Lumos Paediatric Therapy
What is parent coaching?
Parent and caregiver coaching focuses on the adults who know the child best. Rather than giving families a generic home program, the therapist works with you to understand what is happening during real routines, practise useful strategies and adjust them together.
Sessions may be parent-only or include your child, depending on the question and agreed goals. In-person and telehealth appointments may be available. You can start with a consultation when you are unsure whether your child needs ongoing individual therapy.
Family-led and participation focused
We begin with the routines and activities that matter to your family—at home, kinder, school and in the community—and build achievable next steps around your child’s strengths and needs.
What can we work on?
Play & Connection
Supporting shared attention, interaction, play ideas and enjoyable connection during everyday activities.
Communication
Creating communication opportunities and responding to your child’s gestures, sounds, words and preferred communication style.
Regulation & Sensory Needs
Understanding patterns, co-regulation and environmental changes that may support participation.
Daily Routines
Working through routines such as dressing, sleep preparation, transitions, toileting or community outings.
Mealtimes
Exploring practical, low-pressure ways to support participation and comfort during family meals.
Kinder & School Participation
Planning consistent strategies with families and, where appropriate and consented, educators.
How coaching works
Choose a meaningful priority
Tell us what is difficult, what is already working and what you would like family life to look like.
Understand the routine
We explore the child, activity and environment together rather than assuming one explanation or solution.
Practise practical strategies
Your therapist models, coaches and helps you adapt strategies so they are realistic for your family.
Review and adjust
We review what changed, keep useful strategies and decide whether further coaching, assessment, a group or individual therapy is appropriate.
Early support for children aged 0–8
If you have questions about your child’s play, communication, movement, regulation, learning or everyday routines, a parent consultation can be an accessible first step. A private parent consultation does not require a diagnosis or GP referral.
Depending on your concerns, the next step may be coaching, developmental screening, an assessment, individual therapy, a group program or guidance to speak with your GP, maternal and child health nurse, paediatrician, childcare or school.
How this relates to Thriving Kids
Thriving Kids is a developing Australian Government approach for children aged eight and under with extra developmental needs and their families. Lumos is an independent private paediatric therapy clinic and is not representing itself as an approved or government-funded Thriving Kids provider. Our parent coaching, early support and group services reflect family-centred principles, while access and funding for the government program should be confirmed through official Thriving Kids information as it continues to roll out.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does my child need a diagnosis?
+No diagnosis is required to book a private parent or caregiver coaching consultation. Medicare, NDIS and other funding pathways have separate eligibility and claiming requirements.
Does my child attend the appointment?
+Not always. Some questions are best explored in a parent-only session, while other goals benefit from observing or coaching during interaction with your child. We will discuss the most useful format before booking.
Is coaching only for younger children?
+No. Coaching can support parents and caregivers of children and adolescents aged 0–18. The early-support information above highlights children aged 0–8 because this is a particularly important period for family-led support.
Can coaching replace an assessment or individual therapy?
+Sometimes coaching is a suitable standalone service; in other situations an assessment, individual therapy or another professional may be more appropriate. Your clinician will explain the options and limitations rather than assuming every family needs ongoing therapy.