Joint attention is when a child shares attention with another person around something interesting. For example:
👶 Around 6 to 9 months: looking where you point or following your gaze
👶 Around 9 to 12 months: showing toys, smiling back and forth, sharing enjoyment
👶 Around 12 to 18 months: pointing to show you something exciting, looking at you for a reaction, bringing things over to share
Every child develops differently. Some children take longer, some engage in different ways, and some neurodivergent children may communicate and connect differently.
Not having strong joint attention skills doesn’t mean something is “wrong”.
But it can be a sign that your child may benefit from support, especially if you’re noticing differences in communication, play or social engagement.
A Speech Pathologist can help you understand your child’s unique way of connecting, give you practical strategies, and support you to advocate confidently for your child 💛
You do not need to figure it all out alone.
Save or share this with a parent who worries they’re overthinking things… because sometimes questions are worth exploring early.
#SpeechPathology #EarlyIntervention #AutismAwareness #ChildDevelopment #ParentSupport
Somehow the days feel long, but the years move way too fast. 🤍
Looking back at these moments and realizing how quickly little hands grow, faces change, and childhood quietly slips into memories.
Trying to hold onto it all a little longer.
#GrowingUpTooFast #FamilyMoments #Parenthood #CoreMemories #MumLife
Some future families may never know what could have been possible if access becomes harder, and that is something worth talking about...
I've seen children say first words, build friendships, participate more confidently at preschool and school, reduce frustration, and feel more connected to the world around them. I've also seen parents go from feeling overwhelmed and worried to feeling hopeful and empowered.❤️
Right now, many families are feeling uncertain about upcoming changes and what support may look like in the future.😔
My concern is children having the opportunity to access support early, during the years where we know development can be strongly supported.🙌
#EarlyIntervention #SpeechPathology #NDIS #ChildDevelopment #SupportFamilies
There’s a lot of discussion about therapy funding right now, but behind every statistic is a real child and a real family trying to cope, connect, communicate, and participate in everyday life.
Early intervention is not about creating dependence.
It’s about giving children support early, while their brains are developing, so they have the best chance to thrive long term.
Most parents accessing speech therapy, OT, psychology or physio are not looking for “extras.”
They are looking for support, answers, and hope.
These conversations matter because vulnerable children matter ❤️❤️❤️
#ndis
#earlyintervention
#speechtherapy
#occupationaltherapy
#alliedhealth
One of the hardest things I hear from parents is:
“Did I cause this?”💔
Speech and language delays are common, and in most cases, they are NOT caused by parenting.
Some children naturally need extra support learning to communicate, just like some children need support with reading, movement, attention, or emotional regulation.
What matters most is not blame.
What matters is support, connection, and early guidance.
If you’re worried about your child’s communication, you are not failing.
The fact that you’re noticing, learning, and seeking support already tells me you’re a caring parent.
There is hope.❤️
Progress is possible.🤗
And you do not have to figure it out alone 🤍
#speechdelay
#speechtherapy
#languagedevelopment
#parentingsupport
#earlyintervention
I see families every week trying to do the right thing for their children while juggling rising living costs, housing stress, long waitlists and burnout.
Most parents are not asking for luxury.
They are asking for support, access and a fair chance for their child.
If there are problems in the system, address the problems.
But children with disabilities and neurodivergent children should not lose access to life changing early supports because of failures they didn’t create.
Early intervention changes lives.
Not just for children, but for entire families.
#autismacceptance
#Neurodiversity
#EarlyIntervention
#SpeechTherapy
#NDIS
If your child may not receive a renewed NDIS package, try not to panic 🤍
There are still ways families can access support and create a plan moving forward.
Depending on your child’s needs, families may be able to access:
• Medicare rebated speech pathology or OT sessions through a GP Care Plan
• M10 assessment and therapy rebates
• Parent coaching and home based strategies
• Spaced out therapy sessions focused on the highest priority goals
Early intervention does not have to look “all or nothing.”
The most important thing is continuing to support your child’s communication, learning, regulation and confidence in a sustainable and realistic way for your family.
Please speak with your GP and therapy team about what options may be available for your child 🤍
#SpeechTherapy
#EarlyIntervention
#NDIS
#AutismSupport
#ParentSupport
Today we celebrate all the mums, in all the ways 🤍
To the mums carrying the mental load, showing up through exhaustion, supporting children who need extra support, advocating, loving deeply and doing their best every single day, we see you.
Whether today feels joyful, complicated, beautiful or bittersweet, you deserve to feel appreciated too.
Happy Mother’s Day from all of us at Jules Tush 🤍
#MothersDay
#Motherhood
#ParentSupport
#AutismSupport
#WomenSupportingWomen
Parents deserve clear information right now.
The new Thriving Kids changes may mean many children no longer receive funding for private therapy and instead move into community based supports and waitlists.
Early intervention matters most when children are young.
If your child needs support, don’t wait years hoping things improve on their own. Even spaced out private speech therapy or OT sessions using Medicare rebates can make a meaningful difference during those important early years.
Support now is often easier than trying to catch up later.
#EarlyIntervention
#SpeechTherapy
#OccupationalTherapy
#AutismSupport
#ParentSupport
Behind the scenes this week as The Australian interviewed us about the Federal Budget and what families are really experiencing right now.
Every day we meet parents trying to navigate rising costs, long waitlists, increasing developmental concerns, and uncertainty around funding and support services.
Families need more than short term fixes.
They need certainty.
Certainty that their child can access early intervention when it matters most.
Certainty that support will still exist in 6 to 12 months.
Certainty that children will not fall through the cracks because they are considered “not severe enough.”
Early intervention changes lives, not just for children, but for entire families.
We’ll be sharing more next week.
#EarlyIntervention
#SpeechPathology
#AutismSupport
#NDIS
#ParentSupport
If you’ve been worried about your child’s speech, language or communication and unsure where to start, this is for you 💛
Ready, Set, Talk was created from 18 years of experience as a speech pathologist supporting families who wanted real answers, practical strategies and guidance they could actually use at home.
No overwhelm.
No judgement.
Just support that makes sense.
There are currently only 3 spots remaining for this intake.
If you’ve been thinking about getting support, this could be a really gentle place to begin.
Message me if you’d like more information or want to see if it’s the right fit for your child.
#speechpathologysydney #speechtherapy #speechpathology #newparent #toddlermum
