Grab the diary, it’s time to get planning as Ability Centre’s therapy team roll out another term jam-packed with some great programs and activities for all ages.
We have groups running across the metropolitan area. Scroll down to find all the details. Places in all groups are filling fast and bookings are essential.
To secure your spot or to find out more about the groups on offer, please call Ability Centre on 1300 106 106 or email info@abilitycentre.com.au.
Northern Groups
Jelly Beans Playgroup
Ability Centre North Hub
Unit 5, 1 Hobsons Gate, Currambine
Wednesdays 7 February to 4 April
- Learning & play in a safe, fun, encouraging environment
- Graded approach to games & activities!
- Sensory exploration
- Rhythm and movement
- Social skills opportunities
- Fun therapists & parent participation
- No crèche on site but siblings welcome
- Eight weeks based at Currambine Hub
Register
Early Intervention Hydrotherapy
John Butler Primary
2 Halesworth Parade, Butler
Children aged 0 to 4 years
An introduction to water with your child with familiarisation to swimming and water safety such as blowing bubbles, floating and kicking. Develop motor skills such as rolling, sitting, crawling, standing and walking. An opportunity to socialise and have fun for children and parents.
Register
Hydrotherapy
John Butler Primary
2 Halesworth Parade, Butler
Adults
Whether you are learning to swim, completing rehabilitation post-surgery or wanting to maintain your physical fitness, hydrotherapy is for you! Physiotherapists will work with you to develop an individualised program designed to specifically target your personal goals.
Register
Hanen - It Takes Two to Talk
Ability Centre North Hub
Unit 5, 1 Hobsons Gate, Currambine
Children aged 0 to 5 years
5, 12, 19 and 26 February and 5, 12 and 19 March 2018
The It Takes Two to Talk Program is designed for parents of young children who have been identified as having a language delay. In a small, personalized group setting, parents learn practical strategies to help their children learn language naturally throughout their day together. The program teaches you how to become your child’s most important language teacher.
The program shows you how to:
- Recognise your child’s stage and style of communication so that you know which steps to take next
- Identify what motivates your child to interact with you so you’ll know how to get conversations started
- Adjust everyday routines to help your child take turns and keep interactions going
- Follow your child’s lead to build confidence and encourage communication
- Add language to interactions with your child to help him understand language and then use it when ready
- Tweak the way you play and read books with your child to help language learning
- Change the way you speak to your child so they understand and learn new words
The group runs over seven 2.5 hour sessions and is a big commitment, but families involved previously have expressed how valuable these sessions are.
Sessions will be run by an Ability Centre Hanan Certified Speech Pathologist at the North Hub. On site child minding can be arranged - please let us know if this will be needed.
Register
Sports Skills
Ability Centre North Hub
Unit 5, 1 Hobsons Gate, Currambine
Children
Wednesday afternoons 3.20pm - 4.05pm, commencing 7 February and running weekly for 5 weeks
The group will focus on sport-based skills (throwing, catching and mobility) with general fitness games. It would be ideal for those kids who were previously interested and involved in sport but have lately reduced their participation or notice a difference between their skill development compared to their peers and experience an associated reduction in confidence.
Register
X-celerate Running
Admiral Park, Heathridge
School-aged children
Monday and Wednesday afternoons 4.15pm - 5.00pm, commencing 5 February and running twice weekly for 7 weeks
An intensive and individualised running skills program for school-aged children applied in a fun group setting. Improve your child’s running technique, speed and fitness. An opportunity to meet other children of similar abilities in a fun learning environment.
Register
Mealtime Intensives
Ability Centre North Hub
Unit 5, 1 Hobsons Gate, Currambine
Children and adults
Do you have a specific feeding goal you would like to work on? Would you like to support your child with texture progression, finding a new cup, fussy eating or exploring oral tastes? Are you an adult who would like to find a cup you can use more independently or expand the variety of foods you currently eat? Our Mealtime intensives involve 1-2 weekly sessions with our Mealtime Specialist for a 4 week period. They are open to anyone who has a specific mealtime goal they want to work towards achieving.
Register
Food Explorers
Ability Centre North Hub
Unit 5, 1 Hobsons Gate, Currambine
Children
Do you have a fussy, reluctant or selective eater? Would you like to support your child to explore new tastes and textures? Food Explorers group is a relaxed, no pressure environment that allows fussy eaters to explore foods and participate in messy play and cooking. Whilst the kids are exploring new textures, smells and tastes, parents are invited to attend information sessions. During these sessions parents will discover strategies to support their child explore more foods at home. This is a 6-week block of sessions run by a Mealtime Speech Pathologist and Dietitian and is open to children of all ages.
