"Whether it's the child before you, or your inner child within, we all deserve love, respect & nurture to grow & live a life of joy"
Nurturing Little Lives
About
Hello and welcome to Nurturing Little Lives Counselling & Support Services. I’m so glad you’re here.As we all know, life can be challenging at times. When neurodivergence, developmental delays, mental illness, disabilities, medical diagnoses and health related conditions are added into the mix, suddenly the weight of life’s hurdles can feel extraordinarily heavy.Life can also bring us joy, peace, love, happiness and laughter. Even during the hard phases.Nurturing Little Lives Counselling & Support Services has been birthed to bring hope back into the lives and hearts of those who are seeking support to forge a new and hopeful path forward. It is our belief that two things can exist at the same time; challenging life stages and joy.We are so proud of you for being here. It is with great courage and strength that one recognises the need for a little extra support in their life. It is my hope that you find what you are looking for here.Nurturing Little Lives Counselling & Support Services provides support to people of all ages, abilities and life stages. Counselling and other Support services are also available to access under the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS).We offer a personalised and tailored approach to help people reach their personal, interpersonal, educational and employment goals as well as supporting NDIS participants to fulfil their goals as outlined on their NDIS Plan.
Meet Renee
Hello. My name is Renee and I’m the founder of Nurturing Little Lives. I’m a registered Counsellor, specialising in Childhood Development and Effective Parenting. I also hold training certificates in Adolescent Counselling, Functional Behavioural Assessment, Trauma Informed Care, Safe Minds, Mindfulness, Mental Health First Aid, STORM Suicide Awareness and Prevention, Friends for Life and Skills fOr Life Adjustment and Recovery (SOLAR) following Bushfire, Drought and COVID Pandemic.I am passionate about personal and family wellness and recognise a need in our society to provide a refreshed and paired back outlook on accessing wellness supports to reconnect people with their intuition and inner resilience.I enjoy building a positive rapport with people, and in particular, supporting children to grow and learn in a respectful, nurturing and loving environment.I have had a rewarding career in the Welfare and Allied Health sector providing case management and counselling to people of all ages, life stages, needs and abilities.In 2009 I moved from Child & Family services into the Education sector, working with students from Prep-Year 12, their families, carers and teachers as well as collaborating with their allied health supports and medical GP’s.I have vast experience supporting people with life challenges including:
| • Mental Health • Chronic Physical Health • Disordered Eating • Behavioural Concerns • Neurodivergence • Physical Disability • Intellectual Disability • Developmental Delay • Speech Delays • Acquired Brain Injury • Suicidal Ideation • Self-harm • Addiction • Homelessness • Family Relationship Breakdown | • Child Protection, Foster Care and Kinship Care • Emotional, Financial, Physical and Sexual Abuse • Legal Matters • Unemployment and Barriers to Employment • Financial management • Learning Difficulties • Gender, Sex and Sexuality • Social Skills and Making Friends • Conflict Resolution • School Bullying • School Refusal • Trauma Grief and Loss • Cyber Safety Bushfire Recovery • Department of Education Program for Students with Disabilities |
I’m passionate about people and believe every person has a story - parts told and parts they hold close to their heart. It is an honour and a privilege to have people trust me with their story and it is a gift to journey with them as they grow in their confidence to manage the bumps in their road. With compassion and kindness, I support people to develop coping strategies, to create and achieve goals surrounding change and hopes for their future, to grow their confidence in managing their unique situation and to find acceptance and a peace in their circumstances. I assist people to reframe, and find joy, that is often lost, in what can feel like darkness.I operate from a person-centred, strengths-based approach, utilising a range of evidence based counselling strategies and concepts with the aim to empower people to reach their full potential and meaningfully participate in life. I work from a neuroaffirming, trauma-informed, and inclusive perspective, creating a safe and supportive space for all identities and neurotypes. I am also knowledgeable about and supportive of the Pathological Demand Avoidance (PDA) profile, and tailor my approach with deep respect for each person's unique needs and lived experience. I also provide case-management and facilitate referrals to supporting services if there is a need to incorporate a multidisciplinary team of support as well as coordinating case conferences to ensure all support providers are working together with the best interest of the participant at the centre.Having worked in multidisciplinary team environments, I am able to draw on skills and knowledge from different areas to also inform my practice.I am an accredited Counsellor with the Australian Counselling Association. I hold a National Police Check and Working with Children’s Check. I have 16 years experience as a Student Wellbeing Coordinator and School Counsellor with the Department of Education.
