The Warners Bay Place

This morning Lauren sat down with our local federal member, the Honourable Pat Conroy MP, alongside three other local allied health leaders, to talk about what the NDIS changes actually mean for children and families here.

In the room: speech pathology, physiotherapy (Kids Physio Newcastle), occupational therapy (The OT Coach Australia) and dietetics (Aim High Therapy Services).

Hundreds of local children between us, and a lot of years of experience.

Here is what we asked for:

Clarity. Families deserve to know what is changing, when, and what it means for their child. Right now nobody can answer that properly, and the uncertainty is landing on you.

No gaps. Support should not be taken away before something else is ready to take its place.

A local workforce that can stay. The people who see your children live and work here, and we want them still here in five years.

We were heard, and we are grateful for that. There is more to do and we will keep doing it.

If you are worried about your child's funding or what happens next, please talk to us. You do not have to work it out on your own.

Today, on National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Children’s Day, we are taking a moment to consider an important question:

Are the places where children learn, play and receive support creating genuine space for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children to see their culture reflected, share their stories and know their voices are valued?

Listening to children means more than giving them an opportunity to speak. It means being willing to learn from what they tell us, recognising the knowledge held within families and communities, and ensuring culture, identity and connection are treated as strengths.

At A Growing Understanding, we know culturally responsive practice is not something that can be simply acknowledged on one day and considered complete. It requires continued listening, reflection, learning and meaningful action.

Today, we celebrate the strength, stories, knowledge and potential of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children, and continue to consider what each of us can do (today and every day) to ensure they grow up feeling seen, heard, connected and proud.

It’s on again! Tomorrow Dr Jacey will be on IG stories answering your questions from just after lunch 🥗 in our new segment ‘Ask Dr Jacey’.

Dr Jacey Pryjma is our Director and founded the Australian Children’s Chiropractic Centre in 2016. She has been a Chiropractor for almost 20years!

While she is off with her new baby and absent from adjusting, she loves to support our community with her pearls of wisdom.

Not only is she a passionate educator for the community, Dr Jacey also has taught Chiropractic Paediatric seminars to Chiropractors for 15years. When in practice, she dedicates a third of her week to mentoring and collaborating with our Chiropractors at ACCC.

🙋‍♀️ Have your questions ready for tomorrow and keep an eye out for the questions box in the stories.

To our wonderful CA, Claire - wishing you a very happy birthday!!

You bring so much joy to our team and all of the families that you support. Thank you for everything you do. 🥰

Enjoy your special day! 💐🥳

Last night, at the Speech Pathology Australia AGM, Lauren was officially appointed to the SPA Board as a General Director, alongside Tim Kittel and Megan Ingram, owner of Peninsula Plus

This is a significant professional milestone, and one we are incredibly proud to celebrate.

Lauren’s day-to-day work with our team, and with the children and families we support, remains the same. What changes is that she will now also contribute to the leadership of the profession at a national level, bringing with her the experience she has built through private practice, governance, advocacy and service development.

The perspective Lauren carries into this work is shaped by the realities clinicians and families are navigating every day: waitlists, NDIS reform, equitable access, sustainable service delivery, and the steady work of helping children communicate (in their way).

We think it matters to have people at that table who know what this work looks like up close.

Lauren would also like to acknowledge the outgoing directors and the current Board, including President Kathryn McKinley, for the work they have done, and continue to do, on behalf of the profession.

To every family who has trusted us with your child, and every clinician on our team who shows up for them with care, skill and commitment, thank you. 💜

This milestone is part of a bigger story, one shaped by families, clinicians, advocacy, and the shared work of helping children communicate, connect and grow.