Inner North Speech Pathology

Get to know Inner North Speech Pathology

From Inner North Speech Pathology's website.

• Our approach

  Inner North Speech Pathology uses evidence-based approaches tailored to each child's strengths, focusing on functional goals with meaningful real-world impact. Sessions are engaging and play-based, with the team working in partnership with families to build positive relationships and create enjoyable therapy experiences. The clinicians specialise in language development, speech sound difficulties, and autism, and bring training in specific programs like Hanen strategies, Key Word Sign, AAC devices, and Gestalt Language Processing. Sessions prioritise celebrating each child's abilities while supporting them to develop confident, functional communication. The team believes early intervention offers the best outcomes and works to make therapy fun and supportive.

• Working with families

  The team is passionate about working in partnership with families and values building strong relationships with clients and their carers. Communication partner training and family involvement are emphasised as central to enriching outcomes, with the clinicians working closely with parents and carers to set meaningful, real-world goals tailored to each child. The team also collaborates with teachers and other professionals to provide consistent support across all areas of a child's life. Families are encouraged to contact the clinic to discuss their concerns, and the clinicians take time to understand each child as a whole and involve parents in planning therapy that reflects the child's strengths and needs.

• Meet the team

  Inner North Speech Pathology is a team of Certified Practicing Speech Pathologists registered with Speech Pathology Australia, including Chloe Shields (Director and Senior Speech Pathologist with a Master's degree and experience in community health, early education, and multidisciplinary autism assessment), Cassie Wilcox (experienced across public and private settings with research background and expertise in early intervention and developmental delay), Sophie Fleming (Master's graduate with training in speech difficulties, stuttering, and autism), and Charlie Archer (recent graduate passionate about holistic therapy with experience from early childhood to adolescence). The team also includes Lauren Bending, who facilitates art therapy groups with extensive experience in early childhood intervention and NDIS settings. All clinicians hold additional professional development training in evidence-based programs and work collaboratively with families and other professionals.

• Your first visit

  Your child's first appointment is an initial assessment session lasting up to 60 minutes, which typically includes taking pre-assessment case history information and informal play-based assessment. The clinician may also conduct small-scale formal assessments, such as those for articulation or stuttering, depending on your child's needs. You'll have face-to-face time with the speech pathologist, and the session is designed to gather information about your child's communication, understanding and use of language, speech clarity, and other relevant areas. No referral is needed to book an appointment—you can simply call, email, or message the clinic to discuss your concerns and arrange an assessment.