Melbourne Speech Pathology Clinic

Get to know Melbourne Speech Pathology Clinic

From Melbourne Speech Pathology Clinic's website.

• Our approach

  The clinic combines evidence-based care with compassionate and collaborative healthcare. Services are delivered by qualified speech pathologists who work closely with families to establish meaningful, functional goals tailored to each child's needs. The team embraces neurodiversity-affirming practices and believes that building strong relationships and engagement are crucial for achieving the best outcomes. Sessions focus on supporting children to communicate and participate effectively in their community, with clinicians providing a warm and supportive environment. The teaching clinic also offers the unique opportunity for reduced fees through supervision by experienced educators, while the private practice provides services from fully qualified speech pathologists at industry-standard rates.

• Working with families

  The clinic is strongly committed to family-centred care and works closely with parents and carers throughout the process. Clinicians collaborate with families to establish neuro-affirming goals that make a meaningful difference in each child's life, and actively work to help families practise skills in the home environment to support ongoing progress. The team also values collaboration with care teams, teachers and educators to create inclusive learning environments. Communication with families is straightforward—appointment requests are managed directly through the clinic, and the team provides clear information and tailored advice about the best appointment type for your family's needs. Parents are supported as partners in their child's progress, with clinicians helping to overcome practical barriers families may face.

• Meet the team

  The team includes Clinic Director Dr Olga Birchall (speech pathologist with 23 years' experience across acute teaching hospitals and extensive research in swallowing assessment), paediatric specialist Joanna Rassias (Masters in Speech Pathology from La Trobe, experienced in early intervention and school readiness), Ellie Woodruff (Master of Speech Pathology from University of Melbourne, neurodiversity-affirming practitioner), BJ Shaw (2024 Master's graduate), Aislinn Twomey (speech pathologist with experience in paediatric developmental disabilities and neurodiversity-affirming practice), A/Prof Kelly Weir (paediatric dysphagia specialist and Associate Professor at University of Melbourne), and Emma White (20 years' experience in communication disorders). Services also involve supervised student speech pathologists in the teaching clinic. All are registered, fully qualified professionals with diverse specialisations including language disorders, fluency, developmental delay, and feeding/swallowing difficulties.

• Your first visit

  Once you submit an appointment request (online or by phone), the clinic will contact you within 2 business days to answer any questions and confirm your booking. A GP referral is not necessary unless you wish to use a Medicare Care Plan to subsidise costs. The clinic offers flexible appointment options tailored to individual needs, including telehealth, face-to-face sessions, hybrid arrangements, and mobile services where clinicians visit you. At the initial assessment, the experienced team will conduct a comprehensive evaluation and can provide assessment reports for external organisations such as the NDIS if needed. This personalised approach ensures the service fits your family's circumstances and communication needs.