After graduating from the University of Queensland in 1998, I moved to the Gold Coast to begin my career in speech pathology.  It was in my first job with Education Queensland that I met Karyn and we remained friends and colleagues while I worked across education, health and private practice settings on the Gold Coast and in Northern New South Wales.  In 2007, we founded S.P.E.E.C.H. Pty Ltd feeling motivated to create a family friendly service that could also provide education, training, and therapy services to the whole community as well as raising the profile of our profession.    

I enjoy connecting and interacting with children and have a special interest in working with children who have severe speech disorders, developmental delays and disabilities.  There is nothing more exciting than seeing children say their first words and being able to join them on the journey to becoming verbal communicators. I have been a PROMPT Instructor since 2005 which has also allowed me to meet and train speech pathologists across the country as well as throughout Australasia.  

I love spending time with family. My two children teach me new things everyday about development and communication.  I’m an avid reader, a regular at Pilates and a play shooter in the local social netball scene.

After graduating in Perth in 1989 I set off for a rural and remote job in outback South Australia. Following this I worked in ACT before landing on the Gold Coast in 1998, working with state and private schools. I co-founded SPEECH Pty Ltd with Anne Walker in 2007. Together we have created a successful and exciting business which has extended our skills, knowledge and given us the opportunity to offer family friendly and accessible services for the community. I am passionate about sharing information and strategies with families, teachers and early childhood professionals that support language, literacy and social skills development. 

SPEECH has enabled me to pursue a special interest in community development and working in partnerships that build capacity in the community to deliver quality activities and services that support children and families. This led to the development of a number of successful community programs including Read and Grow, which was funded under the auspice of the Communities for Children initiative. For this work I was awarded the 2015 Elinor Wray Award by Speech Pathology Australia for outstanding community contribution to the profession. 

Apart from my professional career I enjoy being active in many sports and keeping fit. I have 2 adult children and one delightful granddaughter, who reminds me everyday of the joy of play, laughter and learning.

After graduating from La Trobe University, Melbourne in 2002 I have worked with children and their families in both Regional Victoria and on the Gold Coast in Non-Profit organisations, public and private educational settings. I have been part of the SPEECH Pty Ltd team since 2008 and I enjoy the continuity and partnerships that can be formed between children, families, therapists and schools.  I love to see children reach their full potential in the educational setting and working collaboratively with parents and teachers to ensure the best outcomes for students. 

I have an interest in, and have developed skills in working with children with speech, language, social skills and/or literacy difficulties as well as those diagnosed with specific disorders such as Autism Spectrum Disorder, Developmental Language Disorder and Intellectual/Learning Difficulties. I enjoy working with both individual clients and with school-based groups.

In my spare time you will find me exploring local Gold Coast cafes and parks with my family or pirouetting my way through a dance class.

I graduated from Curtin University of Technology (Perth, WA) with a B App Science (Speech and Hearing Science) in 1989. Since then I have worked as a speech pathologist in a variety of country WA and Metropolitan settings, ranging from public hospitals, the disability sector, and private practice. 

I started work as a private speech pathologist in Western Australia in 2000 when I had my children. In 2011 I moved to the Gold Coast with my family and established a private speech pathology clinic. 

I have specialised in paediatric speech pathology practice, particularly in the areas of early intervention and working with children with special needs. I also have extensive experience in working with school-aged children in the areas of language for literacy, spelling, and reading development. 

The most recent chapter of my working life is to retire from my private practice and join the team of amazing speech pathologists at Speech for Kids. I am looking forward to working with the team and being part of such a dynamic and progressive group of professionals.

In my non-speech pathology life, I am a mum of two amazing young adults. My husband and I are now very settled on the Gold Coast, and I have become an enthusiastic potter, and love all things clay (wheel throwing and hand building). I also love the gym, especially Yoga and Pilates, trying to keep fit and flexible so that I can clamber up and down off the floor with my littlies!

Growing up in Perth, I completed a Bachelor of Psychology in 2005 before moving to the Gold Coast. A desire to help children with developmental disabilities lead me to work as a Behaviour Therapist for children with Autism Spectrum Disorder in early intervention. In 2012 I continued my studies with a Masters of Speech Pathology at Griffith University and proudly joined the team at S.P.E.E.C.H. in 2014. I have valued being able to use my knowledge of behavioural therapy to help children with developmental delays become effective learners and communicators.

