Stepping Stones Early Childhood Intervention Program
The Stepping Stones program promotes children’s development and learning through stimulation and play. This group-based early childhood intervention program is centred around each family’s needs, concerns and hopes for their child.
Stepping Stones is for children aged from two to school age, who have an active National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) early childhood plan. The program is a registered and accredited NDIS provider.
Based on the Karen Stagnitti Learn to Play program, the program provides a space for children to enjoy engaging in pretend play, which is linked to the development of language, narrative understanding, creativity, social competence, emotional self-regulation and cognitive skills.
Our team can assist children and their families to:
- Understand the child’s strengths and areas of need
- Understand family strengths and assist with gaining new skills
- Access information and resources
- Encourage play as a valuable way of learning
- Assist with the transition to school and preschool
- Identify needs and make appropriate referrals.
The program is run from a former childcare centre at Bendigo Community Health Services’ Kangaroo Flat site at 19 Helm Street.
Our location is a warm and welcoming place with dedicated areas for indoor and outdoor play. The main room features comfortable furniture, toys, books and our resident fish, who all the children love. We also have a sensory room, child-friendly bathroom and a great backyard with a playground and trampoline.
The two-hour long Stepping Stones groups run weekly during school terms (10 weeks) and consist of between six and eight children, with two staff.
Note: Parents attending the Stepping Stones program with their child for the first time are welcome to stay for as long as they want.
Testimonials
“Lara is fantastic and provides activities that are fun and engaging for my child. She goes above and beyond and my child loves attending playgroup. We are looking forward to being a part of it next year. Thank you for providing a great service for my child.”
“The Stepping Stones group has been a great program for my daughter. The staff have given her independence skills and different strategies to help her cope with things, which has improved her way of interacting with others and dealing with different situations.”
“Lara and Robbie are exceptional, and we have seen our son thrive since he began in the program. We hope to continue attending the program around his kinder schedule to continue his development.”
Meet the Team
Lara Hassell
Lara has more than 17 years’ experience in early childhood development. She loves working with families and children to help them overcome barriers and live their best lives.
“I love seeing the wonder in their eyes when they discover new things and watching the pride they have in themselves when they overcome a barrier,” she said. “But mostly I love to see them playing, laughing and enjoying life.”
Lara said when families first join the program, there can be some nerves involved. “We welcome parents and carers to stay for as long as they want when their child is attending our group sessions for the first time,” she said. “We are also able to conduct home visits if this would be a more comfortable and less intimidating space… so that we can meet and get to know you and your child better.”
When she’s not working, Lara enjoys spending time with her family and puppies, and watching her two sons play inline hockey.
Robyn Knight
Robyn, known as Robbie, has worked with young children for more than 31 years and specifically in early childhood intervention for 14 years. She knows she can make a difference in the lives of the children and families she works with. “It gives me pleasure to watch them grow and develop new skills, no matter how small they may be,” she said.
Robbie loves helping children hone skills that will carry them through their life. “I love how the children respond back with their laughter and hugs, and to see how parents respect and welcome our support,” she said.
Outside of work, Robbie can be found helping run her family’s Black Angus cattle farm in Axedale.
Terrie Killen
Terrie has worked in early childhood for over 35 years – being involved with families and making a difference to their day-to day-lives.
She is inspired by the joy that children derive from the simple things in life. She loves witnessing the growth of the children, both the challenges and joys, plus developing relationships with their parents and carers.
“We support parents, carers and children to ensure that they are as comfortable as possible in starting in our groups,” Terrie says.
“We are flexible and have conversations before starting to help prepare for the first session. Every child and parent or carer will be listened to and treated with the utmost care and respect to assist them to settle into our group.”
When not at Stepping Stones, Terrie loves to spend time with her own family, plus walking, gardening, knitting and reading.
