Paediatric Speech Pathologists

Dora Chan is the founder of Dora Speech Pathology and Happy Chatter, and a Certified Practicing Speech Pathologist. She completed her Bachelor of Speech Pathology at La Trobe University and has worked in a range of different settings including Department of Education (DET), specialist settings, school consultant and private practices.  Dora believes in up-skilling and supporting Speech Pathologists in a range of settings. She has been a regular clinical educator for La Trobe and Melbourne University students studying to become a Speech Pathologist.

Dora has additional training in a number of programs including Lidcombe Program for Fluency, Hanen, It Takes Two to Talk, Hanen, More than Words, DIR Floortime, Intensive Interaction, Karen Stagnetti, PEERS Social Skills program, Colourful Semantics and Social Thinking concepts. Dora’s passion is working with early intervention and school aged children with communication difficulties. She enjoys the challenges and rewards that each child brings. Overcoming communication difficulties can be challenging for clients and those closest to them. Dora adopts a multidisciplinary approach in treating clients whereby she works with teachers, Psychologists, Occupational Therapists and other health care professionals to achieve the best outcomes for her clients and their families.

When she is not at work, Dora enjoys spending time with her family and trying out the a new park for her toddler to play in. She secretly takes her toddler to fun places just so she can play on the equipment and is a big Formula 1 and tennis fan. Dora loves to away over the weekends to the beach and spend time in nature.

Tina graduated from La Trobe University with a Masters of Speech Pathology, having previously completed her Bachelor and Honours in Psychology at The University of Melbourne. She is a practising member of Speech Pathology Australia and attends regular professional development courses to further her knowledge and skills.

Tina has experience working with children with a range of challenges, including paediatric speech, language and/or literacy difficulties, stuttering, autism spectrum disorder and other developmental disorders. Her experiences range from mainstream primary schools, special developmental schools, to private practice.

Her training includes Sounds-Write Program for phonics, Lidcombe Program for fluency, Hanen – More Than Words, DIR Floortime and Intensive Interaction. She is also a certified Applied Behaviour Analysis (ABA) therapist, having completed her ABA training with Autism Behavioural Intervention Association in 2016. Tina is a dedicated clinician who is passionate about family-centred practice and working as part of a committed multidisciplinary team to help children reach their full communication potential.

Tina loves to challenge herself in every facet of life, from enhancing her professional expertise through specialised training to support her clients through to broadening her personal horizons on weekends with activities like hiking, badminton, board games, and exploring a variety of cuisines!

Jacqui completed her Bachelor of Applied Science and Masters in Speech Pathology at La Trobe University. She has a range of different experiences working with children as an Allied Health Assistant, netball coach, and a Paediatric Speech Pathologist.

Jacqui is Hanen trained and also works within the school setting, guiding Speech Therapy Assistants to implement speech pathology services within this setting. Jacqui enjoys working with her varied case load using a number of programs and approaches including Colourful Semantics, a synthetic phonics approach to literacy, We Thinkers social concepts and parent coaching, in both group and individual settings.

Jacqui is passionate about helping children and their families to achieve their goals and translate this progress into daily life. Jacqui believes in making speech sessions both fun and functional by including clients and their families in goal setting. She loves that her job allows her to have such a positive impact on a family’s everyday life and finds her work so rewarding, particularly when families share stories about how far their child has come with the support of the Happy Chatter team. Jacqui works with a wide range of clients on various different goals including early language development, social skills, literacy, play skills, speech sounds and Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC).

In her spare time Jacqui stays active by exploring the great outdoors and playing netball. As a big fan of team sports, Jacqui loves working as part of the Happy Chatter team and appreciates the importance of working as part of a multi-disciplinary team to support her clients and their families.

Tiffany graduated from Australian Catholic University with a Bachelor of Speech Pathology. She is a member of Speech Pathology Australia and has experience working with children as an Allied Health Assistant.

Tiffany has worked across a broad range of areas, including early language development, speech, literacy, and social skills. She has also completed training in the Sounds-Write program. Tiffany is committed to tailoring therapy to suit each child’s individual needs, whether through play-based activities, a more structured approach, or a combination of both. She is dedicated to creating a safe, supportive environment where her clients feel confident and empowered. Tiffany is passionate about helping children express their unique personalities and share them with the world.

Outside of work, Tiffany enjoys catching up with her book club, rewatching her favourite movies and TV shows, and playing Pictionary or Scrabble with her family.

Jess graduated from La Trobe University with a Bachelor of Speech Pathology (Honours) and is a practising member of Speech Pathology Australia. She has over six years of experience working with children in roles including Allied Health Assistant positions, disability-inclusive swimming programs, and academic tutoring.

Jess is passionate about delivering evidence-based therapy in the areas of speech, language, literacy, and social communication. She strives to create engaging and enjoyable sessions tailored to each child’s unique interests and strengths. Jess has completed training in the Story Champs program, regularly participates in professional development, and has a strong interest in neuro-affirming practice.

Outside of work, Jess enjoys expanding her book collection, going on hikes, and continuing her search for Melbourne’s best coffee at new cafés.

Rachael completed her Bachelor of Education at Monash University in 2015 and has over 10 years of experience working as a teacher in both primary and secondary school settings across Australia and the United Kingdom. More recently, she completed her Master of Speech Pathology at Federation University. Rachael has experience supporting children and adults across a range of ages and backgrounds, and has also worked as an Allied Health Assistant, tennis coach, and classroom teacher.

Rachael has always enjoyed working with children and families to help them achieve their goals and build confidence. She believes speech therapy sessions should be fun, engaging, and functional, while supporting each client’s individual goals and ensuring families feel included in the process. Rachael is passionate about a multidisciplinary approach to therapy and is committed to continually developing her skills through professional development and programs such as Hanen, Sounds-Write, Colourful Semantics, and social communication approaches.

Outside of work, Rachael enjoys spending time with her family and taking their dog for walks. She loves travelling to new places, camping on weekends, spending time outdoors, and trying new restaurants together.