Children and adolescents are not simply “small adults”. Their nervous systems, balance systems, posture, movement control and stress responses are still developing, meaning symptoms can often overlap and require specialised assessment.

Concussion and traumatic brain injury (TBI) are increasingly recognised as more than just short-term sporting injuries. Children may continue to experience headaches, dizziness, visual strain, neck pain, fatigue, concentration difficulties and exercise intolerance long after the initial injury. Effective management often requires detailed assessment of the vestibular system, eye movements, cervical spine and nervous system regulation to support a safe return to school, sport and daily life.

Vestibular and dizziness presentations are also becoming increasingly common in senior school students. Long hours of study, screen exposure, poor posture, reduced core stability and stress can contribute to neck tension, headaches, balance problems and sensory overload. Many students describe feeling lightheaded, motion sensitive, visually overwhelmed or constantly fatigued. The team at NeuroPhysiotherapy Services provides specialist vestibular physiotherapy assessments to help identify the systems contributing to these symptoms and guide targeted rehabilitation.

Facial pain and TMJ dysfunction are another growing issue in adolescents, particularly during Years 11 and 12 when stress and anxiety levels are high. Jaw clenching and muscle tension can contribute to headaches, ear symptoms, facial pain, neck tension and migraine-like presentations. Because the jaw, trigeminal nerve and upper neck are closely connected within the nervous system, specialised assessment is important in identifying the true drivers of symptoms.

There is also increasing awareness of Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome (POTS) in children and teenagers. POTS involves dysfunction of the autonomic nervous system and may cause dizziness, rapid heart rate, fatigue, nausea, brain fog and exercise intolerance. Management often requires a highly individualised and multidisciplinary approach, including support for breathing, circulation, conditioning and nervous system regulation.

At NeuroPhysiotherapy Services, specialised knowledge is at the heart of every assessment and treatment plan. Early assessment and targeted intervention can make a significant difference to a child’s recovery, confidence, school participation and overall quality of life.

For more information about NeuroPhysiotherapy Services, contact the team on (08) 8331 2700
Email neuro@neurophysio.com.au
121 Glen Osmond Road, Eastwood

For South Australian families, it’s also the perfect excuse to swap grey winter skies for tropical Queensland sunshine. We recently hopped aboard Carnival Encounter for a 4-night cruise from Brisbane to Airlie Beach and discovered that you don’t need a long itinerary to decide whether cruising is your family’s kind of holiday.

Why a short cruise works

Four nights is long enough to experience everything cruising has to offer and work out if it suits your family. Here’s why it might…

• A low-risk way to try cruising, especially if you’re unsure about seasickness or whether younger kids will enjoy being onboard.
• It’s a great way to go on holiday with a group of other families and friends and be able to enjoy time together, but also do things separately if you want to.
• Great value for money, with accommodation, meals, entertainment and transport all included in one price. If you’re strict with not spending extra on board you’ll know exactly what your holiday is going to cost from start to finish.
• Easy to plan, with far fewer logistics than a traditional family holiday where you need to book hotels, restaurants and activities separately.
• Endless food options (a dream if your kids are constantly hungry and probably my favourite part)
• Pools, epic waterslides and family entertainment all day long
• An endless list of activities throughout the day and nights. Live shows, trivia, movies, live music, competitions and so much more.
• Kids Clubs for all ages that they’ll actually BEG to go to. From babies right up to teens
• Day spa, adults only pools, restaurants and shows you can enjoy while they’re in kids club!
• A chance for parents to actually relax now you don’t have to make the snacks and provide the entertainment.
• Gives you a taste of a destination, like Airlie Beach or the Whitsundays, which can help you decide if it’s somewhere you’d like to return for a longer land-based holiday.

If everyone loves it, you’ll probably be planning a longer cruise before you’ve even arrived home. If cruising isn’t your thing, you’ve only invested a few days and you can cross it off your list.