Services
Nurturing Little Lives provides outreach support in your home, local library, community setting or educational setting. Walk-and-Talk therapy in nature and Telehealth appointments are also available.
Outreach Counselling and Support Services often helps to reduce the stigma associated with seeking support. People may be more comfortable to engage in support when it comes to them in a familiar, non-clinical environment, such as their home, community center, or school.
Fees
Counselling services are available to private participants of all ages, abilities and life stages.
While Medicare rebates are not available for Counselling, the fee is comparable to or even lower than the gap payment for other psychological services. Additionally, if more than 10 sessions are required, counselling offers greater affordability. This is because, under Medicare, only a portion of the cost for up to 10 sessions of psychological services is covered, whereas Counselling can be a more cost-effective option beyond this limit
Our pricing is in line with NDIS Pricing Arrangements and Price Limits 2024-25Please note that we are not able to see NDIA managed clients for now.
| Service | Fee Type | Price | Additional Info |
|---|---|---|---|
| Counselling | Private | Sliding Scale Fee | Please Call to discuss needs and prices |
| Group Programs | Private | Sliding Scale Fee | Please Call to discuss needs and prices |
| Early Childhood : Key Worker NDIS funding for a Key Worker appears under Capacity Building Supports in an NDIS Plan. It is a stated support, meaning it needs to be specifically allocated and listed. If you think your child could benefit from a Key Worker and they don't have funding in their plan, speak to your early childhood partner, LAC or NDIS Planner | NDIS Initial Parent Consultation 1.5hrs Reading of reports, comprehensive information and history gathering, exploration of current challenges and child/family goals Initial Parent Consultation 1hr Comprehensive information and history gathering, exploration of current challenges and child/family goals Subsequent Key Worker Support 1hr face-to-face or phone support session to parent, child or support team | $156.16/hr Documentation, follow up actions, preparation for next session is uncharged (capped at 1/2hr) | Requested Reports : $156.16/hr Cancellation Policy : If less than 2 clear business days notice of cancellation is not provided, a fee of $156.16 will be incurred Outreach/Travel fees are billed as per NDIS Provider Travel guidelines Remote service may be available on individual basis. Please call to discuss needs and prices |
| Early Childhood : Counselling NDIS funding for Early Intervention Counselling appears under Capacity Building Supports ~ Improved Daily Living in an NDIS Plan. If the plan is not a flexible plan, Counselling needs to be specified. | NDIS 60 minute face-to-face or phone counselling session for child and/or family | $156.16/hr Documentation, follow up actions, preparation for next session is uncharged (capped at 1/2hr) | Requested Reports : $156.16/hr Cancellation Policy : If less than 2 clear business days notice of cancellation is not provided, a fee of $156.16 will be incurred Outreach/Travel fees are billed as per NDIS Provider Travel guidelines Remote service may be available on individual basis. Please call to discuss needs and prices |
| Therapy : Counselling NDIS funding for Counselling appears under Capacity Building Supports ~ Improved Daily Living in an NDIS Plan. If the plan is not a flexible plan, Counselling/Therapy needs to be specified. | NDIS 60 minute face-to-face or phone counselling session for child, individual and/or family | $156.16/hr Documentation, follow up actions, preparation for next session is uncharged (capped at 1/2hr) | Requested Reports : $156.16/hr Cancellation Policy : If less than 2 clear business days notice of cancellation is not provided, a fee of $156.16 will be incurred Outreach/Travel fees are billed as per NDIS Provider Travel guidelines Remote service may be available on individual basis. Please call to discuss needs and prices |