Express Interest
Drum & Beat
Ability Centre North Hub
Unit 5, 1 Hobsons Gate, Currambine
School-aged children
15 and 22 February and 1, 8 and 15 March 2018
During Drum and Beat sessions, children will come together to have fun and make music. Lead by specialists in music rhythm therapy, the group aims to encourage social interactions and participation through activities such as drumming and electronic beat making.
Register
Gym
13 years old and above
Open to people aged over 13, with separate teen group and adult groups depending on level of interest.
This group will introduce people to a community gym and help to set them up with an individualised exercise program to suit them. Groups will take place in a training room setting with access to free weights and cardio equipment. While the main focus will be on setting up an exercise program, there will also be an opportunity to build a social support network with other group members with the aim to continue with an exercise routine after the group has concluded. Becoming more familiar with gym equipment, etiquette and routine will help to build confidence and independence.
Register
Central Groups
X-celerate Running
Ability Centre Central Hub
106 Bradford St, Coolbinia
Children
Tuesday and Thursday afternoons 4.00pm - 5.00pm, commencing 6 February and running twice weekly for 10 weeks
An intensive and individualised running skills program for school-aged children applied in a fun group setting. Improve your child’s running technique, speed and fitness. An opportunity to meet other children of similar abilities in a fun learning environment.
Register
X-ert and Mini X-ert Gym
Ability Centre Central Hub
106 Bradford St, Coolbinia
Children
Wednesday afternoons 4.00pm - 5.00pm, commencing 14 February and runs weekly during the school terms
Improve fitness, agility, balance and strength in a fun group setting. Younger children can participate in the Mini X-ert obstacle course whilst older children are introduced to strength training equipment preparing them for community based strength training. An opportunity to meet other children of similar abilities in a fun learning environment. For school-aged children.
Register
X-hale
Ability Centre Central Hub
106 Bradford St, Coolbinia
School-aged children
Monday afternoons 4.00pm - 5.00pm, commencing 12 February and runs weekly during the school terms
Similar to our popular X-ert gym group, for school-aged children needing a quieter exercise area with more sensory input in addition to strength, balance and fitness. Chat with your child’s Physiotherapist or Occupational Therapist to see which of our “X” groups will best suit your child’s goals.
Register
Individualised Water Based Therapy
Ability Centre Central Hub
106 Bradford St, Coolbinia
Adults and Children
Places full for term 1 but please advise your Key Contact or Physiotherapist if you are interested to be placed on the waitlist for future terms.
Individualised water based program in a small class setting. Improve your strength, fitness and core strength in the water; Manage pain and muscle tone; Improve your swimming skills; Promote relaxation; and/or work on a specific skill in water.
More Information
Early Intervention Hydrotherapy
Ability Centre Central Hub
106 Bradford St, Coolbinia
Children aged 0 to 5 years
Wednesday mornings 10.00am, commencing 7 February and running weekly for 8 weeks
For children aged 0 to 5 years. An introduction to water with your child with familiarisation to swimming and water safety such as blowing bubbles, floating and kicking. Develop motor skills such as rolling, sitting, crawling, standing and walking. An opportunity to socialise and have fun for children and parents.
Register
Animal Crackers Playgroup
Ability Centre Central Hub
106 Bradford St, Coolbinia
Children aged 0 to 4 years
Thursday mornings 9.45am - 10.45am, commencing 8 February and running weekly for 8 weeks
For children aged 0 to 4 years. A great way for your child to interact with other children in a fun and safe environment. An opportunity to meet with other families and develop a support network. Siblings also welcome to play.
Register
Budding Brightwriters Handwriting Group
Ability Centre Central Hub
106 Bradford St, Coolbinia
Kindy and pre-primary aged children
Tuesday mornings 9.30am - 10.30am, commencing 13 February and running weekly for 7 weeks
A fun group for kindy and pre-primary aged children aimed at developing handwriting skills. An opportunity to practise pre-writing patterns, improve hand and finger strength and coordination and improve confidence in learning to write in a group environment. Sessions focus on developing hand strength, pre-writing patterns, developing colouring skills and scissor skills.
Register
Strength Gym
Expressions of interest
Adults
Tuesday or Thursday mornings starting in mid-March
An opportunity for adults to develop strength and fitness at a community gym. Work out in a group setting and learn how to use gym equipment. A physiotherapist and CIW will be on hand to motivate and assist you.
Express Interest
Mealtime Intensives
Ability Centre Central Hub
106 Bradford St, Coolbinia
Children and adults
Do you have a specific feeding goal you would like to work on? Would you like to support your child with texture progression, finding a new cup, fussy eating or exploring oral tastes? Are you an adult who would like to find a cup you can use more independently or expand the variety of foods you currently eat? Our Mealtime intensives involve 1-2 weekly sessions with our Mealtime Specialist for a 4 week period. They are open to anyone who has a specific mealtime goal they want to work towards achieving.
