Woodend Paediatric Speech Pathology Services (Rhonda Hill Speech Pathology)

Get to know Woodend Paediatric Speech Pathology Services (Rhonda Hill Speech Pathology)

From Woodend Paediatric Speech Pathology Services (Rhonda Hill Speech Pathology)'s website.

• Our approach

  Speech pathology intervention at this clinic is evidence-based, fun and versatile, tailored to each child's individual needs. Sessions incorporate play-based methods for younger children and standardised assessment tools for older children, recognising that every child communicates differently. The therapist works collaboratively with families and education professionals to ensure therapy goals are meaningful and achievable. Parent and carer involvement is strongly encouraged during all sessions so that children can practise new skills at home between appointments. Activities and practical ideas for home practice are provided and discussed after each session, because consistent practice outside the clinic is vital to progress.

• Working with families

  Family involvement is central to the therapy approach at this clinic. Parents and carers are strongly encouraged to attend all therapy sessions and participate actively in the child's program. After each session, the speech pathologist discusses and provides activities and practical ideas for home practice, recognising that consistent practice between sessions is vital to a child's progress. The therapist also collaborates with teachers and teacher aides, who are encouraged to attend sessions so they can learn and transfer therapy skills into the school environment. This comprehensive partnership approach helps ensure children receive consistent support across home and school settings.

• Meet the team

  The clinic is led by Rhonda Hill, a speech pathologist who graduated in 1990 with 35 years of paediatric speech pathology experience. She established her private practice in Melbourne in 1997 before moving to Woodend in 2002 and founding this clinic in 2003. Rhonda has extensive training in multiple specialist areas including AAC (PECS and LAMP), pragmatic language programs, stuttering intervention (Lidcombe Program), social skills development, articulation techniques and childhood apraxia of speech. She is a member of Speech Pathology Australia and a Certified Practicing Speech Pathologist committed to delivering evidence-based, family-focused therapy.

• Your first visit

  At your child's first appointment, the speech pathologist will take a detailed case history and conduct an assessment to determine whether intervention is needed, how often sessions should occur, and what the therapy goals should be. You're welcome to bring any relevant assessment reports or information about your child's developmental or medical history to help inform this process. For very young children, play-based assessment methods and observations are used, and language samples may be recorded at the clinic or provided by parents from home interactions. Older children are assessed using standardised procedures, and several assessment tools may be needed to fully diagnose areas of need. A written report is then compiled and, if appropriate, referrals to other professionals are recommended. Simple assessments usually take 1–2 sessions, though children with more complex needs may need 3–4 sessions.