Why and when to refer your patients to Food Play Grow?

Service Overview

Food Play Grow provides Key Worker support for children and families requiring coordinated, developmentally informed and trauma-aware care. Our Key Worker service supports children with developmental differences, behavioural challenges, emotional regulation needs and complex family systems.

Support is delivered by an experienced Early Childhood Educator, trauma-informed therapist and Key Worker, with additional training in Play Therapy.

General Practitioners

Paediatricians

Maternal Child Health Nurse

School Nurse

Social Workers

Psychologists

Psychiatrists

Dietitians

Occupational Therapists

Speech Pathologists

Kindergarten Teachers

Primary Teachers

Behavioural Therapists

Court Officials

Protection Officers

Police Liaison Officers

Foster Care Organisations

Parents

Caregivers

The Key Worker acts as the central point of coordination for the child and family, supporting implementation of goals across environments and services.

Key Worker responsibilities include:

• Coordination of multidisciplinary supports
• Translation of therapeutic recommendations into daily routines
• Support for families navigating NDIS plans and services
• Liaison with education settings and health professionals
• Monitoring progress toward functional goals

Key Worker support may include:

• Behaviour support (emotional regulation, co-regulation, routines) 
• School readiness and transition planning (kinder → school)
• Support with sleep, routines and daily functioning
• Skill development (social, emotional, independence) 
• Counselling and therapeutic support (child and family)
• Parent coaching and capacity building 
• Oversight and implementation of NDIS goals 
• Collaboration with educators and allied health professionals
   

Support can be delivered in-clinic, in educational settings, at home, or via parent consultation.

Food Play Grow utilises a trauma-informed, strengths-based and neuro-affirming approach, grounded in early childhood development and relational safety.

Intervention is:

• Child-led and developmentally appropriate
• Family-centred and practical
• Focused on functional outcomes across environments

Leesa – Early Childhood Educator | Key Worker | Trauma-Informed Therapist

Leesa has extensive experience supporting children and families with complex developmental, behavioural and emotional needs. She brings a broad therapeutic skillset, strong systems knowledge and lived experience as a parent to neurodivergent children.

Leesa is currently completing formal qualifications in Play Therapy, strengthening her child-centred and relational approach to intervention.

 Key Worker services may be funded through:

• Private funds
• NDIS (self-managed or plan-managed) / Capacity Building – Improved Daily Living

(Services must align with participant goals and plan funding categories.)

Leesa also works closely with organisations such as;

• the Department of Families, Fairness and Housing
• the Department of Social Services
• local welfare agencies

who have all funded her to assist at risk children to thrive in their new environments and/ or minimise the impact of childhood traumatic incidences.