Protea Therapy

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

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/

We’ve had lots of questions recently about whether we are taking referrals and the answer is YES! Dr Katherine Sanchez i...
09/10/2025

We’ve had lots of questions recently about whether we are taking referrals and the answer is YES! Dr Katherine Sanchez is accepting referrals related to eating and drinking issues in kids.

We have capacity to support kids with a range of eating and drinking issues. Swipe through for some examples and get in touch on (03) 7034 6944 or info@proteatherapy.com.au to hop on our list!

We were sad to say goodbye to amazing speechie Jasmin Treloar last week! In their time with Protea Therapy, they have he...
10/09/2025

We were sad to say goodbye to amazing speechie Jasmin Treloar last week! In their time with Protea Therapy, they have helped so many family and have been such a dedicated and passionate health professional. We can’t wait to see what their next adventure looks like!

Right now, Protea Therapy is in a transition phase. So, our waiting list is *open* for kids with feeding, eating or drin...
18/08/2025

Right now, Protea Therapy is in a transition phase. So, our waiting list is *open* for kids with feeding, eating or drinking concerns; but closed to new clients with communication concerns.

Stay tuned for our next steps, and let us know if you need some ideas for speechies who can support your child’s communication!

The next Paediatric Dysphagia Masterclass is almost here! Katherine and Holly will be presenting on managing children wh...
11/08/2025

The next Paediatric Dysphagia Masterclass is almost here! Katherine and Holly will be presenting on managing children who are eating and drinking with acknowledged risk. Join us for a deep dive into the theory, the ethics, and the practicalities of working with this caseload. A few tickets are still available, and you can get them here: https://www.trybooking.com/events/landing/1364388

This workshop is online and will be recorded and available for a few weeks after the delivery date.

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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