Speech Pathologist Northern Beaches

Get to know Speech Pathologist Northern Beaches

From Speech Pathologist Northern Beaches's website.

• Our approach

  Sessions are tailored to each child's individual needs, combining speech-language pathology with special education and early intervention expertise. Therapy is strength-based and incorporates each child's interests to keep learning engaging and meaningful. Sessions can take place in the clinic, via Telehealth, or on-site at your child's school or daycare centre, depending on what works best for your family. The approach focuses on helping children improve their communication, literacy and language skills in a personalised way. With expertise in areas like dyslexia intervention, speech intelligibility and pre-literacy skills, the therapist works to build confidence alongside progress.

• Working with families

  The clinic values collaboration and communication with families throughout the therapy journey. After assessment, carers are involved in in-depth discussions to set goals and guide therapy direction. If requested, feedback is also shared with other professionals involved in your child's care, such as doctors, allied health professionals, and teachers, to ensure a coordinated approach. The friendly team is available to answer questions and provide support, with multiple ways to get in touch including phone and email contact options.

• Meet the team

  The clinic is led by Tracey Hawthorne, a highly skilled Speech-Language Pathologist and Literacy Specialist with extensive experience in special education and early intervention. She is a certified practising member of Speech Pathology Australia and holds specific qualifications including certification as a Hanen It Takes Two To Talk interventionalist and recognised expertise as a dyslexia interventionist. Tracey has been working in the disability sector since the 1990s and brings deep knowledge across communication, learning, and special needs support. Her work in literacy has been published in professional publications, and she remains committed to ongoing professional development.

• Your first visit

  The initial appointment involves a thorough assessment process that typically requires 1-2 visits. First, you'll discuss your child's case history, including medical, language, social and developmental background, along with any previous diagnoses. Testing then follows using both standardised and informal assessments to identify specific areas of concern. At the end of the assessment, you'll receive verbal feedback and a written report outlining findings and recommendations. If you already have a recent speech pathology report (less than 12 months old), further assessment may not be necessary, and therapy can begin after an in-depth discussion about goals.