Emma's journey began in Scotland, where she studied Speech Pathology in Edinburgh, qualifying in 2009, before delving into her career in London's NHS. During her seven-year span as a Highly Specialist Speech and Language Therapist, Emma discovered her passion for supporting autistic children and their families. She eventually made the significant move to Sydney; working as a Senior Speech Pathologist in a private practice. She then transitioned to a disability service, assuming the role of Speech Supervisor, where she could continue her dedicated work supporting autistic children.

Emma is a neurodivergent speech pathologist whose journey from a solo clinician to starting her private practice speaks volumes about her passion for Speech Pathology and her commitment to making a difference. Her aim was to create a practice that focused on practical, useful, and functional communication objectives. Understanding the importance of familiar environments in facilitating progress, Emma and her team prioritise working closely with parents and educators, whether at home or in school settings. Their Neurodiversity affirming approach to therapy is evidence based and is informed by listening to the lived experience of neurodivergent people themselves. These things combined mean that client supports extend to and are integrated into everyday life, ensuring a more comprehensive impact across home and school contexts.

Emma has embarked on a journey of self-discovery, having recently received an ADHD diagnosis. Her personal journey has not only shaped her therapy approach but also made her sessions deeply relatable for neurodivergent clients. Emma's dedication extends beyond her individual practice; she is committed to instilling a neurodiversity-affirming approach within our team. Her passion lies in ensuring that neuro-affirming practices are not just a part of what we do at Speech and Language Sydney but at the very core of our mission. Rather than aiming to change individuals, she focuses on celebrating their strengths and collaboratively developing skills based on their chosen areas of focus. This approach fosters an environment of acceptance, empowerment, and collaboration, ultimately supporting individuals in their growth and development. Emma's extensive experience covers various speech and language difficulties. She has a strong passion for supporting neurodivergent clients, their families and the team around them. Her expertise extends to aiding clients who use both high- and low-tech Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) methods.

Emma's collaboration with Occupational Therapists highlights her comprehensive approach, utilising strategies that address sensory and emotional regulation in her therapy sessions. This holistic perspective ensures a well-rounded and supportive environment for the children she works with. Emma also has experience in working with children with speech sound delay/ disorder, dysfluency (stuttering), language delay/disorder. Emma's commitment to continuous learning is evident through her extensive training, encompassing various methodologies to better support her families and the SaLS team. Her dedication to neurodiversity affirming practice is reflected in her emphasis on staying updated with the latest research and providing professional development centred around these principles. While Emma prioritises neurodiversity affirming practices, her vast knowledge ensures a comprehensive understanding of various approaches, enabling her to adapt and provide the most effective support for the children and families she works with. Emma has undertaken training in Meaningful Speech course (for supporting Gestalt Language Processors), AAC for Gestalt Language Processors Course, The SCERTS Model (Social Communication, Emotional Regulation, Transactional Supports), Nuffield Dyspraxia Training, Therapy Approaches for Speech Sound Disorders in Children, Autism & Deafness, An Introduction to Shape Coding, Sensory Integration and Video Parent Child Interaction. Emma's dedication to her work at SaLS is balanced with her family time, hobbies, and interests. Whether she's enjoying quality moments with her loved ones or indulging in dance classes and crafting with friends, she values the balance between her professional commitments and personal life.

Her integral role involves supporting our speech pathologists, enabling their effective and efficient work. With extensive experience in the Allied Health Industry, Lisa brings a wealth of knowledge. Her genuine passion for speech and language shines through her commitment to helping families achieve their therapy goals. Lisa is always available to offer assistance and expertise, eager to support and address any questions or concerns. Lisa's profound passion for speech and language shines through with her extensive industry knowledge. 

Lisa is patient, kind and caring. She is skilled in reception and administrative duties, customer service, human resources, payroll, leadership, social media and has strong communication and administration skills. Her dedication to continuous learning allows her to excel in any role she undertakes, taking ownership and executing responsibilities effectively. Known for her excellent customer service, communication skills, and ability to build strong connections, Lisa's approach is marked by patience, kindness, and care.

