Early Intervention

The Shepherd Centre's family centred early intervention program focuses on training parents to seize every opportunity in day to day situations to teach their child to listen and speak.  These skills are further developed through integration of the children into family life and the wider community highlighting speech language and vocabulary.  Our aim is that the children will enter their local mainstram schools in a fully-integrated environment once they are school aged. 

The early intervention program provides families with 1:1 auditory-verbal therapy, audiology and family support sessions, and group sessions such as a weekly playgroup and a parent support group. 

Sessions

Once your child starts at The Shepherd Centre, they will have regular lessons according to their needs. As a parent, you will be actively involved in the play-based session where speech and language skills are developed though listening. The aim is not only to help children develop communication skills, but to have a lot of fun while doing so! Lessons will continue until your child goes to school.

Assessments

Your child will typically be assessed once a year. Assessments will include checklists for you to provide information regarding your child’s progress in addition to formal or standard assessments. This allows you to see the progress your child has made and helps to set goals for the following year.  These assessments are internationally accepted tests used for research purposes.

Individual Family Service Plan (IFSP)

An IFSP is arranged annually (or more regularly should you request it) so that your child’s progress and strengths are recognised and the goals your family would like to achieve over the next year are documented.

The IFSP will be discussed with you, as the parent, or anyone you nominate. Usually all the people working with your child attend this meeting so you can ensure we all know which goals you have selected for your child.

Playgroup

Each centre runs a playgroup (10am-12pm) once a week, where all the children in your family can participate in educational activities, including music, with you and the staff at TSC. The morning provides an opportunity for you to meet other parents and carers and chat about issues relating to your child and family. Information sessions are also provided at playgroup by the family support worker, audiologist, or teachers according to the requests of the parents in the group.

Several times a year the playgroup goes on an excursion to a venue outside of The Shepherd Centre. You can share ideas with other parents and therapists on how excursions can be used to continue the experience of developing listening, speech and language for your child outside the therapy room.

Parent Information Program

You will have the opportunity to attend information evenings. A variety of topics such as school readiness, managing behaviour, life after The Shepherd Centre (past students and parents) may be covered throughout the year. The topics are usually set following feedback from parents. Extended family members and friends are welcome at these evenings.

The Shepherd Centre has an active Parent Representative Group made up of parents from each centre.