Hawthorn
We provide assessments, early intervention therapies and support to help you thrive.
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Early Start Australia Hawthorn, Melbourne
At Early Start Australia Hawthorn, we provide supportive, family-centred therapy services to help children, adolescents, parents, carers, and families thrive.
Our Hawthorn clinic offers occupational therapy, speech pathology, psychology, Early Start Denver Model, counselling, ADHD assessments and diagnosis, tailored to individual needs.
Whether you’re seeking early intervention, developmental support, or specialised care, our dedicated team is here to help.
If you’d like to book an appointment, or have a question, call 1300 372 439 or make an enquiry today.
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Clinic contact details
5 Lynch St
Hawthorn VIC 3122
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Open Today: 9am - 5pmTherapy services to help you thrive
Early Start Australia Hawthorn provides occupational therapy, speech pathology, psychology, Early Start Denver Model, counselling, ADHD assessments and diagnosis, and a range of group therapy programs to support your child and family.
Beginning therapy with your child can seem like heading into the unknown, but with the right people at your side, it can be a highly effective, and positive experience.
We tailor each child’s therapy journey to best suit their circumstances and approach every session with optimism and the willingness to listen and share.
Sharing information and getting to know you and your family is key to making you feel comfortable about the process.
We’ll work with you at every stage to explain why we’re doing what we’re doing and to check that it’s in line with your expectations.
With multiple therapists and disciplines working together, we can provide comprehensive collaborative family-centred service to your child and family within one therapy centre.
We’re easy to find
Early Start Australia’s Hawthorn clinic is conveniently located on Lynch Street in Melbourne’s eastern suburbs.
The clinic offers easy on street parking or you can get here by train from the Hawthorn and Glenferrie stations.
Get directionsSupport from 0 to 17 years, for all needs and abilities
Our multidisciplinary team at Early Start Australia Hawthorn is experienced in delivering therapy for infants, children, and young people aged 0 to 17 years.
Our passionate team is dedicated to empowering families, fostering self-management skills for the future.
From simple to complex challenges, we offer a one stop shop for all your therapy services with proven solutions for neurodevelopmental conditions such as autism, ADHD, down syndrome, cerebral palsy, and more.
We also provide evidence-informed support for speech and language difficulties, motor coordination and muscular disorders, intellectual impairment, learning difficulties and sensory processing challenges.
Our psychology service provides support for mental health challenges and proactive supports for mental wellbeing.
Mental health challenges include anxiety, depression, behaviours of concern, trauma, and attachment issues.
Mental wellbeing can be proactively prepared for through developing resilience and preparing for times of change and transitions in life.
All our therapists are mental health aware and trained in trauma informed practice.
We work in a family-centred model of practice, which is a collaborative approach.
It involves working in partnership with families to better understand their unique circumstances and decide on supports and intervention that best suits the child and their family.
Family-centred practice is effective in creating positive outcomes for families and children.
How we can help your child
From early intervention support to therapy services, we offer tailored plans that support your child’s development.
What you can expect at Early Start Australia Hawthorn
- Early intervention: We offer a strong early intervention program for children up to nine years old. We have particular expertise in delivering Early Start Denver Model therapy, being one of five locations in Australia to offer this service.
- Flexible service delivery: Our services can be delivered in our clinic at Hawthorn, via telehealth, and through our mobile services around Melbourne’s east – in the home, day care, school, and community settings, based on your personalised therapy plan.
- Multidisciplinary team: Get the support you need easily in one location with our occupational therapist, speech pathologist, psychologist, and counsellor working together to help you reach your goals.
- Supporting early learning: We can support early learning centres and kindergartens with program development and educator professional development.
- Strength-based approach: We take a strength-based approach to foster independence and resilience in school-aged children.
- Assessment and diagnostic services: We deliver comprehensive assessments to guide personalised therapy plans and support a diagnosis.
- Teen and young adult support: Our passionate Hawthorn therapists are experienced in building capacity in teenagers and young adults.
- Funding models: We work with a number of funding/rebate models. As a NDIS registered provider, we work with agency-managed, self-managed, and plan-managed participants. We can also accept Better Access to Mental Health Care Plans for psychology services, or, for Private Health Insurance policy holders may be eligible for a rebate depending on the policy. We also work with Enhanced Primary Care plans for OT and Speech.
Programs
Your therapist may recommend specific therapy programs or groups as part of your therapy journey.
All programs are facilitated by occupational therapists, speech pathologists, psychologists, therapy assistants, or a combination.
In some cases, NDIS funding can be used to fund group program participation, you can discuss this option when making a booking.
- Little Oaks program
- Community program
- Allied Health Assistant program
- PROMPT
- Feeding therapy
- School holiday groups
Serving families across Melbourne’s east
We proudly welcome families from a wide range of surrounding suburbs, including:
- Balwyn
- Camberwell
- Canterbury
- Deepdene
- East Kew
- Glen Iris
- Hawthorn
- Hawthorn East
- Kew
- Kooyong
- Mont Albert
- Surrey Hills
Frequently asked questions
Here are some frequently asked questions about therapy services at Early Start Australia Hawthorn.
Meet our acting clinical manager at Hawthorn
Shaun Connelly
Acting Clinical Manager
Shaun is a highly experienced therapist dedicated to supporting and enhancing the lives of children and families. He holds a Bachelor of Psychology and a Bachelor of Social Sciences with Honours in Psychology from the University of Pretoria.
Shaun’s background includes working in mental health and addressing psychosis in poverty-stricken areas of South Africa, providing him with a diverse and comprehensive understanding of various therapeutic needs. He has been working in the field and with children both in South Africa and Australia for over 12 years.
As a Certified Early Start Denver Model (ESDM) Therapist, Parent Coach, and Apprentice ESDM Trainer, Shaun is committed to implementing evidence-based practices in therapy centres across Australia.
Within his role, he supports and leads multiple clinical managers, ensuring high-quality care and guidance in the centres. He is currently acting manager of the Hawthorn Therapy Centre. Shaun is passionate about creating a positive and fun therapeutic environment for children, believing that joy and engagement are key to effective therapy.
Outside of his professional life, he enjoys knitting, dyeing wool, nature walks, and making candles. These hobbies help him stay grounded and bring a sense of creativity and relaxation to his life.
Shaun is dedicated to making a meaningful difference in the lives of those he works with and looks forward to continuing to support the community through compassionate and evidence based therapeutic practices.
We’re hiring!
Early Start Australia is part of the APM Group, a global human services provider now enabling better lives for more than 1 million people each year. To view all current opportunities to join our team visit the APM Careers website by clicking the button below.
Browse open rolesClinic contact details
5 Lynch St
Hawthorn VIC 3122
Call
Opening hours
Monday : 9am - 5pm
Tuesday : 9am - 5pm
Wednesday : 9am - 5pm
Thursday : 9am - 5pm
Friday : 9am - 5pm
Useful links
Who we help
We offer early intervention and therapy services and support for all ages, needs and abilities.
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Our services
Our multi-disciplinary teams deliver evidence-based therapy services to help you thrive.
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About ESA
We are a national provider of early intervention therapy service and supports helping you
live a happy and healthy life.
Careers
Join our team for a brighter future in allied health where you can make a real difference in
people’s lives.