| Psychosocial Recovery Coach NDIS funding for Psychosocial Recovery Coach appears under 'Capacity Building ~ Support Coordination'. If the plan is not a flexible plan, Psychosocial Recovery Coach needs to be specified. | NDIS 60 minute face-to-face or phone Psychosocial Recovery Coach session with participant or other support personel if required | Different price limits apply depending on the Time of Day and Day of Week on which the support is delivered. Weekday: $101.42/hr Weekday Evening: $111.74/hr Weekday Night: $113.81/hr Saturday: $142.71/hr Sunday: $184.01 Public Holiday: $225.31 Documentation, follow up actions, preparation for next session is uncharged (capped at 1/2hr) | Requested Reports : $111.16/hr Cancellation Policy : If less than 7 clear business days notice of cancellation is not provided, a cancellation fee will be incurred. The fee price correlates to Day/Time of scheduled session ($101.42-$225.31) Outreach/Travel fees are billed as per NDIS Provider Travel guidelines Remote service may be available on individual basis. Please call to discuss needs and prices |
| Appointments, Errands, Companionship To access Assistance in Coordinating or Managing Life Stages, Transitions and Supports, the NDIS Plan must include the item ‘Capacity Building ~ Increased Social Community Participation’. | NDIS This support item is to assist with mentoring, peer-support and individual skill development and is designed to establish volunteer assistance within the participant’s home or community to develop skills. Length of session is dependent on participant's goals and personal intentions. | $77.00/hr | Cancellation Policy : If less than 7 clear business days notice of cancellation is not provided, a fee of $77.00 will be incurred Outreach/Travel fees are billed as per NDIS Provider Travel guidelines Activity Based Transport fees are billed as per NDIS Provider Transport guidelines |
| Education Support To access Transition through School and to Further Education the NDIS Plan must include the item ‘Capacity Building ~ Improved Learning’. | NDIS This support item is for the provision of skills training, advice, assistance with arrangements and orientation to assist a person with disability moving from school to further education. | $77.00\hr | Cancellation Policy : If less than 7 clear business days notice of cancellation is not provided, a fee of $77.00 will be incurred Outreach/Travel fees are billed as per NDIS Provider Travel guidelines Activity Based Transport fees are billed as per NDIS Provider Transport guidelines |
| Employment Counselling NDIS funding for Employment Counselling and Advice appears under Capacity Building Supports ~ Finding and Keeping a Job in an NDIS Plan. If the plan is not a flexible plan, Employment Counselling needs to be specified. | NDIS 60 minute face-to-face or phone counselling session | $156.16/hr Documentation, follow up actions, preparation for next session is uncharged (capped at 1/2hr) | Requested Reports : $156.16/hr Cancellation Policy : If less than 2 clear business days notice of cancellation is not provided, a fee of $156.16 will be incurred Outreach/Travel fees are billed as per NDIS Provider Travel guidelines Remote service may be available on individual basis. Please call to discuss needs and prices |
| Transport Training NDIS funding for Transport Training appears under Capacity Building Supports ~ Improved Social and Community Participation in an NDIS Plan. | NDIS This support item provides individual life skills development and training including public transport training and support, developing skills for community, social and recreational participation. | $77.00/hr | Cancellation Policy : If less than 7 clear business days notice of cancellation is not provided, a fee of $77.00 will be incurred. Outreach/Travel fees are billed as per NDIS Provider Travel guidelines. Activity Based Transport fees are billed as per NDIS Provider Transport guidelines |
| Assistance with Self Care Activites NDIS funding for Assistance with Self Care Activites appears under Core Supports ~ Assistance with Daily Life in an NDIS Plan. | NDIS These Support items provide a particpant with assistance with, or supervision of, personal tasks of daily life to develop skills of the participant to live as autonomously as possible. . | Different price limits apply depending on the Time of Day and Day of the Week on which the support is delivered. Weekday Day: $67.56/hr Weekday Evening: $74.44 Weekday Night: $75.82 Saturday: $95.07 Sunday: $122.59 Public Holiday: $150.10 | Cancellation Policy : If less than 7 clear business days notice of cancellation is not provided, a cancellation fee will be incurred. The fee price correlates to Day/Time of scheduled session ($67.56-$150.10) . Outreach/Travel fees are billed as per NDIS Provider Travel guidelines. Activity Based Transport fees are billed as per NDIS Provider Transport guidelines |
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free 15 minute chat
We will be in touch with a phone call to introduce ourselves, explain more about our services and hear about your circumstances, to see how we may be able to assist.
