Prior to your appointment, you will be asked to complete an intake form (online) which will provide the speech pathologist with some background information on your child and the reason for referral.

It is beneficial to attach or email through any previous reports associated with your child’s development to date. This allows the speech pathologist to gain a thorough understanding of your child’s development and associated concerns.

For NDIS clients, you will partake in a 30-minute call with your speech pathologist prior to attending at the clinic. The call will assist us in:

- Gathering clear case history information.

- Ensuring we prepare the clinic space for the child's first visit taking into consideration their preferences and interests.

- Ensuring we are the right clinic. At times, we might refer you to a better-suited service depending on the goals you identify.

This call is optional for private paying clients.

During the initial consultation, the speech pathologist will first engage in conversation with the parent(s) to obtain a detailed case history.

The speech pathologist will then complete some initial screening/clinical observations of the child by engaging them in various tasks. At the conclusion of the initial consultation, the speech pathologist will provide you with a verbal summary and recommendations. The speech pathologist may request to obtain further information from your child’s teacher/educator with your consent.

Following the initial consultation, the speech pathologist will write a summary report, detailing:

• The child’s strengths and weaknesses

• Any screening/assessment results

• Recommendations

• Goals and a therapy plan

Depending on your child’s assessment results, the speech pathologist may recommend an initial block therapy (e.g. 5/10 sessions). Speech pathology goals are reviewed and updated following each block of therapy.

The frequency of sessions can be discussed, however often fortnightly or weekly sessions are typically recommended.

The location of therapy will also be discussed. Options include:

• Clinic based

• Child’s school / kinder / childcare (this requires approval from the principal/manager)

• Child’s home

• Telehealth