Milestones Educational Therapy & Wellbeing, Adelaide, South Australia, learning difficulties Adelaide, tutoring Adelaide, help with child's learning, Help with reading, help with child behaviour, parent support, help with parenting, help with child anxiety

ABOUT US

At Milestones we design our work to suit the needs of each child and family with whom we work. We do this because each young person is experiencing a different level of self-belief, wellbeing, confidence, and competency and they are using a mindset and set of learning strategies specific to them – this has developed through their early years and their personal experiences at school.
Our approach is embedded in developmental education and evidence-based teaching and learning practices.
Our 1:1 work is also centred on building strong educator-child relationships, movement, play and fun, based on what we know about how the brain learns and copes with being challenged.

MEET US

BROOKE FINLAYSON

BAppSc(DisSt) BEd(SpecEd) Med(SpecEd)

DIRECTOR, EDUCATOR AND CONSULTANT

Milestones was born from a belief that all children should feel empowered and successful in themselves and with their learning. That all parents should feel confident in understanding their child’s learning needs and navigating the education system.

At Milestones, our work draws upon many disciplines and the lessons I have learned from 23 years of working with families and young people, that is, relationship, fun, and a developmental rather than ‘top down’ approach can lead to permanent rather than just temporary change.

Milestones is more than a name. It embodies the lessons learnt from a student who I taught in the early years of my teaching career. This student experienced frustration with the world around him and allowed me to learn the value of true unconditional positive regard and the strength in building safe and trusting relationships. I witnessed patience, persistence, and his strength in vulnerability. That young man’s name is Miles. The essence of my personal journey with Miles is the same one that embeds our work, and the passion we have for identifying and working towards the next Milestone of any child.

I have an exceptional team who all bring different, high-level skills to our collaborative work and who share in approach, beliefs and an ability to celebrate the small as well as the big wins.

KIMBERLY PHILLIPS

EDUCATOR and PRACTICE MANAGER

Kim has worked as a teacher and leader in a wide range of educational settings throughout her career. Her work is drawn from the variety of her experiences, including those in remote aboriginal communities and early childhood settings. It is also informed by the Masters of Education in special education that she is working towards. Kim’s ability to work towards outcomes by creating fun and meaningful activities for the young people she works with is inspiring, as is her ability to keep the Milestones ship sailing smoothly by coordinating sessions and liaising with parents in her role as practice manager.

LAUREN COLE

EDUCATOR

Lauren’s experience working with a diverse range of students is broad. Lauren’s specialised training in areas of English language and literacy is an asset to the Milestones team and the trust and rapport she creates with the young people with whom she works is high. Lauren enjoys using the mediums of art and craft to help children explore the areas of work they are focusing on and she has a wonderful ability to help children to feel comfortable tackling tricky things and to make learning hands on, physical and ‘real’.

JAYE VENTURA

EDUCATOR

Jaye has a wide range of experience working with young people in classrooms and through undertaking specific interventions in a 1:1 structure. Jaye’s Master of Teaching leaves her with a thorough knowledge of the Australian Curriculum and a high awareness of the children who don’t experience success in their learning on a day-to-day level. Jaye’s ability to engage with children through play is exceptional. Through these skills, Jaye’s high energy and passion, the children with whom she works experience fun, a sense of belief and feel accepted as they are.

SEB CARDONE

EDUCATOR

‘Finally, I’ve met someone who gets me’ were the words spoken by a young person in one of Seb’s recent sessions.

Seb has been working with young people through coaching and mentor roles for several years. Seb is an Apple Teacher, which leaves him skilled in using technology to support, scaffold and enrich learning. Seb’s ability to build strong rapport means he is able to challenge and engage the young people with whom he works.

WHAT PARENTS SAY

Brooke impressed me from minute one.
I still remember the sense of relief I felt hanging up the phone after I'd called her to discuss the concerns I had for my 10 year old son, both academically and emotionally. I felt understood and confident she could help.

Over the next year and a half we witnessed many positive changes. Our son gained confidence, his grades and attitude improved and he was a much happier kid. Not only was Brooke an amazing 'tutor' for him during this time, she became a confidant and mentor.

I contacted Brooke a year after we had finished tutoring when a new concern arose. She was a fantastic sounding board and once again really helped both my son and I.

I couldn't recommend Brooke more highly. She genuinely cares and has an incredible ability to build rapport quickly, empathise and connect.

We cannot speak highly enough of Brooke, Seb and the team

From our first meeting with Brooke, our son and our family have always been treated with courtesy and compassion. We were afforded all the time we needed to meet and discuss the plans to treat our son’s anxiety and we were included in decisions relating to his treatment.

We also know they are always there to support us into the future.

Brooke is a godsend. Our eldest was in reception when she was picked up for having learning difficulties. The school placed her in a learning support program, but she still struggled. We felt like we had hit a brick wall and we couldn’t see a way forward, until we met with Brooke. Her endless knowledge and limitless passion and energy immediately opened the doors and the light shone in. Our daughter now keeps up at school, is on trajectory to meeting her peers, she has to work harder than others, but she is happy and confident in her learning. I could not recommend Brooke and her team more highly.

We as a family have loved our time with the Milestones team. The work that Brooke and Kimberly have done behind the scenes with Sienna has been amazing. Sienna’s growth within herself and her change of mindset has given her the confidence to have a go and believe in herself. We have loved that Sienna had someone she could talk to about her challenges one on one with and for them to listen and create strategies to help combat them in a fun and safe space.

She always loved her session’s and was always full of energy and excited when we picked her up.

I can’t thank Brooke and Kimberly enough!”