Counselling
Nurturing Little Lives provides a holistic and non-judgemental counselling service to people of all ages and abilities. Counselling is an opportunity to grow in emotional-wellness and optimism for the future and to develop coping strategies to use in your daily life as well as explore healing interventions for past hurts and trauma.A particular interest and passion for Nurturing Little Lives is the provision of a safe space to explore the parenting journey and the challenges that come with raising little people.
Group Programs
Nurturing Little Lives offers a variety of group programs and workshops including:
• Lego Therapy
• Skills fOr Life Adjustment and Recovery (SOLAR) Program
• Revved Up
• Young Leaders
• Peer Support
• The Supportive Friends Program
• Social Emotional Growth and Wellbeing
• Parenting Self Care
• Evolve
Please contact Nurturing Little Lives for more information or to express an interest in Group Programs
Early Childhood : Key Worker
The NDIS uses the Early Childhood Approach to support children younger than 9 years of age, living with disabilities, developmental delays or concerns and/or neurodivergence and their families.The best practice is using the Key Worker Model.A Key Worker is a childhood intervention therapist who works the most closely with the child and their family in a therapeutic manner. The Key Worker builds a strong relationship with the child and family to support the child’s progress towards their early intervention goals.A Counsellor is an NDIS approved Key Worker.Counselling shares a lot of overlap with other Allied Health fields and makes for an excellent Key Worker.A Counsellor has an in-depth knowledge of childhood development, positive behaviour support and effective parenting strategies. They can offer consistent advice, strategies and emotional support that is individually tailored.Counsellors have the knowledge and ability to take a holistic approach in understanding the needs, routines, relationships, interests and values of the child and the family. This connection, knowledge and information creates a strong foundation to then provide guidance, training and strategies that can be implemented at home to foster a child’s development and give them the best start to life.A Counsellor utilises a wide range of evidence-based therapies to support children and families identify their strengths, needs and goals with the aim to work towards increased functional independence and social participation.A Counsellor also undertakes specific education and training to equip them with Case Management skills, or Key Worker skills, which are paramount to collaborate with the child’s wider support team. They are responsible for coordinating and building a child’s support team and highly effective in communicating with the team to ensure everyone is working together for the same purpose.
