Teen Ready & Life Ready
AGES 13-25
A clear pathway for teens and young adults
If your young person is bright, capable, and still finds some parts of everyday life tricky — you’re not alone.
Our Teen and Young Adult pathways are neuro-affirming, practical, and strengths-based. We focus on real-world skills that support confidence, connection, and independence.
TWO PATHWAYS, ONE CLEAR STEP
Choose the pathway that fits right now
(and know what’s next)
Every young person starts somewhere different. Teen Ready and Life Ready are designed to meet them there — and to grow with them.
Teen Ready 13-17
Teen Ready
For teens building confidence, friendships, and everyday independence.- Build and maintain friendships
- Strengthen communication and conversation skills
- Develop emotional regulation and coping strategies
- Practise flexible thinking and problem-solving
- Grow independence with routines, organisation, and “life admin”
COMMON REASONS FAMILIES CHOOSE TEEN READY
- Social confidence is low, or friendships feel exhausting
- Big feelings, shutdowns, or anxiety are getting in the way
- School is “fine” on the surface, but daily life takes a lot of effort
Life Ready 16-25
Life Ready
For older teens and young adults building real-world independence, community participation, and future pathways.
- Build independence with routines, planning, and executive functioning
- Practise community skills — outings, participation, real-life challenges
- Develop confidence with change, new environments, and expectations
- Build practical life skills for home, study, and adult life
follow-through, confidence with feedback, and supported enterprise
opportunities where available.
COMMON REASONS FAMILIES CHOOSE LIFE READY
- Independence skills aren’t matching age expectations (yet)
- Motivation and follow-through are hard without support
- Community access feels overwhelming or unpredictable
- They want to build confidence toward work, volunteering, or further study
WHO WE SUPPORT
Designed for the young people other services find hard to place
The teenage and young adult years bring unique challenges — navigating high school, building friendships, managing emotions, and preparing for life beyond school. Our teen and young adult services are designed for young people with:
Anxiety & emotional regulation
Social communication difficulties
Developmental delays
Learning differences
“High-functioning” on paper, struggling in real life
Autism (Level 1 & 2)
ADHD
Anxiety & emotional regulation
Social communication difficulties
Developmental delays
Learning differences
“High-functioning” on paper, struggling in real life
Autism (Level 1 & 2)
ADHD
Anxiety & emotional regulation
Social communication difficulties
Developmental delays
Learning differences
“High-functioning” on paper, struggling in real life
Not all programs are suitable for all ages. Our Speech Pathologists and Occupational Therapists carefully match young people to the right program based on age, goals, and support needs — and if a program isn’t the right fit, we’ll say so and suggest alternatives.
Every young person is placed in a group where they’ll feel comfortable, supported, and able to make progress.
1:1 Therapy Services
CHATS Kids Therapy offers individual therapy tailored to the unique needs of teenagers and young adults.
Speech Pathology for Teens & Young Adults
Occupational Therapy for Teens & Young Adults
Click on the Support that you need for a further description
Social communication
Conversation skills, reading social cues, making and keeping friends
High school communication
Group work, presentations, classroom participation
Workplace communication
Job interviews, professional communication, workplace social skills
Anxiety & communication
Supporting teens who “go quiet” or shut down socially
Autism & ADHD profiles
Understanding and working with neurodivergent communication styles
Literacy support
Reading, writing, and study skills for high school and beyond
TAFE & employment readiness
Communication skills for further study and work
Click on the Support that you need for a further description
Independence & daily living
Cooking, cleaning, personal care, managing routines
Emotional regulation
Managing stress, anxiety, meltdowns, and shutdowns
Executive functioning
Organisation, time management, planning, prioritising
Sensory processing
Understanding and managing sensory needs.
Study & school skills
Focus, attention, homework routines, exam preparation
Driver readiness
Spatial awareness, road safety, preparing for learner permits
Employment preparation
Workplace skills, task completion, following instructions
Life skills for independence
Budgeting, public transport, community access
Holiday Programs
CHATS Kids Therapy run holiday programs throughout the year — social outings, creative activities, and skill-building experiences designed for teens and young adults.
- Movie nights and Gold Class outings
- Bowling, karaoke, and billiards
- Cooking groups
- Community outings and adventures
- OT daily living groups
Holiday programs are matched to age and ability. Our Speech Therapists and Occupational Therapists will confirm suitability before booking.
Funding Options
We accept:
NDIS — self-managed
Private Health Insurance
Private Payment
Medicare
NDIS — agency-managed
NDIS — plan-managed
Not sure what funding applies? We can help you work it out.
Getting Started
1. Contact Us
Contact us by phone, email or online form
2. Intake Conversation
We discuss your young person’s needs, goals, and which services suit them
3. Assessment
A therapist completes a thorough assessment
4. Therapy Plan
Together, we create a tailored plan — 1:1, group, or both
5. Therapy Begins
Regular sessions with progress updates along the way
FAQs
What ages do you support?
Our teen and young adult services are for ages 13–25. Some programs are specifically for teens (13–17), others for young adults (16–25).
How do you decide which program is right for my young person?
During intake, we discuss your young person’s age, goals, interests, and support needs. We’ll recommend the best fit — and if a program isn’t suitable, we’ll be upfront and suggest alternatives.
Can my young person do both 1:1 therapy and group programs?
Yes! Many families find a combination works best.
Is NDIS funding available?
Yes. Most of our services and group programs are NDIS applicable.
What if my young person has higher support needs?
We specialise in young people with Autism Level 1–2, ADHD, anxiety, and developmental differences. If your young person has higher support needs, we’re happy to chat — and can refer you to a more suitable service if needed.
Where are you located?
Located in Bundoora, we support all local suburbs including Heidelberg, Bellfield, Macleod, Lalor, Research, Diamond Creek, Plenty, Eltham, Montmorency, Thomastown, Reservoir, Yallambie, Greensborough, Watsonia and Mill Park.