The Speech Express
1 Kimberley Dr, Chirnside Park VIC 3116
- Clinic
- Comes to you
About The Speech Express
The Speech Express is one of the first paediatric speech pathology clinics in Victoria to integrate animal-assisted interventions in speech pathology services. With trained animal companions, they create a supportive and engaging environment for young clients at their private practice in Chirnside Park. They embrace creativity, individuality, positivity and support, tailoring therapy with clients' interests in mind to enhance engagement.
What's offered
Home or school visits
Clinic sessions
Services provided
The Speech Express lists
- Speech Pathology Services
- Support for children with challenges in speech, language, fluency, social skills, literacy, feeding/swallowing, voice and alternative augmentative communication (AAC).
- Animal-Assisted Therapy
- Goal-focused speech therapy delivered by a certified speech pathologist and assisted by trained therapy dogs to improve engagement, communication, and social skills.
- Therapy Express Service
- Flexible speech therapy delivery at home or at school, providing more accessible and cost-effective support for busy families and those on waitlists.
- School Readiness
- Support for children to develop skills needed for school readiness such as speech development, receptive language, expressive language and pre-literacy skills.
- Skills Groups & School Holiday Programmes
- Neuro-affirming, animal-assisted events and groups held during school holidays to help children develop social skills and prepare for the school term.
- Occupational Therapy
- Support with fine/gross motor skills, handwriting, sensory processing, emotional regulation, play skills, social skills, self-care skills, executive functioning, and feeding therapy.
Get to know The Speech Express
From The Speech Express's website.
Our approach
The Speech Express uses animal-assisted interventions alongside evidence-based therapy to create engaging, supportive sessions. Therapy dogs are incorporated deliberately to help children feel more comfortable, reduce anxiety, and increase verbal communication and social interaction. The approach is informed by established research and tailored to each child's interests and needs, with therapists using calm, patient animals as "social bridges" to motivate engagement. Sessions focus on building therapeutic relationships quickly while working towards clear, individualised goals. The clinic embraces creativity and positivity to make learning enjoyable and create lasting positive memories for children.
Working with families
The clinic provides parents with clear goals and strategies to support their child's progress outside of therapy sessions, equipping families to continue learning at home. The Therapy Express Service also enables therapy plans to be delivered directly at home or at school, allowing parents to be actively involved in the therapeutic approach. Communication with families occurs from the initial phone call through to ongoing strategy sharing and progress monitoring.
Your first visit
After booking through the online enquiry form, the clinic will call to discuss your child's history and needs. At your appointment in Chirnside Park, you and your child will meet the speech pathologist and therapy animal, who will develop a personalised therapy plan together. You should bring any relevant medical or educational reports and be prepared to discuss your child's history and specific challenges. This initial assessment allows the therapist to understand your child's individual needs and create tailored goals for their therapy journey.
Locations & areas served
Chirnside Park
1 Kimberley Dr, Chirnside Park VIC 3116
Get directions to Chirnside Park (opens Google Maps in a new tab)- Comes to you
Opening hours
- Mon–Fri
- 8 AM to 6 PM
- Sat–Sun
- Closed
Not sure where to start?
Answer a few questions about your child and we will help connect you with providers that suit your needs and your funding.