Laura Ellenbogen

Paediatric Physiotherapist

Laura is an experienced Paediatric Physiotherapist who has worked exclusively in paediatrics since graduating with a Bachelor of Physiotherapy (Honours) from Monash University. She has worked in multiple settings in the private sector. Laura has experience working with children of all ages, from infants and babies with gross motor delays and infant packaging disorders, up to adolescents and young adults with lifelong disabilities. Laura has worked with various neurological conditions (including Cerebral Palsy), genetic syndromes (including Down syndrome), and neurodevelopmental conditions (including autism and ADHD).

She has experience working with various orthopaedic conditions, including plagiocephaly (flat heads), torticollis (tight necks), and hip dysplasia in babies, intoeing in toddlers and school-aged children, and various acute and chronic knee, ankle, hip and back injuries. She is also well-practiced in addressing toe walking, both in new walkers and older children.

Laura has a special interest in working with the neurodivergent community, aiming to provide a neurodiverse-affirming space for goal-based and engaging physiotherapy to target motor delays, muscle strength, and endurance to encourage participation within their environment and community.

Laura has extensive experience working with children on the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS). She is well-equipped to navigate what can be a challenging system for parents and carers to understand. Laura is experienced in assisting with applications for the NDIS, writing reports for upcoming reviews, and applying for Assistive Technology.

Additionally, Laura is experienced in various standardised assessments, including:

• Alberta Infant Motor Scale (AIMS)
• Hammersmith Infant Neurological Exam (HINE)
• Gross Motor Function Measure-88 (GMFM-88)
• Bruininks-Oseretsky Test of Motor Proficiency 3 (BOT-3)
• Paediatric Disability Evaluation of Disability Inventory – Computer Adapted Test (PEDICAT)

Laura targets her therapeutic approach based on the entire person, focusing on strengths rather than impairments or diagnoses. She is of the strong belief that healthcare should not be focused solely on the medical level and should combine all factors within the Biopsychosocial model.

Laura’s passion lies in working together with children and their families to develop individualised, attainable goals to encourage independence and participation within their wider community. She believes strongly in providing fun and engaging therapy, while also taking an evidence-based approach to work towards meeting and surpassing goals.