Lisa's dedication to fostering a positive work environment for the team at Speech and Language Sydney is commendable. She focuses on collaboration, clear communication, and support for therapists, enabling them to devote their attention to families while nurturing a vibrant team culture. Outside of work, Lisa embraces quality time with her fiancé Shane, her fur baby Hugo and loved ones, she relishes in shopping adventures, exploring new dining experiences, and indulging in travel and pampering.

Throughout Rachel’s professional journey she has supported children with speech, language, fluency, and literacy challenges in diverse settings, including schools, preschools, daycares, and homes. Rachel has extensive experience supporting children facing additional difficulties, including autistic children, global developmental delay, and intellectual delay.

Rachel places strong emphasis on parent education and training. She passionately champions a holistic intervention approach, engaging closely with all family members to ensure therapy is enjoyable, purposeful, and engaging.

Rachel maintains a firm commitment to continual growth, enhancing her knowledge and skills through professional development courses such as It Takes Two to Talk (Hanen), Key Word Sign (KWS), Sounds-Write and Meaningful Speech course (for supporting Gestalt Language Processors). Additionally, Rachel's bilingual proficiency enables her to provide therapy in both English and Mandarin.Outside of her role at SaLS, Rachel enjoys spending time with her husband, playing the piano, exploring acrylic painting, delving into novels, and unwinding with the Nintendo Switch.

Tennessa actively engages with children, families, teachers, and allied health professionals to craft a holistic approach aimed at achieving individual goals. Her calm and nurturing demeanour fosters an engaging and secure therapy environment, nurturing children's growth. Her passion lies in assisting children, adolescents, and young adults to accomplish their goals and participate in meaningful activities that resonate with them and their families.

Tennessa's dedication to expanding her knowledge reflects her commitment to providing a high level of support and care to families. She has received training in Authentic AAC - Learn Play Thrive, Sounds Write, Meaningful Speech course (for supporting Gestalt Language Processors) and The SCERTS Model (Social Communication, Emotional Regulation, Transactional Supports).

Tennessa's multilingual capabilities allow her to provide therapy in English, Mandarin, or Cantonese.Outside her work at SaLS, Tennessa indulges in exploring new restaurants, savouring different cuisines, playing musical instruments such as the piano and harp, watching movies, enjoying games on the Switch, and indulging in a spot of shopping.

Michelle's professional background spans across various environments, encompassing private practice, schools, early childcare centres, and non-profit organisations. Her specific focus lies in supporting young children—infants, babies, and preschoolers—alongside their families.She emphasises relationship-building as the cornerstone for client-centred, functional, and collaborative interventions. Michelle thrives on witnessing children achieve their goals and firmly believes that this progress is best nurtured within fun, supportive, and caring environments.

Michelle's compassionate and empathetic approach in her work emphasises learning through play, embedding activities seamlessly into daily routines. Advocacy and collaborative efforts with families and individuals form the crux of her passion, aiming to achieve meaningful outcomes together. Her goal is to assist families in setting functional objectives that enable meaningful interactions and participation in daily activities. Michelle's dedication to ongoing growth and development is evident through her completion of various training programs, including Key Word Sign, Hanen More Than Words, LAMP Words for Life, AAC Workshops, and Paediatric Feeding Workshops.

Michelle's role extends beyond direct clinical services to include supervisory and mentoring responsibilities for our team of Speech Pathologists. Outside of work, she cherishes adventures with her husband Simon and their son Archie. Michelle relishes exploring new cafés and coffee shops, reconnecting with friends, enjoying nature through walks, and indulging in a good book.

Lily’s experience encompasses a range of areas of speech pathology. This includes Speech, Language, and Literacy for Preschool and School-Aged Children. Lily is adept at tailoring interventions to meet the specific needs of children at different stages of development, ensuring they have the tools they need to thrive academically and socially. Lily is also experienced in supporting Neurodivergent Children. She has a true understanding that every child is unique, and she is dedicated to providing inclusive and supportive therapy to neurodivergent children, ensuring they have access to the resources and strategies they need to succeed.  

