Neonatal Eating Outcome (NEO) Assessment Training
Learn the NEO Assessment directly from its developer — Professor Bobbi Pineda
This is an exceptional opportunity to learn the Neonatal Eating Outcome (NEO) Assessment in a small-group, hands-on training delivered by its developer, Professor Bobbi Pineda (PhD, OTR/L, CNT) — one of the world's leading neonatal occupational therapist clinician researchers.
About the NEO Assessment
The Neonatal Eating Outcome (NEO) Assessment is a standardised, evidence-based tool designed to assess age-appropriate oral motor and feeding skills in high-risk infants from approximately 30–32 weeks postmenstrual age (PMA) through to 4–6 weeks post-term. It can be used with both breast and bottle-fed infants.
The NEO Assessment evaluates:
• Pre-feeding behaviours (arousal, physiological stability, rooting, sucking initiation and tongue function)
• Oral feeding performance (suck-swallow-breathe coordination, suction, oral tone, swallow safety and respiratory control)
• End-of-feed observations (feeding completion, state maintenance and volume consumed)
Scoring is based on the infant's PMA at the time of assessment, allowing clinicians to distinguish between normal developmental progression and feeding challenges that may require intervention. Results are classified as Normal, Questionable, or Feeding Challenge — providing clear, actionable guidance for clinical decision-making.
The NEO Assessment is a powerful tool for identifying feeding difficulties early, guiding intervention, and communicating feeding performance clearly across the multidisciplinary team and with families.
What makes this training unique?
This is not a webinar or a virtual course. This is a small-group, face-to-face training with direct access to Professor Bobbi Pineda — the clinician and researcher who developed the NEO Assessment — held within a working NICU.
Participants will:
• Receive a comprehensive introduction to the NEO Assessment, its purpose, structure and scoring
• Learn how to administer both the abbreviated and full forms of the assessment
• Observe real-time infant feeds in the Royal Women's Hospital NICU
• Practise scoring and receive guided feedback
• Work towards reliability in scoring (80% accuracy across scored items, consistent with the NEO training standard)
• Have direct access to Professor Pineda for questions and discussion
Who should attend?
This training is designed for clinicians working in NICU settings who assess or support infant feeding.
About Professor Bobbi Pineda
Professor Bobbi Pineda (PhD, OTR/L, CNT) is an Associate Professor at the University of Southern California and the developer of both the NEO Assessment and the SENSE Program. She has spent over 30 years transforming neonatal care through research, clinical innovation and education. Her work has been published in more than 80 peer-reviewed articles, and she has delivered keynote addresses and workshops across the United States, United Kingdom, Spain, India, Mexico, Chile, Qatar and Australia.
The NEO Assessment is used in NICUs across the world, and this training marks a rare opportunity to learn it in person from its creator — in Australia.
Logistics & cost
Date: Wednesday 18 November 2026
Time: 9:00 am to 5:00 pm AEST (approx.)
Location: The Royal Women's Hospital, Melbourne
Internal (MCRI / Royal Women’s & Royal Children’s Hospital / UniMelb staff)
$350.00
** For MCRI staff who want a staff reimbursement, please request an internal transfer from cost centre instead of purchasing a ticket, by emailing melissa.ho@mcri.edu.au
External participants
$450.00
Cancellation & refund policy
Refunds are available for cancellations made on or before 1 November 2026. A cancellation fee of $50.00 AUD will be deducted from all refunds. No refunds will be issued after this date. If the training is cancelled by the organisers, a full refund will be provided.
Important notes
• This training does not currently offer CEUs.
• Participants will be working in a live clinical NICU environment. All participants must comply with Royal Women's Hospital infection control, visitor and clinical area policies. Further information will be provided upon registration.
• This training is designed to introduce participants to the NEO Assessment and support progress towards scoring reliability. Additional practice with feeding videos following the training is recommended to achieve and maintain reliability.
