Connected Kiddos

11/09/2026

Connected Kiddos is changing, and that’s not a bad thing!

Over the past few months I’ve been thinking carefully about what I want this little practice to look like going forward.
What I keep coming back to is the work that feels most meaningful to me: supporting the whole family, not just the child in front of me.

What I bring is a social work lens: relational, practical and focused on the whole picture. It shapes how I understand children, support parents and work with the systems around them.

That might look like Early Intervention Key Worker support, making sense of reports and recommendations, preparing for meetings, helping you advocate, linking in with services, bringing the team together, or simply giving you somewhere to put down the overwhelm for a little while.

My play therapy background still shapes how I understand children, relationships and behaviour, but I’m leaning more intentionally into supporting caregivers because I’ve seen how much of a flow-on effect there is for children when their parents feel supported, understood and more confident in what they’re doing.

Connected Kiddos is becoming smaller and more intentional, but still family-centred, strengths-based and grounded in connection.

Your child may have a whole team.

You deserve someone in your corner too. 💗

Telehealth support available Australia-wide.

29/08/2026

While navigating this new way of working, I received this beautiful message from a Mum yesterday.

It cemented so much for me about where I'm heading. "I just wanted to thank you so much because you've helped [my child] get six hours a week of support funding before going to the second case conference! We truly appreciate you! We wouldn't have gotten there without you."

This outcome followed a year of our combined efforts to appeal an NDIS decision.
The appeal went to the Administrative Review Tribunal (ART) - an independent body that reviews certain decisions made by Australian Government agencies, including eligible NDIA decisions.

Together, we clearly advocated for and demonstrated why this awesome little five-year-old, now six, needed support to safely participate at home and access her community.

There were many opportunities to give up or retreat. The process was long, demanding and, at times, incredibly disheartening. But neither of us gave up.

We gathered and refined evidence, spoke clearly about her functional needs and the risks to her safety and wellbeing, and brought in other professionals to undeniably strengthen our 'why'.

Yesterday’s outcome was a shared celebration. After more than a year of rejections, persistence, waiting, questioning and trying again, this little person will finally receive six hours of Core support each week.

I felt so proud of her Mum! She kept going, even when the process gave her every reason not to.

I truly love supporting parents and caregivers. Their deep knowledge of their child, combined with my clinical understanding of development, disability and systems like the NDIS, is a beautiful combination.

Connected Kiddos is changing, but I'm not stepping away from supporting children - I'm recognising that one of the most valuable ways I can support a child is by walking alongside their parent or caregiver.

Supporting parents and caregivers has always been part of my work, but it's often been sandwiched between therapy sessions. Moving forward, it will have a dedicated place within Connected Kiddos.

Shared with permission and de-identified.

03/08/2026

Many of you have already heard from me personally, but I wanted to share a broader update with the Connected Kiddos community.

Over the years, I’ve loved getting to know so many incredible children and families. Together we’ve shared nurturing moments that soothed busy nervous systems, playful moments that brought laughter and connection, and conversations that helped children understand their feelings, unique brains and incredible strengths. Parents and caregivers developed new ways to understand what their child was communicating and practical tools to respond with greater confidence, connection and co-regulation.

In parent sessions, caregivers often heard me say that they matter. Looking after themselves isn’t selfish - it’s pivotal to their ability to stay present, connected and responsive, particularly when their child needs them most.

It’s time I took my own advice.

My health has been asking me to slow down for some time, and I’ve reached a point where I can no longer keep working beyond my limits. Meaningful change is needed.

The quality of support I want to offer children and families matters too much for me to keep doing it this way.

I’m taking a pause to rest, recover and reset. I’ve also made the difficult decision to end my clinic lease and significantly scale back the way I work.

When I’m ready, Connected Kiddos will return in a way that allows me to keep doing the work I love while honouring my own limits. The shape of my practice may change, but the heart behind it won’t.

It starts with connection—and right now, that includes my own.