With a commitment to lifelong learning and driven by a dedication to continuous growth, Lily eagerly seeks opportunities to refine her expertise and expand her knowledge. She looks forward to collaborating with children and their families, guiding them along their journey towards growth and success. Lily has completed the Adina Levy Affirming Communication for Autistic Children Course and the Liberator AAC FOUNDATIONS course.  

During her downtime, Lily enjoys exploring various crafts and engaging in creative pursuits like pottery, sewing, and art. She finds solace in playing games or immersing herself in a captivating book, often accompanied by the comforting presence of her beloved cat curled up beside her.

By fostering collaborative partnerships, Phoebe aims to help children overcome communication barriers and change the environment around them to better support their access to the world in a more meaningful way. Her neurodiversity-affirming approach ensures that every child and adult is valued for their individuality, and she believes that learning should be fun and integrated into daily life.

Phoebe is passionate about working together to build a brighter future, one interaction at a time. Having worked with children of varying difficulties and disabilities for several years, Phoebe is committed to improving the world, one child at a time. She has a special interest in working within the community to support families and educators in helping children succeed. Recognising that the best time for children to learn is when they are playing, engaged, and having fun, Phoebe ensures that her therapy sessions are balanced between challenge and enjoyment, motivating children to learn without even realising it.
Phoebe has a deep understanding and appreciation for bilingual families, being fluent in French herself, and enjoys supporting families from diverse backgrounds, regardless of their English abilities. She believes that every child is unique and requires individualised, evidence-based therapy to foster their growth and development.
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Phoebe values developing meaningful relationships and working collaboratively with children and their families. She holds a strong belief that parents and carers are the experts in their children's lives, and their knowledge and input into therapy often result in more functional and achievable goals that are meaningful to the everyday lives of the children and their families. Phoebe has extensive training, experience, and a special interest in various therapeutic approaches, including: Gestalt Language Development and Natural Language Acquisition, Hanen It Takes Two to Talk Trained Presenter: DIR101: An Introduction to DIR and DIR Floortime, Sequential Oral Sensory (SOS) Approach to Feeding, Traffic Jam in my Brain, Sounds-Write Phonics Program, Secret Agent Society Facilitator, Lidcombe Program, Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC).

These specialised approaches allow Phoebe to tailor her therapy to meet the unique needs of each child, ensuring that they receive the most effective and personalised care
Phoebe has recently returned to Sydney after living and working in London and traveling around the world for the past couple of years. She has a passion for good coffee and delights in discovering new brunch spots. On sunny days, you'll likely find her exploring coastal or bush trails. When she's not outdoors, Phoebe enjoys unwinding by listening to podcasts and experimenting with new recipes in the kitchen.

Emma is a kind, patient, and empathetic Speech Pathologist who strongly believes in the power of learning
through play and special interests. Her goal is to empower children to flourish not only during therapy sessions but also in their homes, schools, and communities. Emma is committed to advocating for families and individuals, promoting collaboration to overcome challenges and achieve positive outcomes. She emphasises helping families develop practical goals, encouraging meaningful interactions, and fostering active participation in everyday activities.

Emma has extensive experience working in private practice, preschools, and primary schools, specialising
in areas such as speech sounds, literacy, and stuttering. Believing in the importance of parent education and training, Emma employs a holistic approach in her practice. She strives to build strong connections with her clients and their families, emphasising the integration of a child’s interests into sessions to foster engagement and motivation.

Emma has completed training in various programs, including Sounds Write and Spalding (both focused on
literacy), The Shape Coding System, the Lidcombe Program, and Management of Stuttering using Syllable
Timed Speech. She continuously enhances her knowledge by engaging with current research through podcasts, workshops, and by following leading speech pathologists on social media for real-world applications of the latest evidence. Emma is also committed to listening and learning from Neurodivergent voices to enable her to provide a Neurodiversity Affirming approach.
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Emma is committed to supporting not only her clients but also the next generation of speech pathologists, having supervised junior Speech Pathologists and provided guidance to university students during their
clinical placements.

In her free time, Emma enjoys exploring new places with her husband and two children, reading, catching
up with friends, baking, and discovering new cafes and restaurants that offer a variety of cuisines. She also
loves practicing reformer Pilates and going for walks.