Hunter Valley Children's Therapies

17/02/2026

Research Spotlight 🐴✨

New research shows that when horse-based intervention is combined with speech therapy, children with ADHD make even greater gains in executive functioning and self-esteem — and caregivers report feeling less stressed too?

At Hunter Valley Children’s Therapies, we’re seeing these same powerful outcomes every day 💛
More confidence.
Stronger regulation skills.
Happier, more supported families.

There’s something pretty special about learning alongside a horse 🐎✨

Curious about how Equine Assisted Therapy could support your child?

Get in touch with our team — we’d love to chat!

Research Spotlight- Children with ADHD often face challenges with executive functioning, self-esteem, and learning — which can also place significant stress on families and caregivers.

New research highlights the impact of horse-based interventions when combined with speech therapy.
In a six-month study involving children with ADHD:

• All participants showed improvement
• Children who participated in horse-based intervention + speech therapy showed greater gains in executive functioning and self-esteem
• Caregivers reported a greater reduction in stress and burden

These findings suggest that horse-based interventions are a meaningful, evidence-informed complement to traditional therapies — supporting not only children, but their families as well.

At Animal Therapies Ltd, we continue to advocate for safe, ethical, and evidence-based animal-assisted services that enhance wellbeing across the lifespan. Read more here:

https://www.researchsquare.com/article/rs-8533549/v1.pdf?utm_source=chatgpt.com

16/02/2026

🌿🐴 We’re looking to welcome an Occupational Therapist to our Team (Contractor Role) 🐾🌈

Hunter Valley Children’s Therapies is looking for a passionate Occupational Therapist to join our small, supportive team!

This is a contractor position, starting at 1–2 days per week (Thursday and Friday), with the opportunity to expand your caseload over time.

We are aiming to offer nature-based Occupational Therapy, with opportunities to incorporate equine and animal-assisted therapy into your work (once you're certified - additional training will be required). If you love thinking outside the box (and literally working outside!), this could be the perfect fit for you.

🌟 Essential Criteria
You must:
Absolutely love working with children
Be neurodiversity-affirming in your practice
Have extensive experience supporting autistic children and young people
Be flexible, fun, and creative
Love working outdoors in nature and confidently manage all weather conditions (heat, cold, mud and everything in between!)
Love animals
Be available to offer a minimum of 10 sessions per week
Be able to work afternoons

💚 What We Offer
A genuinely supportive team environment
Regular workplace supervision and support
The opportunity to join a practice established for over 10 years, with a strong reputation for high-quality, best-practice support
A flexible work environment
Access to both indoor and outdoor therapy spaces, and a wonderful crew of animals, allowing you to work creatively and tailor sessions to meet the individual needs of each child.

🚫 This Role Is Not Suitable For…
Practitioners who need a clean, air-conditioned workspace at all times
Those who struggle with extreme weather conditions
Therapists who prefer highly structured, rigidly planned sessions only
People who don’t like animals

If you’re an OT who thrives in nature, values authentic connection, embraces creativity, and wants to be part of something meaningful — we’d love to hear from you!

Learn more about us: https://www.facebook.com/.../www...

📩 Send me an email to express your interest - nadine@hvct.com.au.

04/02/2026

The opportunities for personal growth and development are endless when it comes to working alongside horses.

Huge congrats to our colleague Karen Manning and the team at Arrow Equine Therapy & Counselling for creating this incredible program.

Did you know our Youth Justice Centres run equine therapy programs? 🐎

Equine therapy involves guided activities with horses to help young people build confidence, manage emotions and practice respectful communication.

Last October, young people at Orana Youth Justice Centre took part in a 7 day program delivered by Arrow Equine Therapy & Counselling.

With support from the Orana Psychology team, young people cared for and worked alongside horses while learning skills they could use in everyday life.

27/01/2026

Welcome back to all our clients for the start of their individual therapy sessions for 2026.
HAPPY TUESDAY

16/01/2026

Trail Talk: An Equine Experience.

A collaboration between Hunter Valley Children's Therapies and A Growing Understanding- Speech Pathology, this experience celebrates what we like to call “Neigh-bourly Connections” – the kind of meaningful relationships that grow when humans and horses learn to connect, trust, and understand one another.

This 2-day therapeutic group program is being held on Wednesday (21st) and Thursday (22nd) January for 8 to 12-year-olds and we have 2 PLACES REMAINING.

For More info + to register, please follow this link (RSVP by 19th)

Trail Talk: An Equine Experience is a two-day therapeutic program designed to build communication, interaction, and social confidence in children aged 8–12 years.

10/01/2026

Nadine recently had the opportunity to chat with Lauren from A Growing Understanding- Speech Pathology about our brand new group program called Trail Talk; designed to support communication, connection, and self-expression in a nature-based setting.

Check out the full podcast @ https://www.agrowingunderstanding.com.au/podcast/beyond-the-therapy-room-partnerships-that-take-group-programs-outdoors-podcast-episode-10/

More details about Trail Talk: https://www.agrowingunderstanding.com.au/our-services/kids-group-programs/trail-talk-equine-experience/

Trail Talk: An Equine Experience is a two-day therapeutic program designed to build communication, interaction, and social confidence in children aged 8–12 years.

09/01/2026

We’re so excited to be joining with Hunter Valley Children's Therapies to present Trail Talk: An Equine Experience - a brand new group program designed to support communication, connection, and self-expression in a nature-based setting.

