Yes. Our recipe cards are visual, step-by-step and can be adapted for different learning needs, supporting both emerging and confident readers to follow along successfully.

To ensure we are mindful of every participants funding situation, each family can choose to have a post-program participation report written.

This is a 1-hour report including overview of participation, goals focused on, strengths observed and ideas for continuing these skills at home or in therapy.

Families may also choose to arrange a time with an Occupational Therapist to discuss their child's goal progress and post-program strategies.

Yes — absolutely.

Safety is our highest priority, and we will adjust ingredients, recipes and activities as needed.

Please share all dietary requirements and allergy information in the designated intake form safety section to ensure we can plan accordingly.

Just a water bottle, enclosed shoes and comfortable clothing.

All food, materials, equipment, aprons and the take-home pack are provided.

To register, simply complete the online enrolment form. Once submitted, our administration team will review your information and contact you within 48 hours to confirm your child’s place (if spots are still available).

Please note that places are limited, and enrolments are confirmed on a first-come basis. You will receive a confirmation email once your child’s spot is secured.

No experience is required!
Tasks are guided and supported by our OT, Allied Health Assistant and Chef, making the program accessible for beginners and experienced young cooks alike.

Yes. This program is fully claimable under NDIS funding within the "Capacity Building – Improved Daily Living" budget.

No — this program is open to all families across the Northern Beaches, North Shore and Sydney.

Yes — families are welcome to book a 1:1 Occupational Therapy goal review session (via telehealth) with one of the OT's running the group.
This session helps clarify what skills your child is working on and allows for therapeutic collaboration around goals and areas to focus on during the program.

Wherever possible, yes.

Your little (or big) chef will prepare afternoon tea or dinner each week using organically sourced, fresh ingredients whenever they are available.

Our groups are intentionally small — typically 9 participants with 5 therapists (1:2 ratio) plus volunteers and Support Workers.
We may also form smaller subgroups during the program based on age, confidence, interests or support needs, ensuring every child gets the most out of their experience.

Absolutely. Many children feel more confident attending with a sibling, cousin or friend, and we are more than happy to support this.

Cook, Create, Connect is designed for children and teenagers aged 4–18 years, across a wide range of abilities.
It is especially supportive for children working on independence, coordination, sensory confidence, emotional regulation and social skills.
We welcome children with diverse developmental profiles, including those with intellectual, physical, sensory, communication, learning or attention differences.
If you’re unsure whether this program is the right fit for your child, please get in touch — we are always happy to chat.

Each child receives a Cooking Starter Pack that may include:
- child-safe utensils
- an apron
- visual recipe cards
- OT-created kitchen visuals or checklists
- sensory-friendly food exploration tools (e.g. smell jars, tasting spoons)
- A tote bag

Everything in the bag is yours to keep.

* please note all starter packs can be varied per program

Absolutely. Supporting children with restricted eating, sensory-based food preferences and feeding challenges is firmly within our Occupational Therapy scope.

We follow a gentle “pyramid of food exposure” approach, which may include:
- having food in the room
- looking at or talking about food
- touching or smelling
- interacting with food through play or cooking
- tasting (if comfortable)

There is never any pressure to eat. Children participate at their own pace in a safe, supportive environment.

Cook, Create, Connect is not simply a cooking class. It is a therapeutic Occupational Therapy program intentionally designed to build real-life skills through meaningful activities.

The program is developed and led by our paediatric Occupational Therapy team. Every session is purposefully planned as a therapeutic experience, where cooking is used as the medium to develop important developmental and functional skills such as fine motor coordination, executive functioning, sensory processing, independence and social participation.

Unlike general cooking groups or programs run by support workers, this program includes:
• Therapist-led sessions delivered by qualified paediatric Occupational Therapists
• Goal-focused activities designed to support each child’s developmental needs
• Small therapeutic group ratios (1:3) to ensure individual support and meaningful participation
• Thoughtfully structured sessions that build skills such as planning, sequencing, self-regulation, and independence through everyday tasks
• Individualised observation and support from the therapy team throughout the program

Each participant also receives a range of therapeutic inclusions, such as:
• 90-minute Occupational Therapy–led cooking sessions each week
• Professional program planning time by our therapy team to support individual needs within the group
• All ingredients and equipment provided, including health-conscious food and organic ingredients
• A take-home pack with therapy-informed cooking items and a personalised apron
• Therapist-designed visual recipe cards to support independence at home
• A certificate of participation celebrating each child’s achievements
• Clinical Progress Notes are also taken for each participant and a 1-hour developmental reflection report can be written for families at the end of the program (optional, 1 hour report writing cost applies)

While the program is designed to be fun, engaging and social, every activity is guided by Occupational Therapy principles to help children and teenagers build confidence, independence and practical life skills that extend beyond the kitchen.

Yes. If your child would benefit from additional support, we can allocate a Support Worker from Enhanced Life Support Services to attend alongside them.
Families are also welcome to bring their own Support Worker if preferred.
Please let us know when booking so we can make sure the right supports are in place.