Welcome
Inspiring Every Little Journey
Experienced physiotherapists, providing in-home, community and telehealth services.
What we offer at Little Leap Physio
Home Visits
Community Visits
Community Visits
We are a mobile physiotherapy service and therefore can come to see you in your own home.
This is an effective way of ensuring our sessions are catered towards your child's needs and environment.
Community Visits
Community Visits
Community Visits
We can meet you at the playground, the footy oval and even visit your child at school or kinder.
It is more effective to work in a fun and playful location.
We want your little person happy and engaged in their physiotherapy sessions.
Telehealth
Community Visits
Telehealth
If you're not in Katherine and would like to access our services, we can see you via telehealth!
If you're unwell or you're away for a period of time, we can still keep in contact and see your child via telehealth.
Other services we provide
Aquatic Therapy
Aquatic therapy is a beneficial way of completing therapy. It is fun, low risk and we can use the water to benefit our movement and development.
Aquatic therapy can assist with the following:
- Muscle strengthening
- Range of movement
- Core strengthening
- Sensory integration
- Further development of movement patterns
- Reduction of pain
- Spasticity management
- Movement sensitivities (vestibular therapy)
Aquatic therapy would be completed in a community pool.
Dynamic Movement Intervention (DMI)
DMI is a form of therapy that focuses on promoting automatic movement patterns. This assists us in progressing your child’s gross motor milestones such as rolling, crawling, standing, and walking.
If your child has motor delay, then DMI may be an appropriate treatment.
Please enquire to determine if your child
would benefit from DMI.
NDIS funding
If you or your child is a current NDIS participant, we can provide services through your funding.
If you think you or your child is eligible for NDIS funding, we can complete an initial assessment and a report to support your application. This will be billed at our private rate.
Little Leap Physio can provide physiotherapy services to all participants who have NDIS funding that are Self Managed or Plan Managed (not NDIA agency managed).
Our Team:
Sarah Whitchelo - senior physiotherapist
Sarah is an experienced paediatric physiotherapist. She has worked on inpatient wards, maternity wards, outpatient hospital clinics and in private clinic and community-based roles in New Zealand, Melbourne, London and the Northern Territory.
She has extensive knowledge in the neurological space and has a special interest in babies, but enjoys working with
children of all ages.
Sarah has a passion for community-based therapy and enjoys working with kids and their families to understand what is going on and what we can do to move forward, together.
"I love seeing kids in their own environment, I get to see what is important to them and their families and how we can individualise their therapy to best suit them.”
Originally from New Zealand, Sarah has a Bachelor of Physiotherapy from the University of Otago.
She founded Little Leap Physio, after recognising the need for physiotherapy for children and adolescents in Katherine, NT and other remote and rural areas.
Our Team:
TARA Whitchelo - senior physiotherapist
Tara Whitchelo is a dedicated senior physiotherapist with a wealth of experience in neurological, spinal cord injuries and disability-focused care.
A graduate of La Trobe University in Melbourne (2013), Tara has worked across diverse settings, including Bendigo, Melbourne, London, and remote Northern Territory communities.
Her expertise spans inpatient, outpatient, and community-based therapy, reflecting her commitment to holistic, patient-centered care. Tara is particularly passionate about working with individuals in their communities, where she thrives on making a meaningful impact.
With significant experience in wheelchair assessments and a strong interest in assistive technology, Tara is devoted to enhancing the quality of life for her clients through innovative solutions and compassionate support.
PAEDIATRIC Conditions we see:
- Developmental delay: Delays in reaching milestones eg. rolling, crawling, walking, jumping, difficulty with tummy time
- Torticollis and plagiocephaly: Tilting of the neck position caused by tightness of neck muscles (torticollis). Flattening of the head (plagiocephaly) which can be related to positioning pre, during and after birth.
- Abnormal walking patterns: asymmetrical walking patterns, knee walking, bottom shuffling, in-toeing, out-toeing and toe walking.
- Co-ordination challenges: eg, difficulty throwing and catching and children with Developmental Co-ordination Disorder (DCD)
- Muscle tone concerns: hypotonia (low tone) and hypertonia (high tone)
- Hypermobility and associated connective tissue disorders: Hypermobility Spectrum Disorder (HSD), Ehlers Danlos Syndrome (EDS), chondromalacia patellae. Associated concerns with these conditions such as pain, fatigue, and muscle posture
- Neurological conditions: including cerebral palsy, stroke, spinal cord injuries
- Genetic conditions: including Down syndrome, neuromuscular conditions and a range of rare genetic disorders
- Sensory Processing Disorders (SPD): including movement avoiders and movement seekers and poor emotional regulation.
- Neurodivergence contributing to gross motor delays (Autism Spectrum Disorder, ADHD)
- Orthopaedic and musculoskeletal conditions: post fracture and post-surgical management, Ligament sprains and muscle strains , limb and back pain, Osgood-Schlatter disease
When should my baby see a physio?
- You are worried your baby is delayed in reaching their physical milestones (eg. rolling, sitting, standing, walking)
- Reduced movement or asymmetrical movement between the right and left side of their body
- Your baby feels 'floppy' or 'stiff'
- Baby is struggling to hold their head up (by 3 months)
- You notice your baby has a flat spot on their head
- Your baby is looking more to one side compared to the other (head preference)
- Your baby does not tolerate being on their tummy
- Your baby was born prematurely (prior to 37 weeks gestation)
- You are concerned that your baby's physical development may be delayed
- Your baby has a diagnosed condition
- Your baby has NDIS funding
When should my child see a physio?
- Are you worried about how your child walks?
- Does your child limp, walk on their toes or walk with the feet turned in or outwards?
- Does your child complain of pain?
- Is your child clumsy with their movements?
- Do you think your child is delayed in functional activities when compared to their peers?
- Does your child have a diagnosed condition / NDIS funding?
- Are you worried about your child's sensory tolerance and their ability to tolerate different textures?
- Is your child having difficulty with emotional regulation?
HOW PHYSIO CAN HELP OUR LOCAL ADULTS?
- Functional task re-training
- Muscle strengthening
- Improving range of movement
- Core strengthening
- Sensory integration
- Gait re-training with prosthetics
- Pain management
- Spasticity management
- Falls assessment and prevention
- Movement sensitivities (vestibular therapy)
- Support participation in community sport and/or other physical activities
- Assess functional need for improved seating and assistive technology
- Assessments and referrals for splints, orthoses and prosthetics
WHAT SERVICES DO WE PROVIDE?
- Exercise Therapy
- Gym based programs
- Aquatic Therapy
- Assistive Technology Assessments
- Wheelchair assessments
- Gait aid prescription
- Carer training
- Manual Handling Training
- Liaison with orthotists / prosthetists
- Joint sessions with other Allied Health and medical professionals
