Frequently asked Questions
What do we do
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Not at all. Speech pathologists work across a wide range of areas, including understanding and using language, social communication, reading and literacy, feeding and swallowing, and supporting children who use alternative forms of communication like devices or picture symbol books. More than 1.2 million Australians have communication and swallowing support needs, and speech pathologists help people of all ages.
At Explore Speech we mainly see children who need support with their speech clarity, expressive and receptive language skills, and children who need AAC device supports. -
Absolutely. AAC (Augmentative and Alternative Communication) is one of our niche areas of interest and extra training. We support children using a wide range of tools including PODD books and electronic speech-generating devices (including Proloquo2Go, Touch Chat, LAMP, Core First, and PODD). We enjoy working with families and other members of the child’s team to make these tools part of everyday life, not just for in clinic sessions.
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1. There really isn’t a ‘typical’ session! Sessions are tailored to your child’s particular communication goals and their interests. We plan an individual session for your child each time we see them. For younger children, we embed our therapy into play. Play is a child’s work and an important developmental skill. For older children, sessions might involve more structured activities, games, or conversation practice. Every session ends with strategies you can use at home.
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Yes, we work with children who have complex communication needs, including those who are Autistic, have Down syndrome, cerebral palsy, and other developmental or genetic diagnoses.
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We are a neurodiversity affirming practice. We believe all brains and communication forms are valid and valued. We support children to reach their goals while affirming their own uniqueness. You can tell by how we talk and how we speak about your child. We use identity-first language and enjoy celebrating what makes us unique. We are constantly learning from people with lived experience.
Getting
started
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If you've noticed your child struggling to be understood, not talking as much as other children their age, getting frustrated when they can't communicate, or having trouble following instructions, those are all good reasons to reach out. You don't need a diagnosis or a referral to book an initial conversation with us. If you are unsure, don’t wait.
You can also refer to the Speech, Language, Hearing milestones here -
Early intervention makes a real difference, and the earlier a child receives support, the better the outcomes tend to be. Even if you're not sure, it's always worth getting a professional opinion. We'd rather reassure you that everything's on track than have you wait and wonder. Communication starts from birth so it is never too early to seek support if you are concerned.
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No. You can contact us directly without a referral. If you'd like to access Medicare rebates, you will need to involve your GP (more on that below), but a referral is not required to simply book and attend sessions.
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A speech pathologist/therapist has completed a university course at a bachelor or master’s level. They are the ones who assess and provide interventions for their clients. Occasionally a client’s goals will be suitable for them to be seen by an allied health assistant (AHA) for the intervention part of their therapy journey. AHAs are not required to have formal training or qualifications. The AHAs who might see your child at Explore Speech are employees of Explore Speech, are trained by our speech pathologists and are under our professional insurance. The AHA can deliver the therapy in the clinic or in the community following a specific set of instructions provided by the speech pathologist.
The first appointment
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Before the initial appointment, you would have completed our background and consent form (link sent to you via email). You can also send us reports from other therapists for us to read.
Our therapists take the time to read through the documents and this forms the basis for the questions we will ask during the appointment.
In the appointment we will chat about your child’s background, their current goals for therapy and what therapy intervention might be needed.
We will also conduct am assessment with your child, usually some picture naming and/or observation and play.
We will play/chat to your child to start building rapport. The relationship between speech pathologist and child is a key part of the therapy journey.
We will make a mutual plan for future sessions with you. If we do or don’t think further sessions are required, we will let you know.
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This is up to you. Usually, the child will attend the initial appointment so we can meet them, and they can get to know the clinic space. Some parents have particularly sensitive information to discuss with us so in those cases we can have a parent-only initial appointment and then meet the child at the following sessions.
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After the appointment the speech pathologist will write up a summary of the assessment and observations conducted in the session. You can send this to their educator, and other therapists as an overview of their speech therapy plan. This document can also be used to anchor the conversation with your child’s GP when discussing their therapy plan and goals.
After the appointment your speech pathologist will also contact the key people in your child’s team; this includes their paediatrician, teacher/educator, OT, physiotherapist or other professional. We like to work holistically as part of your child’s broader team.
Funding and costs
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Yes. We work with families who are self-managed or plan-managed under the NDIS. Speech pathology funding typically sits within the Capacity Building category of your plan. If you're not sure, get in touch and we can help you think it through.
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There are two main Medicare pathways for speech pathology services. The first is the Chronic Disease Management (CDM) Plan, your GP can set this up for your child, allowing them access to up to 5 rebated allied health sessions per calendar year.
