Speak for Yourself Speech & Language Pathology

08/09/2026

The power of child led play.

When we are guiding our young communicators to adulthood, sometimes we seek to show them how things should be done.
Unstructured play is actually one of the best things we can provide children for their development.

Why?
👉 activates imagination and creativity skills
👉 builds children's autonomy and independence
👉 increases the amount of engagement and attention children can provide to an activity
👉 teaches sharing, empathy, problem-solving, co-operation

So don't feel the need to over-structure play. Try throwing the rule book for a particular toy, and create some opportunities to have a play following our children's lead. Take time to watch and listen to their ideas, join in, and add plenty of spoken or aided language along the way.

03/09/2026

Let's talk about the power of positive phrasing when talking with our children. No, that's not about putting rose coloured glasses and finding the positive in any situation.

Positive phrasing is the art of brief and true statements that tell a child what to do, rather than what not to do.

For example, instead of
'Don't leave your shoes outside'
use
'Shoes go on the rack inside'
Instead of
'Stop doing that'
use
'We are going over here now'

Why?
👉 Less processing effort required, so a child is more likely to understand what we are saying. Some children may actually miss the 'don't' in 'don't run' because verbs like 'run' can be easier to process than the negation 'don't'.
👉 A positive phrase gives a clear picture of what a child can strive for. 'Don't climb' doesn't actually tell a child what we expect they should be doing instead.
👉 Reduces resistance - everyone is less frustrated when we aren't being told off.

31/08/2026

Myth: Using AAC (Augmentative and Alternative Communication) devices stops a child from speaking.

One big concern families have when looking at AAC systems is that it may reduce spoken communication.

This is not a concern we need to have. The research consistently shows that using an AAC device does not actually inhibit spoken speech development. In fact, studies show it will often increase it.

A systematic review, considered the strongest form of research evidence within evidence based practice frameworks, was done by Millar, Light and Schlosser 2006. It found that

⭐ 89% of cases demonstrated gains in speech production following AAC intervention
⭐ 11% showed no change in speech production (but at least now they have an AAC system to get their message across)
⭐ 0% experienced a decrease in speech production

Giving someone a method to communicate while possibly also increasing spoken speech output? Win-win.

25/08/2026

It's hard to believe that Speak for Yourself turns 6 years old today! A special thanks to all of the families that have come along with us for the journey and trusted us on your child's growth. Thank you also to everyone else who has helped us exist and expand, whether you've made referrals, recommended us, or provided practical support along the way.
You rock!

24/08/2026

This week is Speech Pathology Week and the theme this year is 'Communication creates possibility'.
Let's look through the possibilities that speech pathology supports create for people.

19/08/2026

The NDIS bill has now passed through the senate, bringing in the biggest cuts to a government program this century into action.

For families and others in this space, know that your feelings are valid and that it's okay to take some time to focus on your own wellbeing. The campaign leading up to these cuts has being going on for years and can be exhausting. The community has provided evidence of the harm these changes will provide.

You are not alone. You are not a burden. You are an asset to our society and you teach us new things that help us become a better world.

One way we can directly influence action is consider who we are voting in to make these decisions. If these decisions are not okay with you, then you need to consider how we hold decision makers to account when next comes the time to vote.

The following is the record of who 'yes' to vote these cuts through, and 'no' for who voted for them not to proceed.

10/07/2026

This year the Variety Motor Mouth camp is happening on the Sunshine Coast Friday 6 November – Sunday 8 November. The camp is designed for children who use Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) systems, and their families.
Through a range of fun, supported activities, children are encouraged to develop their AAC skills, while families build confidence using AAC together.
Come along, you'll need to apply now though - applications close July 31st 2026.

The Variety Motor Mouth Camp is designed for children who use Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) systems, and their families.

21/05/2026

Did you know that this weekend submissions to Parliament about the NDIS changes close?

Me neither.

If not, don't be surprised - it appears to be deliberate strategy here. Look at how rushed the timelines are for this. 6 business days to review hundreds of pages of information, largely in waffly legalese? I'll admit, I have not the time to go through it all properly before the deadline, our time is stretched to the absolute limit as allied health business owners in the sector at the moment.

Also, can you believe the comment "we are committed to ensuring that everyone who wishes to participate in the Committee's inquiry". Where are the forms in Easy English, or even an 'Easy Read' (which is still above the language literacy level of many people effected by these changes)? Many of the people impacted do not possess the skills to navigate the demands of the website it is presented on.

Is this not illegal? Well...under Section 49 of the Australian Constitution and the Parliamentary Privileges Act 1987, the Parliament has what is called "exclusive cognisance." This means Parliament has the absolute right to manage its own internal affairs, procedures, and committee inquiries without interference from the court system. A court cannot rule a parliamentary committee's process illegal or strike down a bill because the submission window was too short.

How convenient.

I will be making a submission and I encourage you to do the same. Do not let the fact you are unable to read all of this information in the limited time be a barrier. This is not genuine consultation nor co-design. This is what my submission will be about. That this process is not being done in line with best practice recommendations, and steps appear to be taken to deliberately marginalise those most effected from the process of submissions.

20/05/2026

Being the carer/parent of someone with a disability can leave people feeling isolated and worn out.
Part of providing family centred care is that we are also supporting family members along their journey. Creating a safe space for families to discuss their own needs is what we are here for.

Did you know there are also free counselling supports available through Carer Gateway?
Call 1800 422 737
There is more information about this government funded initiative on the factsheet below.

Saved items are specific to your device (eg: mobile phone, tablet, computer) and the web browser (eg: Chrome, Edge, etc).

14/05/2026

Did you know that Medicare support for communication disorders includes new options?

Previously families needed to use Chronic Condition Management Plan, which would provide up to 5 sessions per year and rebate $61.80.

In March, the following conditions were added to Medicare's MBS M10 item group
👉 speech sound disorders
👉 stuttering
👉 cleft lip and/or palate

You need to be under 25 years of age, have a GP referral and be suspected of (or diagnosed with) an eligible condition.

This enables a claim of up to 8 assessment sessions and up to 20 treatment sessions across the lifespan with a rebate of $87.50.

Have questions? Reach out

From 1 March 2026, Medicare M10 will expand to include stuttering, speech sound disorders and cleft lip/palate, giving under‑25s access to rebated assessment and therapy. SPA outlines eligibility, referral requirements and differences from CCMP.