Frequently Asked Questions

FREEDOM THERAPY SERVICES IS NDIS REGISTERED

All participants who are self-managed, plan-managed or NDIA managed are eligible to claim our services.

Support categories covered by Freedom Therapy Services:

Core Supports

– Assistance with daily living

– Assistance with social and community participation

Capacity Building Supports

– Increased social and community participation

– Improved relationships

– Improved daily living

Yes, we can provide you with a quote for any of our services for free. We also conduct an initial assessment and take weekly progress data allowing us to provide you with a report detailing the participant’s current goals, progress, and future steps.

The National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) will fund early intervention before your child receives an official diagnosis. If your child is aged 0-6 years and you have concerns about their development you can get support from the NDIS. If your child is aged 7 years or older, they’ll need a diagnosis to access NDIS support.

Early intervention is the best way to support the development and wellbeing of children with disability, autism or other additional needs including developmental delay. It can help children develop the skills they need to take part in everyday activities and transition successfully to school. Plenty of clinical research has demonstrated that children who start ABA therapy as early as possible make the most significant improvements in their areas of deficit. Sometimes children who get early intervention need less, or no support as they get older.

Yes! Behavioural intervention therapy relies on the evidence-based practices and procedures of Applied Behaviour Analysis. ABA has been validated by many decades of rigorous scientific research. It is proven to be effective in both teaching new skills and promoting socially significant behaviours in children and teenagers with autism to help them access their school, community, and social worlds.

Although early intervention should be individualised to the needs of the family, research has consistently shown that students who receive upwards of 20 hours per week of intervention will have the most success.

We provide behavioural intervention services to children aged as young as 2 through adolescence and into adulthood.

Parents or caregivers play a necessary and vital role. Being actively engaged in the process is key to consistency and ultimately success. We also offer Parent Coaching and work closely with parents and other key stakeholders to contribute to the participant’s success.

We see participants with a range of developmental delays including Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD’s), global developmental delay, intellectual disability, and those with delays across specific areas of development such as speech, social or motor skills.

We can provide services at home, in the community, school, or in our clinic space, dependent on the unique needs of the family.

Behavioural intervention utilises the evidence-based treatment and procedures of ABA therapy and will address skill deficits identified during an initial assessment of your child’s functioning across many developmental domains. These areas of development include:

• Language and communication
• Social skills
• Play skills
• Toilet Training
• Self-care skills
• Community Skills
• Academic Skills

We have classes online available from the comfort of your home and at our clinic space in Caringbah. Some of our Teen Social Skills groups have the opportunity to gain independence and community access skills during community outings with our trained Therapists.

We have classes for ages 5 to 19. We work to place your child with peers that are a similar age and working on the same social skills.

Social Skills groups rely on evidence-based teaching procedures such as direct instruction, feedback, reinforcement, modelling, and natural exposure. Fun is an essential component of Social Skills groups. Socialising with friends is meant to be fun and relaxing and often occurs in the context of games, or conversation about similar interests. 

Difficulty socialising can affect your ability to learn new things at school, live independently, find a suitable occupation, make new friends, or even engage in romantic relationships later in life. Overall, difficulties having positive social interactions can undermine a good quality of life. Individuals who are socially isolated or have low social competency will face a large number of barriers in life, such as an increased chance of mood disorders, bullying and low self-esteem. Having meaningful relationships and consistent positive interactions with peers has an immediate effect on self-esteem and increases in happiness. Furthermore, social skills training could provide an opportunity to practice strategies for dealing with bullies or even interacting with potential employers.

Social skills are the behaviours, verbal and non-verbal, that we use to communicate effectively with other people. There are social differences across those who share different cultures, beliefs, and attitudes. Social Skills also continuously change and develop throughout our lives. Somebody that uses social skills to effectively interact with friends, family, workmates, and strangers is said to have social competence. Social Skills range from very simple to very complex.

• Waiting for your turn
• Greetings
• Making on topic comments
• Using an appropriate tone and volume of voice
• Reading facial expressions
• Having open body language
• Active listening and questioning
• Rhetorical Questions
• Understanding Sarcasm Assertiveness
• Flirting
• Debating

Social Skills Training is primarily of benefit to individuals who a struggling to have positive interactions with their peers, build and maintain friendships and communicate effectively.

Individuals who may benefit from Social Skills Training and Social Skills Groups include those with Autism Spectrum Disorder or other related disorders and/or those with psychological disorders such as social anxiety or social phobias. Social Skills Training can also be for anyone and everyone who wants to improve their social confidence and social skills.