Contact
For enquiries, please contact:
Abbey Eeles — abbey.eeles@unimelb.edu.au
This is an exceptional opportunity to learn the Neonatal Eating Outcome (NEO) Assessment in a small-group, hands-on training delivered by its developer, Professor Bobbi Pineda (PhD, OTR/L, CNT) — one of the world's leading neonatal occupational therapist clinician researchers.
About the NEO Assessment
The Neonatal Eating Outcome (NEO) Assessment is a standardised, evidence-based tool designed to assess age-appropriate oral motor and feeding skills in high-risk infants from approximately 30–32 weeks postmenstrual age (PMA) through to 4–6 weeks post-term. It can be used with both breast and bottle-fed infants.
The NEO Assessment evaluates:
• Pre-feeding behaviours (arousal, physiological stability, rooting, sucking initiation and tongue function)
• Oral feeding performance (suck-swallow-breathe coordination, suction, oral tone, swallow safety and respiratory control)
• End-of-feed observations (feeding completion, state maintenance and volume consumed)
Scoring is based on the infant's PMA at the time of assessment, allowing clinicians to distinguish between normal developmental progression and feeding challenges that may require intervention. Results are classified as Normal, Questionable, or Feeding Challenge — providing clear, actionable guidance for clinical decision-making.
The NEO Assessment is a powerful tool for identifying feeding difficulties early, guiding intervention, and communicating feeding performance clearly across the multidisciplinary team and with families.
What makes this training unique?
This is not a webinar or a virtual course. This is a small-group, face-to-face training with direct access to Professor Bobbi Pineda — the clinician and researcher who developed the NEO Assessment — held within a working NICU.
Participants will:
• Receive a comprehensive introduction to the NEO Assessment, its purpose, structure and scoring
• Learn how to administer both the abbreviated and full forms of the assessment
• Observe real-time infant feeds in the Royal Women's Hospital NICU
• Practise scoring and receive guided feedback
• Work towards reliability in scoring (80% accuracy across scored items, consistent with the NEO training standard)
• Have direct access to Professor Pineda for questions and discussion
Who should attend?
This training is designed for clinicians working in NICU settings who assess or support infant feeding.
About Professor Bobbi Pineda
Professor Bobbi Pineda (PhD, OTR/L, CNT) is an Associate Professor at the University of Southern California and the developer of both the NEO Assessment and the SENSE Program. She has spent over 30 years transforming neonatal care through research, clinical innovation and education. Her work has been published in more than 80 peer-reviewed articles, and she has delivered keynote addresses and workshops across the United States, United Kingdom, Spain, India, Mexico, Chile, Qatar and Australia.
The NEO Assessment is used in NICUs across the world, and this training marks a rare opportunity to learn it in person from its creator — in Australia.
Logistics & cost
Date: Wednesday 18 November 2026
Time: 9:00 am to 5:00 pm AEST (approx.)
Location: The Royal Women's Hospital, Melbourne
Internal (MCRI / Royal Women’s & Royal Children’s Hospital / UniMelb staff)
$350.00
** For MCRI staff who want a staff reimbursement, please request an internal transfer from cost centre instead of purchasing a ticket, by emailing melissa.ho@mcri.edu.au
External participants
$450.00
Cancellation & refund policy
Refunds are available for cancellations made on or before 1 November 2026. A cancellation fee of $50.00 AUD will be deducted from all refunds. No refunds will be issued after this date. If the training is cancelled by the organisers, a full refund will be provided.
Important notes
• This training does not currently offer CEUs.
• Participants will be working in a live clinical NICU environment. All participants must comply with Royal Women's Hospital infection control, visitor and clinical area policies. Further information will be provided upon registration.
• This training is designed to introduce participants to the NEO Assessment and support progress towards scoring reliability. Additional practice with feeding videos following the training is recommended to achieve and maintain reliability.
Contact
For enquiries, please contact:
Abbey Eeles — abbey.eeles@unimelb.edu.au
Wednesday 18 November 2026 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM (UTC+10)
Location
The Royal Women's Hospital
52 Flemington Road, Parkville VIC 3052
Contact Details
Contact Form
Neonatal Eating Outcome (NEO) Assessment Training
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