ODEEP

09/10/2026

What exactly is a developmental milestone? 🌱

Developmental milestones are the skills children develop as they grow — things like communicating, moving, learning, connecting with others and becoming more independent.

But milestones aren't a test, and they're not about comparing one child with another.

Every child develops differently. Some children reach certain milestones earlier, while others take a little longer. What matters is looking at your child's development and progress over time.

If something about your child's development has you wondering or concerned, it's always okay to ask questions. Seeking advice doesn't necessarily mean something is wrong — it can simply give you more information, reassurance and support.

💜 At ODEEP, we're here to work alongside children and families.

If you'd like to talk with us about your child's communication, learning or development, get in touch with our friendly team.

29/09/2026

Five simple ways to build your child’s language at home 💬

You don’t need expensive toys, worksheets or special activities to support your child’s communication.

Some of the best opportunities for language development happen during the things you’re already doing every day — getting dressed, sharing a book, playing, bath time, shopping or simply chatting while making lunch.

Our latest ODEEP Tips carousel shares five simple ways to turn those everyday moments into opportunities for talking, listening and learning.

And the best part? They don’t need to feel like “therapy” — they can simply become part of your day. 💜

✨ Which of these do you already do with your child? Is there one you might try this week?

If you have questions about your child’s communication or development, our friendly ODEEP team is always happy to help.

28/09/2026

Meet Steph 👋

Steph is one of our wonderful Speech Pathologists, bringing warmth, curiosity and a genuine love of connecting with people to her work with children and families.

For Steph, one of the best parts of her role is getting to know the amazing people she works alongside — and learning from them along the way. 💛

We’re very lucky to have Steph as part of our team.

Have a read of her Meet the Team profile to learn a little more about her — including where she stands on the very important pineapple-on-pizza debate! 🍍🍕

Say hi to Steph! 👋

25/09/2026

SERVICE SPOTLIGHT | Early Childhood Intervention Specialist 💗

You may have heard the term Early Childhood Intervention Specialist — but what exactly do they do?

At ODEEP, our Early Childhood Intervention Specialists work alongside children and families to support learning, development, independence and participation in everyday life.

And importantly, support isn't just about what happens during a session. It's about finding practical ways to build learning opportunities into the things children already do — at home, at preschool or childcare, out in the community and during everyday family routines.

Every child and family is different, so support is shaped around each child's strengths and interests, as well as their family's goals and priorities.

👉 Swipe through to learn more about what an Early Childhood Intervention Specialist does and how they can support children and families.

If you have questions about your child's development or would like to know more about ODEEP's Early Childhood Intervention services, we'd love to hear from you.

📞 02 6361 4093

24/09/2026

🎬 Storytelling in action!

Thank you so much Toby for sharing one of your creative stop-motion stories with us! 😊

During his speech therapy sessions with Steph, Toby has been exploring different ways to communicate, build a story and share his ideas with others.

Creating stop-motion videos is a fun way for Toby to work on skills such as storytelling, sequencing ideas, developing a plot and using language to explain what is happening — all while doing something he really enjoys.

One of the best parts is sharing his creations with his class. His videos spark questions and conversations, giving Toby even more opportunities to share his ideas, answer questions and connect with others. 💬

We think this is such a wonderful example of how learning can be built around a child’s interests and strengths.

And, like every good filmmaker, Toby is still working on his plot development! 😊 We can’t wait to see what he creates next.

👏 Great work, Toby!

A big thank you to Toby and his mum for giving us permission to share his fantastic creation.

16/09/2026

16/09/2026

We are incredibly grateful to Orange Ex-Services' Club to be one of the recipients of the 2026 ClubGRANTS funding round.

ODEEP has received $9,200 towards our Little Foundations – Early Screening and Support Initiative. 💜

This funding will help ODEEP provide accessible developmental screening and early support for children aged 0–5 years in the Orange community.

One of the challenges we see is that some children may not be identified as needing additional developmental support until they reach preschool or school. Families may have concerns but many in our community face barriers accessing assessments or support, particularly when they do not have NDIS funding or the capacity to access private services. The funding you have provided allows us to help these families.

Through Little Foundations, ODEEP will be able to provide developmental screenings, immediate feedback to families, follow-up support for children identified as being at risk, and connections or referrals to appropriate services. The funding will also contribute to important assessment and communication resources used by our team.

Early identification can make such a difference. Our goal is not only to identify children who may need additional support, but also to give parents and carers information, reassurance and a clearer pathway forward.

A huge thank you to Orange Ex-Services Club for investing $9,200 in this project and for continuing to support organisations working with children, families and the broader Orange community.

We are very excited to bring the next stage of Little Foundations to life and to see the difference this funding will make for local families.

Thank you Orange Ex-Services Club! 💜

Congratulations to all of our 2026 ClubGRANTS recipients!

We’re honoured to support the incredible local charities and organisations who work tirelessly to make a positive difference in our community.

This year, $160,224 in Category 1 funding has been shared across 22 local projects spanning health, welfare, youth, and community services. We’re proud to stand beside these groups in building a stronger Orange community.

See the full list of this year’s recipients here 👉 www.oesc.com.au/clubgrants

15/09/2026

📣 A great free event for parents, carers and young people in our region

Down Syndrome NSW is hosting a FREE Inclusive Education Conference in Dubbo on Monday 19th October, and we wanted to share this opportunity with ODEEP families.

Importantly, this conference is not just for families of children with Down syndrome. It is open to families of children and young people with disability and additional support needs, from the early years through school and into adulthood.

The day includes two streams, so families can choose sessions most relevant to them:

💜 Early Years & Primary
Practical sessions covering communication, behaviour and regulation, inclusion, transitions and working in partnership with schools and other supports.

💜 High School & Beyond
Sessions exploring self-advocacy, confidence, independence, transition planning and meaningful pathways beyond school.

Young people with disability are also very welcome to attend, with interactive workshops giving high school students the opportunity to be part of conversations about their own future.

✨ The conference is completely FREE, with local organisations and services also attending throughout the day.

📍 Dubbo
📅 Monday 19 October

If this sounds useful for your family, take a look at the program and registration information attached to this post.

A wonderful opportunity to learn, connect and hear practical ideas from others working towards more inclusive education.

15/09/2026

Every child develops at their own pace.
It's completely normal for children to reach milestones at different times. But sometimes, there are small signs that a child may benefit from some extra support with their communication.

If your child:
💬 gets frustrated trying to tell you something
💬 is difficult for others to understand
💬 finds it hard to follow simple instructions
💬 seems to be using fewer words than other children their age
…it doesn't automatically mean there's a problem—but it may be worth having a conversation.

Early support can make a big difference, and seeking advice doesn't mean something is "wrong." It simply gives you the opportunity to better understand your child's communication and how to support their development.

Swipe through the carousel to learn more, and if you have any questions, our friendly team is always happy to help.

Contact ODEEP on 02 6361 4093 or visit www.odeep.com.au

11/09/2026

Many people hear the term Occupational Therapy and wonder what it actually means for children.

For children, Occupational Therapy is about helping them develop the skills they need to participate in everyday life.

This may include things like:
• Getting dressed
• Using cutlery
• Building fine motor skills
• Managing sensory needs
• Developing play skills
• Supporting independence at home, preschool or school

At ODEEP, OT sessions are playful, purposeful and tailored to each child’s goals.
Sometimes it might look like play — but underneath the fun, children are building important skills for everyday life.