Feeding Therapy Australia

02/10/2026

Six experienced clinicians. Four different professions. One very important conversation.
Supporting disabled children with complex dysphagia is rarely the job of one profession.
That’s why we’re so excited to bring together six experienced clinicians from across Speech Pathology, Occupational Therapy, Dietetics and Rehabilitation Medicine for our upcoming two-day workshop.
You’ll hear from:
🔹 Val Gent – Speech Pathologist
🔹 Debbie Alvarez – Speech Pathologist
🔹 Rebecca Penfold – Occupational Therapist
🔹 Lauren Gladman – Dietitian
🔹 Kate Headley – Speech Pathologist
🔹 Medical Specialist - to be confirmed
Each profession brings a different perspective to the complex factors that can impact a child’s eating, drinking and swallowing.
Across the two days, we’ll bring these perspectives together to explore assessment, clinical reasoning, aspiration risk, tube feeding, chewing, positioning, medical and respiratory factors, nutrition, intervention and mealtime management.
Don't miss out!!
Supporting Disabled Children with Complex Dysphagia
A Responsive and Multidisciplinary Approach
📅 16–17 November 2026
💻 Online
⏰ 8:30am–5pm
🎟️ Book your place:
feedingtherapyaustralia.com.au

28/09/2026

Hear Val, Debbie and Bec speak about their recent 3 day Responsive Feeding House Model workshop last week. They reflected on the positive changes that have occurred since they started these workshops over 5 years ago and some of the challenges that families and therapists have been presented with over this time. It's an interactive and useful discussion - have a listen....

25/09/2026

Feeding therapy is about so much more than expanding the number of foods a child eats.

It is also about connection, participation and being included socially. Rather than asking “What new food can we get them to eat?”, could we ask, “How can we support this child be part of the experience?”
🍕 Joining the family for pizza night
🎂 Being part of a birthday party
🏫 Participating in school celebrations
🍽️ Eating alongside friends
👨‍👩‍👧 Sharing family meals

In this video, Val shares how social inclusion at family meals can be a goal that, for some parents, they have not even considered a possibility.

21/09/2026

The guards are standing by…. This analogy created by Deb from Feeding Therapy Australia is often used to help children understand why new foods can be scary for them . It is BRILLIANT! We use it all the time in our clinic and this year, we managed to capture it live as she explained it to the 2026 Responsive Feeding House Model delegates. It's really a good listen and learn....
WANT TO HEAR MORE? COME TO OUR 2027 WORKSHOP IN AUGUST TO UNDERSTAND HOW TO SUPPORT CHILDREN WITH FEEDING DIFFERENCES.

18/09/2026

Highlights from our 2026 Responsive Feeding House Model Workshop!

Thank you to the 107 delegates who joined us both in Sydney and virtually online from all around Australia, New Zealand and Asia. As with previous years, we had a multidisciplinary group of speech pathologists, occupational therapists, dietitians, social workers, doctors and naturopaths.

What stood out most was the way delegates brought curiosity, generosity and a deep commitment to supporting families. Their questions, reflections and shared experiences created a learning space that felt thoughtful and energising. It is always inspiring to see clinicians take these ideas back to their communities and translate them into everyday moments of felt safety, connection and progress for children and their caregivers.

We love running this workshop each year, and we are already looking forward to offering it again in late August or early September 2027. Stay in touch via our social media streams and website: www.feedingtherapyaustralia.com.au

14/09/2026

Supporting Disabled Children with Complex Dysphagia
Working with disabled children who have complex dysphagia involves much more than assessing swallowing. Medical, respiratory and GI factors, positioning, oral motor skills, tube feeding, aspiration risk and mealtime participation all need to be considered.
Join us for our 2-day online workshop exploring a responsive and multidisciplinary approach to complex dysphagia.
Across the two days, you’ll build practical skills in:
• Assessment and clinical reasoning
• Aspiration risk and when to consider VFSS or FEES
• Enteral feeding and tube weaning
• Chewing, cup and straw progression
• Texture modification using IDDSI
• Seating, positioning and self-feeding
• Oral hygiene and saliva management
• Trauma-informed and relationship-based feeding
• Developing practical mealtime management plans within a multidisciplinary team
Presented by an experienced team of Speech Pathologists, OT, Dietitian and Rehabilitation Medicine Specialist.
📅 16–17 November 2026
💻 Online | 8:30am–5pm
Aimed at allied health professionals working with disabled children with complex feeding needs.
Tickets available now: feedingtherapyaustralia.com.au

04/09/2026

2026 Responsive Feeding House Model workshop is done!

Thank you to everyone who attended, we are so thankful for your time, energy, and openness to learning. You created a very safe place for everyone to share and connect over something that drives us all- supporting families and children with feeding needs.

We look forward to staying in touch and hearing how you go. Safe travels home! Val and Debbie

04/09/2026

2026 Responsive Feeding House Model workshop is done!

Thank you to everyone who attended, we are so thankful for your time, energy, and openness to learning. You created a very safe place for everyone to share and connect over something that drives us all- supporting families and children with feeding needs.

We look forward to staying in touch and hearing how you go. Safe travels home! Val and Debbie

03/09/2026

01/09/2026

15mins until start time… this is our most popular workshop by far and we love running it!

There is nothing more inspiring than having reflective conversations with Speech Pathologist, Occupational therapist, Dietitians, Psychologists and doctors about how we can support families and children with feeding goals.

Stay tuned for top tips and sneak peaks of the event this week.

Val and Deb
Feeding Therapy Australia