Using a warm and fun approach, Counselling can support with:
| • Communication • Social Skills • Participation • Mental Health and Wellness • Emotional Regulation • Confidence and Self-esteem • Challenging Behaviours • Boundary Setting • Play • Learning • Concentration | • Fine and Gross Motor Skills • Organisation • Daily Routines • Separation • Bedtime • Toilet Learning • Time Management • Body Safety • Safety Plans • Classroom Adaptations |
A Counsellor collaborates with Allied Health from different fields - drawing on skills and knowledge from different areas to inform and add to their practice.Counsellors also: • Build the family’s confidence and ability to advocate for the best interest of their child
• Upskill and educate those around the child (childcare, kindergarten, primary school, other therapists) with the necessary insights and skills to support their learning, development and participation
• Collaborate with other allied health fields and draw on this knowledge to inform and add to their practice
• Connect families with community-based services
• Facilitate Care-Team Meetings
• Provide referrals to other health professionals
Early Childhood : Counsellor
Nurturing Little Lives recognises that children are whole people deserving of love, nurture, respect and guidance, to grow and develop in a holistic and resilient manner. They have complex emotions and behaviours which can often be misunderstood by society. Children with additional needs often have another dimension to challenging behaviours, sensitive personalities and barriers that frequently co-exist such as disorganisation, poor time-management, low level of social skills, delayed play, low confidence and resilience as well as limited communication and problem-solving skills. Parents and Carers of children with additional needs require a different tool-set to guide their children and manage their own emotions and challenges.Counselling assists to better understand your child, their medical and health situations, and to learn that their behaviour is a form of communication. This assists in creating effective boundaries and providing loving discipline in a way that nurtures and fosters their growth and builds a strong parent-child relationship. When infants and children feel securely attached to their parent, they feel safe to play, learn and develop to meet their full potential.Counselling with Nurturing Little Lives can provide support to:
• Better understand diagnoses and health-related challenges
• See your child as a whole person; separate from their behaviour or their diagnosis
• Learn that behaviour is communication
• Get curious about what your child is trying to communicate
• Develop your own strategies to remain patient, kind and loving
• Learn how to create effective boundaries and use loving discipline
• Tackle challenges with a compassionate approach
• Learn practical strategies to improve communication with your child
• Learn strategies to help your child engage in play, socialise with peers and express their emotions healthily
Counselling with Nurturing Little Lives supports children to:• Understand themselves as whole people
• Learn more about their neurodivergence, disability or developmental concern/delay and how this adds to who they are as a person in a positive way
• Improve emotional wellbeing by learning how to express and manage emotions and develop coping strategies to manage challenges
• Build confidence and self-esteem
• Learn strategies and routines to further develop the functional skills needed to meaningfully participate in their environment
• Overcome challenges impacting academic performance such as time-management, organisation, study skills and helpful self-talk
• Learn to identify what their body requires to regulate and strategies to assist with being able to focus for longer periods of time
• Improve social skills by increasing communication skills (including non-verbal communication skills), learning to relate to people, initiate conversations and build friendships
• Children can be assisted in learning how to establish healthy boundaries in relationships to bolster their personal safety
• Prevent or reduce the likelihood of more serious mental illness in adulthood by seeking early intervention for symptoms of mental illness that may co-exist with neurodivergence, disability or health conditions
Counselling can be practised with a child, a child and parent(s), a parent or parents, or in a family setting. Counselling goals are in-line with the goals identified in the NDIS plan.Nurturing Little Lives is highly experienced in the provision of counselling in a case-management model and the coordination of a care team. Nurturing Little Lives facilitates referrals to other supporting allied health and community services and networks to support NDIS plan goals and to increase the child’s participation in a meaningful life.
Therapy : Counselling
The NDIS recognises that Therapy Supports are of benefit to people older than 9 years of age.Counselling is a NDIS approved Therapy Support. Counselling is a safe and supportive environment for neurodivergent people and people living with disabilities or chronic health conditions to seek support to increase their wellbeing in a holistic manner.Counselling can help participants to adapt to their circumstances, to learn to love themselves for the whole person that they are, to view themselves with a positive mindset and to grow in their inner confidence and self-esteem. Counselling can provide the opportunity to further develop their functional skills that allows them to participate in their community and live a meaningful life.Counselling provides an opportunity to discuss challenges and struggles that coexist with neurodivergence and disabilities, as well as learn coping strategies to better manage those challenges.Counselling can help people living with disabilities and co-existing conditions and challenges including:
• Grief and bereavement
•Anger management
• Anxiety and depression
• Pain and fatigue
• Family Relationship Breakdown
• Emotional dysregulation and wellbeing
• Social skills
• Coping Skills
• Self-care
• Sleep issues
• Stress
• Poor time-management
• Decision making
• Financial Management
• Barriers to education or employment
• Mindfulness and self-regulation skills
• Self-esteem, confidence, and assertiveness issues
• Communication skills including non-verbal communication skills
Counselling assists participants to achieve their personal goals as identified in their NDIS plans using evidence-based strategies.