While there aren’t currently any regular short cruises departing 91ąű¶ł´«Ă˝ right now, a flight to Brisbane opens up a huge range of 3–6 night options from Carnival, Royal Caribbean and even Disney. Carnival Adventure will also start departures from 91ąű¶ł´«Ă˝ in Feb/March 2028 including two- to four-night short getaways as well as a five-night South Australia coastal itinerary visiting Kangaroo Island and Port Lincoln, for a total of five departures, ending with a three-night one-way voyage from 91ąű¶ł´«Ă˝ to Sydney departing 14 March 2028.

If you want our tip, give the 4 night Airlie Beach cruise from Carnival a try. Particularly if you’re keen to get some Winter sun.

Founded by 91ąű¶ł´«Ă˝ mum Sabrina, the studio was born from a simple but deeply held belief that children grow best when they feel safe, calm and inspired, and that parents deserve to enjoy these moments too.

Tucked away at 96 Tapleys Hill Road in Royal Park, B.Curious offers daily Creative Messy Play Sessions with two imaginative play spacesĚýfor children aged 1 to 5, running every weekday in a beautifully designed, intentionally calm environment.

These are not your average play café sessions. B.Curious Messy Play Sessions are slow-paced and sensory-rich, with carefully curated stations including playdough, water play, colour exploration, art and craft activities, and hands-on sensory trays. With a maximum of just 12 children per session, the space stays calm and unhurried, allowing kids to roam freely, choose their own activities, and explore without pressure.

Soft music, gentle lighting and small group sizes help even the most overwhelmed little ones settle quickly and start to shine. Every session runs for two hours, all materials are included, and the team handles the full clean-up, Ěýnot a single mess for parents to worry about.

Parents stay for every session and there’s coffee and snacks on offer while they watch their children thrive.

Sessions run Monday and Wednesday 9:30am–11:30am, and Tuesday, Thursday and Friday 10am–12pm.

At just $20 per child, it’s an easy, affordable weekday morning that children ask to go back to again and again.

96 Tapleys Hill Road, Royal Park
Book online at Ěý
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The Awards were recently announced by SA’s Minister for Education, Training and Skills, Hon. Lucy Hood in partnership with the Office for Early Childhood Development (OECD) and recognise outstanding educators, leaders and services raising the profile and shaping the future of early childhood education.

“The passion, care and dedication shaping the future of early childhood education in our state is more important than ever as our government fast-tracks delivery of three-year-old preschool,” Minister Lucy Hood said.

“The commitment and talents of our early childhood champions are vital to improving outcomes for children and reducing the number of children entering school with developmental vulnerabilities,” said Kim Little, Chief Executive, OECD.

Categories include individual honours for outstanding leaders, teachers and educators, service awards for uplifting quality in key areas and a dedicated award for an Aboriginal individual or service that has strengthened outcomes for communities.  

The Flying Start Early Childhood Awards align with this government’s early childhood education reforms, highlighting the excellence and innovation helping to lift quality and outcomes across the sector.

Nominations will be open until 31 July 2026, and the finalists will be announced on Early Childhood Educators’ Day, 2 September 2026. The winners will then be revealed at an awards ceremony later in the year.

The Awards coincide with a new program to boost the skills of early childhood educators and teachers delivering three-year-old preschool and improve quality across the sector, which will be implemented as part of the Government’s landmark Flying Start reforms.

The $2.5 million Enhancing Quality program will enable non-government partner preschools to access further training and strengthen workforce capabilities to lift their quality and improve outcomes for children.

The program focuses on three key areas – educational program and practice, relationships with children, and leadership and governance – to improve developmental outcomes for children, lift standards and better equip staff.

Historically, accessing professional development has been a challenge for many in the early childhood education sector, which can impact the delivery of quality preschool and retention of experienced staff.

“When we invest in early childhood, we must also invest in the people who deliver it,” Minister Hood said.

“Enhancing Quality will provide professional development support for South Australia’s early childhood workforce, helping improve learning and wellbeing outcomes for young children, Kim Little said.

The South Australian Government is committed to increasing access to these opportunities and investing in educators and early childhood teachers who are central to the universal rollout of three-year-old preschool across the state.  

Services are set to receive funding at the start of 2027, with extra investment in areas of greatest need including regional, remote and lower socio-economic areas.

Help recognise outstanding educators, leaders and services across South Australia and nominate those making an impact via:ĚýĚý(Nominations are open until 31 July 2026)