Meet the team
At Explore Speech, we know the value communication brings to enriching a person’s life. Explore Speech is passionate about working with children who have complex communication needs, are late to talk, or have difficulties with communicating their message to others.
We pride ourselves on delivering a comprehensive, family-centred approach to our assessment and intervention services. Our additional areas of training and experience include: implementing communication strategies, supporting children with language difficulties and working on therapy goals through play.
Explore Speech is not a generalist Speech Pathology practice. We do not see children who require support for stuttering, or voice difficulties. We do see children for assessment and intervention, in particular the areas of speech sounds (clarity, including CAS), language, and Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC).
Explore Speech is under the direction of Lauren Planner; and has a team of Speech Pathologists and Allied Health Assistants who work closely with each other to employ a child-centred approach to therapy. We communicate regularly and utilise a range of evidence-based therapeutic strategies when working with families.
Director/Speech Pathologist
Lauren Planner
Lauren is a Speech Pathologist and the director of Explore Speech. She has experience working in a range of paediatric settings including a high school, a Special Developmental School within a multi-disciplinary team, and in early intervention private practice.
Lauren enjoys working with children who have a range of strengths, challenges and diagnoses across various paediatric settings. Lauren has a special interest in working with emergent communicators and supporting them to learn reliable and consistent communication strategies to support their communication autonomy. Lauren strongly values the relationships and interactions she has with her clients and with their caregivers to help create a supportive communication environment.
Lauren has extensive experience in working with children implementing electronic and manual Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) systems (including Pragmatic Organisational Dynamic Display (PODD) books) and electronic communication devices.
Lauren enjoys working collaboratively with the child, their family and other relevant professionals to incorporate the skills learned in therapy into their everyday life.
In her free time, Lauren enjoys playing at the park with her children, going to Pilates and spending time with her friends and family.
Lauren is a certified practicing Speech Pathologist and is a registered member of Speech Pathology Australia.
Speech Pathologist
Jessica Horner
Jess graduated from Australian Catholic University in 2022. Jess previously worked at Explore Speech as a therapy assistant and enjoys working with families as a Speech Pathologist.
Jess has supported many clients with different presentations such as: children who are AAC users, children with Childhood Apraxia of Speech (CAS), and children who require language and speech support. Jess work with children across different ages from early intervention through preschool and into formal schooling. Jess values working collaboratively with children and their families to help them achieve their communication goals and loves seeing children acquiring new communication skills and using these with increasing confidence in their everyday life.
Outside of work, Jess enjoys spending time with her friends and family, going running, and playing the piano.
Jessica is a certified practicing Speech Pathologist and is a registered member of Speech Pathology Australia.
Speech Pathologist
Evie Albert
Evie graduated from Australian Catholic University in 2023. Evie worked at Explore Speech as a therapy assistant while studying at University.
Evie enjoys integrating creative session techniques to ensure clients are engaged and learning in the most positive environment for them. Evie values building rapport with clients to ensure that their sessions are tailored to their specific needs and personalities. Evie will often run sessions with her purple monster puppet, Marvin. Marvin helps to show clients how to make different sounds with their mouths, is easy to talk to for clients who may be apprehensive to talk to others at first, and he can often be cheeky while playing games to help clients practise using self-advocacy skills.
Evie believes that everyone has the right to access communication no matter their communication style. Evie is delighted to have the opportunity to work towards collaborative goals with her clients and their carers to increase communication. She particularly enjoys running sessions with songs and nursery rhymes to have fun while targeting the client's speech and language goals.
In her free time, Evie enjoys reading, going on hikes, crafting, and spending time with her family and friends.
Evie is a registered member of Speech Pathology Australia.
Speech Pathologist
Liz King
Liz is a friendly and engaging clinician who values building rapport with clients and their families. She is passionate about providing collaborative, individualised and evidence-based care to support clients in achieving their communication goals. Liz believes supporting children with their communication is important to enable them to participate in their community and build and maintain relationships.
Outside of work, Liz enjoys spending time with her family and two golden retrievers, reading and being active.
Liz is a certified practicing Speech Pathologist and is a registered member of Speech Pathology Australia.
Speech Pathologist
Kalyca Baker
With a varied background in the fields of psychology, neuroscience and research, Kalyca is a Speech Pathologist that values building rapport with children and their families.
Kalyca works collaboratively with children and their carers using play to increase children's understanding and use of language, and speech sounds. Kalyca believes all children have a right to communicate their own message, and to be understood. Kalyca is excited to meet you and work towards your family's goals.
Kalyca spends most of her time off with her children, husband, and dog, enjoying the Yarra Valley.
Kalyca is a certified practicing Speech Pathologist and is a registered member of Speech Pathology Australia.
Speech Pathologist
Sarah Hender
Sarah graduated from Australian Catholic University in 2022. Sarah has previously worked as a Speech Pathologist in a not-for-profit company under the keyworker early intervention model . Sarah has also worked as a disability support worker supporting individuals with complex communication needs.
Sarah values building rapport and using a strengths based approach to support her clients to achieve their communication goals. Sarah is passionate about supporting children with their communication across a variety of communication methods.
In her spare time Sarah enjoys spending time with her family and friends, going on hikes and exploring the Yarra Valley.
Sarah is a registered member of Speech Pathology Australia.
Reception
Jessica Ward
Jessica supports the Explore Speech team as our receptionist and administration officer.
In her previous work, Jess had the opportunity to work in collaboration with podiatrists and exercise physiologists. At Explore Speech, Jess has expanded her knowledge of other allied health professionals and enjoys seeing how Speech Pathologists and Occupational Therapists work with children.
During her spare time, Jess enjoys reading, gardening, and learning Spanish.
Allied Health Assistants
Our Allied Health Assistants support our Speech Pathology programs in the clinic and in the community.