Psychosocial Recovery Coach
A Psychosocial Recovery Coach supports you with your recovery. Recovery, in the NDIS, means being able to live a purposeful and meaningful life. Recovery coaches are a type of support available to participants with psychosocial disability. Their aim is to support participants with psychosocial disability in their recovery journey. Recovery coaches provide support to increase:
• Independence
• Social participation
• Economic participation
They support people with psychosocial disability to take more control of their lives and to better manage the complex challenges of daily living.A Psychosocial Recovery Coach will assist you to achieve your NDIS plan goals by connecting you with appropriate supports. A Psychosocial Recovery Coach will also coordinate and facilitate care-team liaison.
A Psychosocial Recovery Coach can assist you in:
Finding and Maintaining Hope - Believing in oneself; having a sense of personal agency; optimistic about the future
Re-establishing Positive Identity -Retaining a positive sense of self
Taking Responsibility and Control -Feeling in control of psychosocial disability and distress; and control of life
Appointments, Errands and Companionship
With a warm, caring and empathetic approach, support and mentoring is provided to assist participants to develop their skills. Supports may include assistance in attending appointments, running errands such as grocery shopping, bill paying, taking part in social activities and maintaining contact with others.Companionship is provided with a genuine heart and interest in the overall wellbeing of a person.
Education and Employment
Commencing a new chapter in education can be a daunting life-stage, however with the right supports and encouragement, people can feel empowered and develop skills that boost their independence and confidence to feel safe and ready to learn in their new educational setting. Nurturing Little Lives is able to provide the guidance and training required to understand the process of transitioning from school to further education and can assist with enrolments, orientations, learning public transport and timetables to increase independent access to education, organisation and study skills.Nurturing Little Lives can provide Employment Counselling. Employment Counselling is a process where people recieve support to understand and navigate their career options, job search strategies and explore work and non-work related barriers. Guidance is provided on topics such as resume writing, job interviews, career development, skill enhancement and workplace issues.
Transport Training
Nurturing Little Lives Counselling and Support Services enjoys providing people with encouragement and guidance to develop their life skills by assisting with Public Transport Training.Specific training is provided and practiced face-to-face in: • Accessing Timetables
• Reading Timetables
• Journey Planning
• Ticket (Myki) Purchasing and Topping Up
• Catching Public TransportNurturing Little Lives is passionate about this support worker role to empower people in building their confidence, independence, social and community participation.
Kind Words
"Thankyou for the support you have provided our niece over the past few months. We are so heartened and grateful that she had someone so caring, dedicated and professional as yourself to accompany her through very testing circumstances.
Your commitment made a real difference to her emotional well being and brought her great strength, courage and comfort.
We are delighted to have met you and believe you to be a major asset to Allied Health and those whom you support."
[Carer of Young Person]
"Thank you lots & lots for guiding me in the right direction & helping me when I was unsure on what to do or unhappy about something."
[Young Person]
"Thankyou for all of your help. I don't know how you delt with me, but you did! Thanks for sorting out the school stuff for me."
[Young Person]
"Renee, You have opened the doors for a future for my son and I will be forever grateful."
[Mother]
"Thank you for the time and effort you’ve put into becoming a Skills fOr Life Adjustment and Resilience (aka SOLAR) Coach, as part of the Promoting Resilience and Recovery in Regional and Rural Victoria project, 2021-2022."
[Phoenix Australia]
Assistance with Self Care Activities
This section will be updated soon. In the meantime, feel free to get in touch if you have any questions!
