Your Speech Pathology Journey
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Referral
Complete the referral form by clicking here. Alternatively contact us to be sent our welcome pack and referral form.
We need to collect some information about you to ensure we can support you. This information will be stored securely on our system.
Once we have your contact details, we will add you to our waiting list.
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Initial Appointment
At the initial appointment, we speak with you to gain an understanding of your concerns, gather a case history and identify your goals for Speech Pathology services. Gathering this information is important so we can provide a helpful and ethical service.
Someone who knows the client well must attend the initial appointment. It is possible for this appointment to be held via phonecall or telehealth, with following appointments in the community (e.g. at school).
If there is time, we may engage in some activities to help us understand the client’s communication strengths, and identify areas that may need further assessment. For children, this occurs during play.
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Assessment
Assessment may be recommended to:
Understand a client’s communication profile in more depth.
Evaluate particular skills that may be impacting function (e.g. to identify if poor working memory may be impacting literacy development).
Help us identify the most suitable therapy approach (e.g. which speech sounds may be best to work on first).
Establish a baseline understanding of a communication profile. This then enables us to track progress.
A range of assessment methods may be used, and will be matched to your goals, concerns and preferences.
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Report (If Needed)
There are several reasons a written report or summary of assessment may be helpful. This includes to:
Support funding applications, such as for the NDIS.
Record and analyse the results of any formal or standardised assessments.
Help with communication to others about you/your child’s communication profile.
Provide relevant resources and strategies linked to you/your child’s communication profile.
Have a documented “baseline” profile before commencing therapy and support.
Your clinician will discuss your written documentation needs with you at the initial appointment.
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Therapy and Support
Once we understand your concerns, goals and preferences, we can implement a tailored, Evidence Based therapy program.
No two clients are the same, so therapy will look different for everyone!
Scroll down to learn about what therapy may look like.
What happens in Therapy?
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A Tailored Plan for Everyone
Every client and family that we work with is different! This means it is important to develop a therapy plan that meets your individual needs and will help you to achieve your goals. Your clinician will work with you to develop a therapy plan that will work for you.
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Direct Therapy Block: Long or Medium Term
When clients have many goals, or require more time to learn new skills, they may benefit from long to medium term supports. When this occurs, it is still recommended to have some breaks between periods of more frequent support. This to ensure you have time to put strategies in place, and to give other clients an opportunity to access support.
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Direct Therapy Block: Short
Some goals may only require a short block of supports, or may be best provided in several short blocks. An example may be accessing one term of weekly therapy to target a single goal, or a week of daily therapy to target a single goal.
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Consultation and Education
Consultation and education is an important component of any therapy program. Our role as Speech Pathologists is to support our clients to learn new information, strategies and skills. Consultation and education may be provided to both the client and those who communicate with them. Sometimes this is called “communication partner training.” Education and consultation also allows clients and their families to continue implementing strategies outside of therapy sessions.
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Home Program
Sometimes a program, strategies or activities that can be completed at home is suitable. We can provide a home program of activities that will support you to achieve your goals in combination with other approaches.
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Telehealth
Many Speech Pathology services can be provided via telehealth. This can be suitable when face to face services are not possible or if you prefer to access supports online.
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Monthly or Yearly Reviews
At times, we may recommend reviewing progress at less frequent intervals. Sometimes this occurs if therapy is best carried out at home by communication partners, or when you have met your major goals.
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Reports and Written Recommendations
Written information can be provided to communicate assessment analyses, progress, strategies, and recommendations. Some funding schemes will require specific written documentation.