Kristy

15/07/2026

Hello families!

Let’s be honest. Social Work in the NDIS, specifically in early intervention feels like a small sailboat in a very vast ocean. Regardless, what we do here at Connected Kiddos (as delivered by me, a social worker) matters and has benefited so many children and their families.

If you’d like to share your experience of Social Work in the NDIS please spend a few minutes on this voluntary survey. Our sector would be so grateful, as would I. I’d love more Australians to know the value that social work offers in the NDIS.

The most powerful, simple and trusted way to gather experience data. Start your journey to experience management and try a free account today.

10/07/2026

Families you should jump on this opportunity with Mel and the herd! 🩷

Beyond Four Walls | Wild Connections After School

What if after school looked a little different?

What if, instead of rushing home to another screen, young people spent their afternoons exploring nature, connecting with horses, laughing with our therapy dog Pascal, building friendships and discovering just how capable they really are?

At Pynmanto, we believe some of life's most valuable learning doesn't happen inside four walls.

Over eight weeks, participants will have opportunities to build confidence, develop emotional awareness, strengthen communication, practice healthy boundaries and experience the calm that comes from spending time outdoors in the company of animals.

This isn't horse riding lessons.

It's not another classroom.

It's an opportunity to slow down, reconnect, explore, and develop skills that support everyday life—all through meaningful experiences in nature.

Two small groups available
• Ages 7–12 years
• Ages 13–17 years

Maximum of 5 participants per group, ensuring every young person is seen, heard and supported.

Investment: $520 for the 8-week program
$100 deposit secures your place.
Flexible payment plans available.
Private and NDIS participants welcome.

Held on our private 100-acre property, just 10 minutes from Willows Shopping Centre.

If you've been looking for something a little different for your young person—one that values connection over competition, curiosity over perfection, and real-world experiences over more screen time—we'd love to welcome you.

🌐 www.pynmanto.com.au

📞 0407 103 390

Because some of life's most valuable lessons aren't taught inside four walls.

08/07/2026

Hurry! Last chance to join!
Please let families know so they can benefit from this wonderful program starting Monday July 13 at 9am.

For this group only - childcare is provided

18/06/2026

"I can be myself here."

A child shared these words in session today. My heart exploded in that moment.

Children usually show us this without words - when they soften, get silly, laugh, walk confidently into the room or chat away while upside down on the floor cushions. To hear it spoken out loud? That was a first for me.

Before children can explore feelings, try new things, or talk about the hard stuff, they need something more basic: to feel safe enough to just be.

Silly. Busy. Quiet. Unsure. Worried. Chatty. Playful. All of it welcome.

That kind of safety - safe enough to be fully seen - is what Connected Kiddos is all about.

For children with disability, neurodivergence, or trauma, that kind of acceptance doesn't happen nearly enough. Too often, children are asked to fit the space - before the space has taken any time to understand them.

When a child feels truly accepted, connection becomes the doorway to everything else.

It starts with connection

15/06/2026

Families and colleagues- check out this free parenting support. The heart of PACT Online is supporting you in being the kind of parent that you want to be, so that you can do your best for your child, your family and yourself.

We are looking for families of children (0-10 years old) diagnosed with any neurodevelopmental disability (including autism, ADHD, cerebral palsy, intellectual disability, FASD etc.) or developmental delay to take part in the trial of an online parenting support program PACT Online.

03/06/2026

Helpful visual for the afterschool restraint collapse 😫🫩😣

What helps your kiddo to get back to an optimal state?

After-school restraint collapse isn’t a child 'acting out'.

It’s the moment their nervous system finally exhales after holding everything in all day long.
And when you understand the timeline of a meltdown, the behaviours suddenly make so much more sense — and so does your response.

02/06/2026

Tap in this Thursday night to this free and supportive session!

Register on Humanitix - Understanding Sleep in Children with Disability: Webinar hosted by Belongside Families . Online. Thursday 4th June 2026. Find event information.