In this snippet from our latest podcast episode, Nadine Delaney from HVCT shares how much we can learn about communication and connection from animals, especially horses, and why being outside the therapy room can open up entirely new opportunities for growth.

This episode gives families a unique insight into the Trail Talk program and the power of partnerships that take therapy beyond the traditional setting.

🎧 Full episode is available on our website (link below).

https://www.agrowingunderstanding.com.au/podcast/beyond-the-therapy-room-partnerships-that-take-group-programs-outdoors-podcast-episode-10/

18/12/2025

What an incredible year.....

To all our amazing clients, thank you for sharing your journey with us this year.

We are so proud of all the hard work, courage, and kindness you’ve shown.

We hope you have a fun and relaxing holiday break, and we wish you a bright and happy New Year filled with joy, adventure, and new possibilities.

We'll be closed from 19th December to 12th January, 2026

We look forward to seeing everyone on the other side of the break

16/12/2025

🌱 Looking Ahead to 2026 – Now is a Great Time to Book 🌱

As we begin planning for the new year, Hunter Valley Children’s Therapies is now welcoming bookings for therapeutic support in 2026, ready for when school starts back.

Getting in early can be really helpful — it allows you to secure an appointment time in advance, so your child or young person has support in place from the very start of the school year.

We offer a range of therapeutic supports for children and young people, including those:

💛 who are neurodivergent
💛 with physical, intellectual or cognitive disabilities
💛 experiencing mental health challenges such as anxiety or depression
💛 who have experienced trauma

Our therapy options include evidence-based, child-centred approaches tailored to each individual child and family.

✔️ We are a registered provider with the NDIS
✔️ Medicare-rebated services are available
✔️ We have approved Counsellors with NSW Victim's Services

📖✨ Book now to secure an appointment spot for Term 1 and beyond.

👉 Learn more about our services at:
www.huntervalleychildrenstherapies.com

📧 To make a booking or enquiry, please contact:
admin@hvct.com.au

Hunter Valley Children's Therapies offers therapeutic services to children, young people and women, in Buchanan's rural setting, incorporating evidence-based practice and experiential learning opportunities including equine assisted therapy.

16/12/2025

🌿 January School Holiday Group Spaces Still Available 🌿

Hunter Valley Children’s Therapies has a few spaces still available in our January school holiday group programs for children and young people. These small, supportive groups offer connection, confidence-building and therapeutic support in a nurturing environment.

🐎 Our January Groups include:

✨ The Wild Stallions Group – for boys
📅 12–13 January

✨ The Feeling Herd Group – an inclusive group for teens
📅 14–15 January

✨ The Horsepower Group – for primary school–aged girls
📅 19–20 January - BOOKED OUT

✨ The Trail Talk Group – for 7 to 12 year olds.
📅 21-22 January

More Info: 👉 https://www.huntervalleychildrenstherapies.com/school-holiday-programs

Register TODAY to secure your child's spot.

Enquiries + Bookings 📖✨ groupprograms@hvct.com.au

08/12/2025

Nature Based Therapies Australia has officially launched their brand-new Nature Based Therapy Cards sets.

Choose from two unique sets:

🍄 Beliefs to Balance – explore core beliefs with this delightful deck.
🐴 The Feeling Herd – a horse-inspired journey into emotions and self expression.

Explore and order here: https://naturebasedtherapies.com.au/shop/

If you’ve been wondering what to get your staff for Christmas… we’ve got you covered!
The timing couldn’t be better, because we’re thrilled to announce the launch of our brand-new Nature Based Therapy Cards, proudly brought to you by Nature Based Therapies Australia.

Designed by our wildly fabulous, multi-talented psychologist Rach Elton from Valley Psychology, these decks are made from high-quality, natural materials that feel absolutely beautiful in the hand.

Choose from two unique sets:
🍄 Beliefs to Balance – explore core beliefs with this delightful deck.
🐴 The Feeling Herd – a horse-inspired journey into emotions and self expression.

Perfect for teams, colleagues, therapists and nature-lovers alike — thoughtful, meaningful and ready just in time for gifting season.

Explore and order here: https://naturebasedtherapies.com.au/shop/

11/09/2025

Sue and Nadine, from Nature Based Therapies Australia had the pleasure of joining Harrison Kirkwood, on his podcast Beyond the Divide, sharing their experiences and exploring how evidence-based therapies, with nature as the co-facilitator, can assist and support clients from diverse backgrounds to regain a renewed sense of self.
Take a listen here....

Nadine Delaney is a mental health social worker. Sue Jakes is a registered psychologist.

Together, they are the co-founders of Nature Based Therapies Australia – an organisation providing professional development opportunities to practitioners in the nature-based therapies sector.

In this final episode, Beyond the Divide draws on their experience and explores how evidence-based therapies, with nature as the co-facilitator, can assist and support clients from a diverse background to regain a renewed sense of self.

Beyond the Divide is a series of conversations highlighting the challenges and contributions of people with a disability in Singleton ✨️

This podcast is an initiative of Singleton Council’s Access and Inclusion program which aims to promote a sense of connection and belonging for everyone in the community 🙌🏼

Tune into Beyond the Divide on 👇🏽

🟢 Spotify ➡️ https://open.spotify.com/show/4Y5yNeu3GGuGbtdJASe5ke?si=53fef4499b2d4f9d
🍏 Apple Podcasts 👉🏼 https://rss.com/podcasts/beyond-the-divide
🟩 Council’s website 🔗www.singleton.nsw.gov.au/beyondthedivide