets-1592725136759?aff=oddtdtcreator to register! 🐬