Register
Food Explorers
Ability Centre Central Hub
106 Bradford St, Coolbinia
Children
Do you have a fussy, reluctant or selective eater? Would you like to support your child to explore new tastes and textures? Food Explorers group is a relaxed, no pressure environment that allows fussy eaters to explore foods and participate in messy play and cooking. Whilst the kids are exploring new textures, smells and tastes, parents are invited to attend information sessions. During these sessions parents will discover strategies to support their child explore more foods at home. This is a 6-week block of sessions run by a Mealtime Speech Pathologist and Dietitian and is open to children of all ages.
Express Interest
Southern Groups
Hit the Beat
Ability Centre South Hub
9/190 Bannister Rd, Canning Vale
Children aged 5 to 15
Tuesday afternoons 4.00pm - 5.00pm, commencing 30 January and running weekly for 10 weeks
Hit the Beat is the perfect stepping stone for children who want to participate in dance classes within the community or who just want to learn to dance foundations. Aimed at children aged 5 to 15 years, GMFCS I, II & III.
Register
X-celerate Running Group
Ability Centre South Hub
9/190 Bannister Rd, Canning Vale
School-aged children
Monday and Wednesday afternoons 4.00pm - 5.00pm, commencing 5 February and running twice weekly for 10 weeks
An intensive and individualised running skills program for school-aged children applied in a fun group setting. Improve your child’s running technique, speed and fitness. An opportunity to meet other children of similar abilities in a fun learning environment.
Register
Hydrotherapy
Ability Centre South Hub
9/190 Bannister Rd, Canning Vale
Adults
Tuesday and Thursday afternoons, commencing 6 February and running weekly for 4 weeks
Whether you are learning to swim, completing rehabilitation post-surgery or wanting to maintain your physical fitness, hydrotherapy is for you! Physiotherapists will work with you to develop an individualised program designed to specifically target your personal goals.
Register
Hanen - It Takes Two to Talk
Ability Centre South Hub
9/190 Bannister Rd, Canning Vale
Children aged 0 to 5
Thursday afternoons, commencing 1 March and running weekly for 8 weeks
The It Takes Two to Talk Program is designed for parents of young children (birth to five years of age) who have been identified as having a language delay. In a small, personalized group setting, parents learn practical strategies to help their children learn language naturally throughout their day together. The program teaches you how to become your child’s most important language teacher.
The program shows you how to:
- Recognise your child’s stage and style of communication so that you know which steps to take next
- Identify what motivates your child to interact with you so you’ll know how to get conversations started
- Adjust everyday routines to help your child take turns and keep interactions going
- Follow your child’s lead to build confidence and encourage communication
- Add language to interactions with your child to help him understand language and then use it when ready
- Tweak the way you play and read books with your child to help language learning
- Change the way you speak to your child so they understand and learn new words
Register
Mealtime Intensives
Ability Centre South Hub
9/190 Bannister Rd, Canning Vale
Children and adults
Do you have a specific feeding goal you would like to work on? Would you like to support your child with texture progression, finding a new cup, fussy eating or exploring oral tastes? Are you an adult who would like to find a cup you can use more independently or expand the variety of foods you currently eat? Our Mealtime intensives involve 1-2 weekly sessions with our Mealtime Specialist for a 4 week period. They are open to anyone who has a specific mealtime goal they want to work towards achieving.
Register
Food Explorers
Ability Centre South Hub
9/190 Bannister Rd, Canning Vale
Children
Do you have a fussy, reluctant or selective eater? Would you like to support your child to explore new tastes and textures? Food Explorers group is a relaxed, no pressure environment that allows fussy eaters to explore foods and participate in messy play and cooking. Whilst the kids are exploring new textures, smells and tastes, parents are invited to attend information sessions. During these sessions parents will discover strategies to support their child explore more foods at home. This is a 6-week block of sessions run by a Mealtime Speech Pathologist and Dietitian and is open to children of all ages.
Express Interest
Eastern Groups
Lego Group
Ellenbrook Community Library
90 Main Street, Ellenbrook
Children aged 9 to 14
Wednesday afternoons 3.45pm - 4.45pm, commencing 14 February and running weekly for 6 weeks
The Lego Group is appropriate for children aged 9-14 with social communication difficulties who have trouble making friendships in mainstream schools. It is designed to provide children with a safe, inclusive environment to connect with like-minded individuals through a shared interest.
Parents are asked to attend the session and provide assistance to their child if required.
No crèche facilities are available on site. Siblings are welcome to attend and join in.