The second is the M10 pathway, which is newer. Children and young people under 25 with stuttering, speech sound disorders, or cleft lip/palate are eligible for Medicare-rebated sessions with a valid referral from a GP or paediatrician. Talk to us at reception or your GP about which pathway might apply to your child. We have a helpful document you can provide your GP to guide them through the process of referring for the M10 rebated sessions. -
Many extras policies include speech pathology, though the level of cover varies between funds and policies. Check with your insurer to find out what you're entitled to and whether there's a waiting period.
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We welcome privately paying families. Get in touch and we can talk honestly about what support looks like, the frequency of sessions, and what that would mean for your family.
We have different intervention options to make therapy more accessible for everyone. -
Other than the funding options we have mentioned, we also offer therapy in different formats to support accessibility for all. We can offer the delivery of therapy in blocks, provide home programs to complete during breaks in therapy, and create payment plans. Please speak to us if this is a concern of yours. We want to ensure the frequency of therapy is at a therapeutically impactful level to cause change.
Therapy and progress
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Play is a child’s work and all our play has a purpose. Play anchors the communication skill to the real world and makes language learning more interesting and engaging. We see better generalisation of a skill when we target goals through play compared to rote-learning a skill. Play is an excellent cognitive skill and we build on that in our therapy sessions by embedding our therapy goals into play-based activities.
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AAC stands for Augmentative and Alternative Communication. It covers any tool or strategy that supports communication beyond spoken words, including picture systems, sign, and electronic devices. Not every child needs AAC, but for children with complex communication needs, it can be life-changing. For other children, it can give them a reliable way to express themselves while their spoken language continues to develop. We'll only ever recommend AAC if it's genuinely going to help your child.
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PODD stands for Pragmatic Organisation Dynamic Display. It's a comprehensive communication book or app that gives children access to a huge range of vocabulary, organised in a way that supports natural, flexible conversation rather than just requesting items. Our team has specific training and experience in PODD, and we can talk you through whether it might suit your child. There is so much more than just receiving the PODD book or app. It is the art of implementing the communication system, so it is a key part of the child’s self and is modelled so it is impactful for your child.
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Absolutely. We strongly believe communication support works best when it's consistent across every part of a child's life. We pride ourselves on our multidisciplinary approach to therapy. We're happy to liaise with teachers, contribute to support plans, and where appropriate, visit schools or early learning settings to see how strategies are working in that environment.
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We can visit community settings including school, kindergarten, childcare, home and adult day centres.
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1. It can sometimes take time to see progress because we are working on skills the often ‘hidden skills’ of speech, language and AAC. They are not as easily visible to see small steps of progress. We set clear, meaningful goals from the outset and check in on progress regularly. You'll always know what we're working on and why. Just as importantly, we'll ask you what you're noticing at home. We write session notes after every session and meeting we conduct so we are able to note down and track even the smallest of changes in progress.
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We'll give you practical, specific strategies tailored to your child rather than generic advice. The goal is to weave communication-building moments into things you're already doing: mealtimes, bath time, the drive to childcare. Small, consistent moments add up to progress.
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When we have our initial appointment, we will discuss appointment frequency. We usually see children on a weekly or fortnightly basis. Some specific programs we complete require us to see children 3-4 times a week which we can accommodate. Some children need consultative or ‘check-in’ appointments only and we will see them on an ‘as needs’ basis. It is all dependent on the specific goals of the child.
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Where it's helpful, yes. Communication develops in the context of the whole family, and siblings, grandparents, and other caregivers often play a meaningful role. We're happy to have them in sessions or provide guidance so everyone is using the same approach.
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Completely. Many of the families we work with feel exactly the same way, especially early on. You're not alone, and you don't need to have all the answers. That's what we're here for. Lean on us with questions any time, no matter how small they might feel.
Practical Details
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We're lucky to be based in leafy Mooroolbark, at the border of Victoria’s Yarra Valley region. We work with families across the local area from Ringwood to Healesville to Yarra Junction – and everywhere in between! We also offer home and school visits, and telehealth appointments, depending on what suits your family best.
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Monday: 8:00am - 5:00pm
Tuesday: 9:00am - 5:00pm
Wednesday: 8:00am - 5:00pm
Thursday: 8:00am - 5:00pm
Friday: 8:00am - 4:00pm (reception until 12.30pm)
Saturday: Closed
Sunday: Closed -
You can get in touch through our contact page, by phone, or by email, and our team will help you find a time that works. If you're not sure where to start, just reach out and we'll guide you through it.
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We understand that life with young children is unpredictable. Just let us know as early as you can, and we'll find another time that suits. When we schedule and plan a session, we allocate that time exclusively to your child. We require notice of a cancellation 2 days prior to the scheduled appointment time (please note: cancellations fees apply for appointments cancelled with less than 2 days’ notice).