Behaviour Therapy & Early Intervention for Melbourne West Families

We work with families across Melbourne West, including the Maribyrnong, Brimbank, Hobsons Bay, Wyndham and Melton council areas. That takes in suburbs like Footscray, Sunshine, St Albans, Altona North, Point Cook, Truganina, Wyndham Vale, Manor Lakes and Melton. If you’re not sure whether we reach your suburb, call our Intake Team on 1300 752 617 and we’ll let you know.

Yes, with the kinder or school’s agreement. In Victorian government schools, the principal decides whether NDIS-funded therapy can happen at school, and the Department of Education recommends approving requests unless there are practical, legal or educational reasons not to. Each school sets its own steps, which usually include a request form and your written consent, and every therapist needs a current Working with Children Check. Kinders and non-government schools have their own processes, and we’re happy to work through those steps with you.

No. You don’t need a diagnosis to start a conversation with us, and our free phone consultation is a good place to talk through what you’ve noticed. If your child doesn’t have an NDIS plan yet, the NDIS early childhood partner across Melbourne West is the Brotherhood of St. Laurence, which supports children younger than 6 with developmental delay and children younger than 9 with disability. Our Intake Team can explain how that process works.

Yes. Lizard is a registered NDIS provider, so we can work with you whether your child’s plan is self-managed, plan-managed or NDIA-managed. That matters because funding that is NDIA-managed can only be used with registered providers. Our therapy programs are usually funded through Improved Daily Living, and Positive Behaviour Support through Improved Relationships. If you’re unsure how your child’s funding can be used, we’ll walk you through it.

Thriving Kids is a new government program for children aged 8 and under with developmental delay or autism who have low to moderate support needs, and it doesn’t require a diagnosis. It began rolling out on 1 October 2026 and will be fully in place by 1 January 2028, and children with high support needs will continue to be eligible for the NDIS. Until 1 January 2028, nothing changes about how children apply for or access the NDIS. If your child already has a plan, you can keep using it with us, and we’re happy to talk through what the changes might mean for your family.

Our Intake Team will call you for a free phone consultation to talk through your concerns, your funding and current availability in your area. Your Therapy Supervisor then meets with you to understand your child’s strengths, interests and goals, and completes an assessment. Early sessions focus on building a trusting relationship with your child before new skills are introduced. Progress is formally reassessed every 6 to 12 months, so you can see what’s changing.