For Professionals
Why Choose LEaP?
Population growth and rising developmental delays have created long waitlists for services across Australia. LEaP offers an efficient, accessible, and family-centred solution, combining evidence-based strategies with real-world results. This group-based model reduces resource pressures, builds workforce capacity and empowers families with practical strategies.
The LEaP Advantage
LEaP combines academic research, clinical expertise, and consumer input to deliver a program that works.
- Consumer-driven and evidence-based: Designed with and for families
- Aligned with best practice: Meets national early intervention standards
- Practical tools for professionals and families: Ready-to-use resources
- Training and support: Builds confidence and maintains program quality
- Demand-driven: Targets the largest referral cohort while maximising workforce capacity
- Proven in practice: Implemented in regional South Australia with positive family and service outcomes
Meets Best Practice Guidelines for Early Intervention
The LEaP Playgroup aligns with Early Childhood Intervention Best Practice Guidelines1 and the Australian Government’s Thriving Kids Program (previously referred to as the National Disability Insurance Scheme Foundational Supports).
- Family-centred and culturally responsive: Supports family strengths and values
- Community based delivery: Offered in natural environments
- Collaborative teamwork: Facilitated by a transdisciplinary team of allied health professionals
- Capacity building: Adopts a coaching model that empowers parents
- Evidence-based: Developed and validated over 5 years
- Outcome-focused: Tracks progress on child and family goals
- Department of Social Service, Australian Government. (2024, November19). Early Childhood Intervention Australia National Guidelines: Best Practice in Early Childhood Intervention (First Edition). https://www.eciavic.org.au/resources/eci-best-practice-guidelines
Practical Tools for Professionals and Families
LEaP provides facilitators with a ready-to-use manual and a comprehensive resource suite, making program delivery simple, efficient, and effective. Developed in collaboration with multidisciplinary professionals and families, all activities and strategies are evidence-based, developmentally appropriate, and designed for real-world use.
What’s included in the LEaP resource suite?
Everything professionals need for seamless delivery
- Session plans: Detailed plans with targeted activities across developmental domains
- Key message scripts and posters: Evidence-based parent coaching prompts
- Activity cue cards: Quick tips to help parents implement strategies during play
- Craft and painting templates: Fun, skill-building activities
- Visual schedules: Tools for routine and predictability
- Parent handouts and home practice sheets: Reinforce learning at home
- Goal-setting templates: Set and track family and child progress
LEaP resource examples
Training and Certification
The LEaP Playgroup is a licensed program offering specialised training for allied health professionals and allied health assistants. Certification includes:
- Two-day training: Covers research foundations, LEaP model, parent coaching, key messages
content and strategies, and resource use - Resource access: Complete facilitator manual and resource suite
- Fidelity coaching: Individual coaching to ensure quality and confidence
Demand-Driven and Scalable
LEaP was developed using demand modelling to meet the needs of the largest cohort of families, making it easily transferable across services. Its group-based format is cost-effective and scalable, helping reduce waitlists and maximise workforce capacity without compromising quality.
Proven Implementation
Since 2023, LEaP has moved beyond research into practice. It has been successfully delivered across five South Australian Regional Health Networks, with clinicians trained and playgroups running in eight sites.
Why this matters:
- Scalable and adaptable: Successfully embedded in rural and regional contexts.
- Positive family impact: Parents report feeling supported, confident, and connected.
- Measured outcomes: Evaluations show improvements in children’s skills, parent knowledge, and engagement.
LEaP’s success has been recognised through its presentation at the National Allied Health Conference 2023 and nomination for a South Australian Regional Health Award, confirming its role as an innovative, sustainable early intervention solution.
“Actually understanding their cues and emotional signals and how that relates to communication. It has been a massive eye-opener for me.” – LEaP Parent participant
What Professionals Say
‘LEaP really encouraged parents to play with their kids, making it easier, and so parents got more out of their child which made them feel happier and more confident.’ 1
- Armstrong J, Pieterse B, Elliott C, Wray J, Davidson E, Mizen J, & Girdler S. The development and feasibility of a manualised therapeutic playgroup for children with developmental delay. The Journal of Child and Family Studies. 2021,30(1):1-16.
‘LEaP was a relaxing environment, so parents felt comfortable practising strategies and having fun. That was the main difference compared to traditional therapy.’ 1
- Armstrong J, Pieterse B, Elliott C, Wray J, Davidson E, Mizen J, & Girdler S. The development and feasibility of a manualised therapeutic playgroup for children with developmental delay. The Journal of Child and Family Studies. 2021,30(1):1-16.
‘I think the best thing was seeing the shift in the kids and how much the parents appreciated it and how much knowledge they got and built on each week. 2
- Armstrong J. The development and evaluation of a therapeutic playgroup for children with developmental delay. Doctoral Thesis. Doctoral thesis. Western Australia: Curtin University, 2020.
Bring LEaP to Your Service
Get in touch to learn more about our licensing process, training courses, and resources by emailing contact@leapplaygroup.com.