For many parents, the journey toward understanding their child can feel overwhelming. There are school meetings, long waitlists, confusing terminology, and often a lingering fear that their child is being misunderstood.
For the team at Next Challenge, those families are never expected to navigate that journey alone.
Based in Perth and supporting families across areas including Bicton and Fremantle, Next Challenge offers occupational therapy, speech pathology and physiotherapy services with a strong focus on neuro-affirming, family-centred support. The clinic works with many autistic, ADHD and AuADHD children, alongside children with a wide range of developmental and functional support needs.
But what stands out most is the philosophy behind the service.
“We see the strengths in all children first,” says Michelle Quail from Next Challenge.
“We endeavour to best understand how their brain views the world. Our goals and expectations are not guided by our own interpretation of what is ‘right’ or necessary, but instead based on what the child most needs to improve their quality of life.”
For families trying to decide whether a provider feels like the right fit for their child, that distinction can matter enormously.
A service built around understanding the whole child
At Next Challenge, therapy is not about trying to make children appear more “typical” or asking them to mask who they are.
Instead, the team focuses on understanding how each individual child experiences the world and helping the adults around them respond in supportive, realistic and practical ways.
Michelle says this often includes helping schools better understand why a child may respond differently in the classroom.
“In a school setting, our neuro-affirming practice tends to focus on supporting teachers to provide adaptations that are realistic and helpful, rather than expecting them to completely change the way they teach,” she explains.
“We also help school staff understand how school tasks may be processed by a child and why they might be responding in certain ways. In short — we problem solve.”
For many parents, this collaborative approach can feel like a relief.
Families often describe feeling stuck between wanting to advocate for their child while also maintaining positive relationships with teachers and schools. Next Challenge works closely with both families and educators to help create aligned, achievable goals that support the child across environments.
“We view our role in a child’s life as being one member of their team,” Michelle says.
Support before a diagnosis
One of the biggest misconceptions many parents face is the belief that they need a formal diagnosis before meaningful support can begin.
Michelle says that is simply not true.
“We strongly believe that we can support a child best by knowing the child best,” she explains.
“Sometimes that comes in the form of a diagnosis, but often it’s just about building a team around the child who work together to understand them.”
That message can be particularly reassuring for families who are sitting on lengthy waitlists for paediatricians or assessments, or who are still uncertain about whether their child may be neurodivergent.
At Next Challenge, families are supported regardless of where they are in the journey.
The team helps parents understand potential pathways forward, including what pursuing — or not pursuing — a diagnosis may look like.
Importantly, Michelle says conversations are approached with honesty, respect and compassion.
“We acknowledge that these conversations can come with layers of grief, uncertainty and fear of judgement,” she says.
“Ultimately, we make sure families know we’re their partners in the journey.”
Helping children understand themselves in affirming ways
For many neurodivergent children, the way adults talk about differences can shape how they see themselves.
Michelle says helping children understand their own brains in an empowering way is an important part of the work Next Challenge does.
“We love having conversations with children about how their brains work,” she says.
“We help children have the words to describe their brain, identify how they’re feeling and working in real time, and provide constant reassurance that their brain is just right the way it is.”
The team also talks openly with children about the diversity of human brains and the strengths that come from different ways of thinking and learning.
In everyday terms, Michelle says neuro-affirming practice means something very simple.
“That no child, therapist or human being has to pretend they’re someone they’re not.”
Supporting families through school meetings and advocacy
School meetings can feel daunting for many families, especially when emotions are high or parents are unsure how to explain their child’s needs.
Next Challenge supports families in multiple ways, including attending meetings in person or virtually, helping parents prepare beforehand, or debriefing afterwards.
“When engaging in meetings, our staff prepare, advocate for the client’s needs and ensure they gain a clear understanding of how the child’s needs are impacting them in the school environment,” Michelle explains.
The team also works to help schools and families better understand the difference between a child who “won’t” do something and a child who genuinely “can’t”.
That distinction is often at the heart of many behavioural misunderstandings.
“We help families and schools understand what life is like for that child and then map that onto what they are encountering every day,” Michelle says.
Individualised support rather than “one-size-fits-all”
Families searching for allied health support are often looking for more than qualifications alone. They want to know whether a provider will truly take the time to understand their child.
Michelle says Next Challenge intentionally avoids generic therapy models.
“A generic approach is cost-effective, but that is the only benefit,” she says.
“Our therapists are too passionate about genuine change and we know that can only be achieved through individualised support that sees each child for the unique human being they are.”
The clinic’s multidisciplinary team includes speech pathologists, occupational therapists and physiotherapists, who collaborate closely with schools, paediatricians, psychologists and other professionals involved in a child’s care.
Services are tailored to the needs of each child and family, rather than delivered through rigid therapy schedules.
“The frequency and duration of services is completely dependent on what the child needs, what the family can manage and other barriers such as funding and school access,” Michelle explains.
A message many families may need to hear
Perhaps one of the most powerful insights Michelle shares is also one of the simplest.
When asked what she wishes every family knew before starting this journey, her answer was immediate.
“How incredibly unique and special their child is,” she says.
“And what an exceptional job they are doing to support their child.”
For families looking for a collaborative, neuro-affirming and relationship-focused therapy team, that philosophy may resonate deeply.
Next Challenge: Quick facts for families
- Services include occupational therapy, speech pathology and physiotherapy
- Supports many autistic, ADHD and AuADHD children
- Works collaboratively with schools and families
- School meeting support available
- Current availability includes no waitlist for speech pathology or physiotherapy, with a short waitlist for occupational therapy
To learn more about Next Challenge, families can visit their Perth Kids Hub listing or contact the team directly to discuss whether their approach may be the right fit for their child.