I have developed an interest and skills in working with school age children with language and literacy difficulties and Dyslexia. I have completed training in Sounds Write and Multisensory Structured Language (MSL), and enjoy running school holiday literacy programs. I have also been involved in delivering Read and Grow workshops in the community for early language and emergent literacy development for children 0-5yrs, and facilitate Read, Say and Play and Read, Say and Rhyme group therapy programs for developing language and literacy skills for prep-ready children.

In my spare time you will find me on road trips with my young family, spending time with friends and relaxing with Yoga. I have a passion for children’s books and literature and have dreams of one day writing a children’s book of my own!

Speech Language Pathologist

I was born and brought up on the Gold Coast. I completed a Bachelor of Biomedical science at Griffith University and  a Master’s of Speech Pathology at the University of Queensland in 2022. 

I am passionate about helping children of all abilities reach their full potential to become confident and happy communicators. In particular, I have a keen interest in language, speech and literacy.

In my last year of studying I was fortunate to gain experience as an Allied health assistant in a private practice on the Gold Coast where I worked alongside children with speech, language and literacy difficulties to achieve their goals. This experience solidified my keen interest with working alongside children and their families and take great pleasure in supporting everyone’s unique journey to achieve their goals.  

I am dedicated to continually developing my skills through professional development to ensure my clients receive the best evidence-based care. I value the importance of a strengths-based approach to assessment and intervention, and value services that incorporate the child’s individual strengths and interests.

I am a Certified Practising Speech Pathologist who values building genuine, trusting relationships and creating a calm, supportive therapy space where children feel safe, understood, and confident to communicate. I support children across speech, language, literacy, complex communication needs, and social communication, using evidence-based approaches that keep sessions engaging and child-focused.

With my lived experience, I have developed a strong interest in supporting children and families from culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) backgrounds. I work closely with families to make sure therapy is culturally responsive, practical and meaningful in everyday life.

I value connection, collaboration, and understanding each child in the context of their family and community. My areas of interest include speech, language, fluency, and literacy, and I find it incredibly rewarding to support children in developing the skills they need to express their thoughts, feelings, and needs with confidence.

As a Certified Practising Speech Pathologist (CPSP) and member of Speech Pathology Australia, I have experience supporting children with a range of communication needs, including speech sound delays and disorders (such as phonological disorders, articulation disorders, and childhood apraxia of speech), language difficulties, Developmental Language Disorder (DLD), literacy difficulties, late language emergence (late talking), stuttering, and social communication differences. I have also supported children with communication difficulties associated with neurodevelopmental conditions, including Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) and Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD).

I am committed to providing evidence-based, individualised, and family-centred support that recognises each child’s strengths, interests, and unique communication needs. I value working collaboratively with families to support children’s communication development and participation in everyday life.

I am passionate about ongoing professional development and continually expanding my clinical knowledge and skills. My additional training includes the Lidcombe Program Workshop and DIR Floortime 101, which inform my approach to supporting children’s communication and development.

I am passionate about providing personalised, evidence-based therapy tailored to each child’s individual needs, while creating a positive and engaging environment that supports children in achieving meaningful goals whilst having fun!

 I enjoy working with children of all ages across a range of speech pathology areas, both in the clinic and the community, including early language development, AAC, and speech sound therapy.

Outside of work, you’ll often find me out for a walk with a coffee and a sweet treat in hand.  

I grew up on the Central Coast of NSW and completed a Bachelor of Speech Pathology (Honours) at the University of Newcastle. I moved to the Gold Coast in the final months of my studies and have been lucky to call it home ever since.

As a speech pathologist, I value working holistically with clients and their families, taking time to understand each individual’s life experiences, strengths, and needs. This whole-person approach allows me to tailor therapy goals and activities in meaningful and supportive ways. I have a particular interest in working with Autistic children and enjoy exploring how sensory-motor learning can be thoughtfully integrated into therapy.

Outside of work, I have a background of 20 years of ballet training and have been enjoying exploring aerial arts since moving to the Gold Coast. In my downtime, you’ll often find me curled up with a good book or cuddling my two kittens.

I graduated from Griffith University with a Master of Speech Pathology in 2021 and have since worked across a variety of settings, including in-clinic, telehealth, and community environments. I am passionate about supporting children and their families in spaces that are meaningful to them—whether that’s at school, day care, or home. I currently support children of all ages and enjoy working across practice areas. I find great fulfillment in helping children achieve their communication goals so they can confidently engage in the activities and relationships that matter most to them. 

Outside of my work as a speech pathologist, I love spending time at the beach and exploring my creative side by working on film sets.