Meet the Team

Meet Elly

Elly completed her Bachelor of Speech Pathology at Australian Catholic University in Melbourne and immediately found her passion to support clients in their own homes and community. Prior to this, Elly enjoyed a career in the dental industry as a Surgical Assistant supporting Dentists and Oromaxillo Facial Surgeons all across metro and rural Victoria.

After years of working in the community as a clinical Speech Pathologist, Elly launched Speech To You in 2021 to strive to improve the quality of Speech Pathology services provided to clients managed by the NDIS across metro Melbourne. 

Elly enjoys learning what makes people unique along with enhancing her clients quality of life through communication and swallow safety. 

Elly is proud to support her experienced team to continue to provide high quality speech pathology services to the Speech To You community. 

Clinical Interests
Elly is most passionate about supporting her clients with augmentative and alternative communication (AAC). This can include high tech communication systems such as communication apps and devices, as well as low tech communication systems such as community access cards, Key Word Sign and communication aids. These techniques enable clients to enhance their communication in their functional every day lives. 

Elly also has a passion for oral secretion management and oral hygiene. Elly can support her clients to manage oral conditions such as excess saliva, thick saliva and dry mouth.  

Elly is also passionate about supporting her clients to safely swallow foods, drinks and important medications through swallow safety assessments, swallow x-rays, implement safe strategies, recommend assistive technology, provide training and education as well as comprehensive Mealtime Management Plans adhered to by the formal IDDSI standards.

Meet Chris

Chris completed his Bachelor of Health Sciences/Masters of Physiotherapy Practice at La Trobe University in 2013. Chris has since supported thousands of clients manage their unique injuries in his several physiotherapy clinics throughout Melbourne’s north west & south east.

Alongside his clinical work, Chris has founded multiple healthcare businesses, with experience in business development, team leadership, and operations. He brings a practical, strategic approach to building services that support both client outcomes and clinician performance in his role as Business Development Manager at Speech To You.

Chris manages everything behind the scenes at Speech to You. Chris looks after strategy, finance, policy, procedures and growth, to help Speech To You run smoothly and enable the incredible clinical team do what they do best. 

Chris still continues to operate his own practice in Moorabbin via 'CB Physiotherapy'. Chris has also worked in the professional development space as a fitness industry lecturer, and has created an accredited online course with a focus on his passion 'Injury Prevention and Rehabilitation'. 

Meet Natalie 

Natalie completed her Bachelor of Arts in Speech Therapy and Audiology in Johannesburg, South Africa, in 2014, where she gained a wealth of experience. She immigrated with her family to Melbourne in 2020 to continue her career.

Natalie has extensive experience working in acute, sub-acute and rehabilitation hospitals, out-patient clinics as well as in the community to support adults to achieve their individual communication and safe swallowing goals. She has supported participants with a variety of diagnoses including stroke, traumatic brain injuries, Parkinson’s Disease, Motor Neurone Disease, Huntington's Disease, Cerebral Palsy, head and neck cancer, spinal cord injuries and intellectual disabilities.

Natalie enjoys working with participants to achieve client-specific goals, with the main goal being to improve quality of life. Natalie recognises the importance of working closely with the multidisciplinary team and the participant’s support network to be able to achieve these specific goals. She also enjoys being a part of the participant’s recovery journey, not only in speech pathology, but from an overall health and quality of life perspective.

Clinical Interests
Natalie is most passionate about working with participants with acquired neurological disorders such as strokes and traumatic brain injuries. Natalie particularly enjoys supporting participants with speech and language impairments such as aphasia, apraxia and dysarthria. Natalie also has a passion for supporting participants' cognitive-communication goals such as memory, attention, problem solving and reasoning. 

Meet Vicky

Vicky completed her Bachelor of Speech Pathology at Australian Catholic University in Melbourne. She also holds a Honours degree in Peri Operative Studies and an associate degree in Operating Department Practice.  

Speech Pathology was not Vickys first career as she first enlisted as a British Army Military Medic serving her country and then later, transitioned to becoming an Anaesthetic Technologist at the Royal Children's hospital where she worked for nearly a decade.

Vicky has now gained extensive experience across all fields of Speech Pathology including acute, subacute, private, radiation oncology and the community, inclusive of stroke detour programs.
Along this journey, Vicky has attained specialised skills such as assessing swallow safety disorders (i.e. dysphagia) via a videofluoroscopy (swallow x-ray), held senior positions in public health roles leading large teams of clinicians and managed specialist caseloads such as spinal cord injuries. Vicky has also been involved in a large-scale research trial where she was an Outcome Assessor for the ASK trial.

Vicky enjoys making a difference in peoples lives and assisting clients to enhance their quality of life.

Clinical Interests
Vicky has a passion for supporting clients with acquired disorders such as strokes. Vicky has extensive experience supporting clients with language disorders, including people with aphasia.

Meet Germaine

Germaine completed her Master of Speech Pathology/Bachelor of Health Sciences at La Trobe University in Melbourne in 2017. In addition to her speech pathology career, Germaine is a keen singer/performer and runs her own singing school 'Sing Space', located in Hawthorn. 

Germaine enjoys making a positive impact on her client’s quality of life through enhancing their communication skills and working towards their therapy goals. Germaine considers herself a “people person”, and loves connecting with people from all walks of life.

Clinical Interests
Given Germaine’s singing background, Germaine is most passionate about supporting clients who have dysphonia by optimising her client’s vocal health and function. Having experienced a vocal fold injury and subsequent surgery early on in her singing career, Germaine has learned first hand the benefits of optimising one’s vocal function through therapy exercises and vocal wellness strategies. Germaine obtained her clinical expertise in the area of voice and upper airway disorders during her three years at Melbourne’s renowned voice clinic, Voice Medicine Australia. 

Germaine also has a passion for assisting clients with Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) and cognitive support such as implementing memory strategies. Germaine enjoys helping her clients to thrive in their home and social environments by implementing individualised and evidence based therapy practices. 

Meet Alice

Alice completed her Masters of Speech Pathology at La Trobe University in Melbourne. Alice has experience providing support to individuals across the lifespan across a variety of environments including sub-acute, rehabilitation and in the community.

Alice has supported participants in the NDIS setting from various backgrounds and needs including providing support for swallow safety, language, AAC, speech, literacy and social skills.

Alice is passionate about working within a client's care team in order to provide holistic care. She also strives to provide flexible care that works best for the client and their needs to achieve their specific goals.

Clinical Interests

Alice is most passionate about working with adults with acquired disabilities such as after having a stroke and particularly enjoys providing support for people with language impairments such as aphasia. Alice also enjoys providing therapy for people with speech impairments such as dysarthria.

Alice is a SPEAK OUT! trained clinician (a speech treatment program for people with Parkinson's Disease). She has seen first hand the difference having clearer speech can make for reducing frustration and allowing her clients to maintain their connections with their supports and loved ones. This continues to drive her passion for supporting her clients to enhance their quality of life through communication.

Meet Sarah

Sarah completed a Master of Speech Pathology at the University of Melbourne. Prior to this, Sarah completed a Bachelor of Arts majoring in Psychology and Linguistics.  Sarah has previously worked in hospitals as well as the community setting supporting adults with various impairments which have impacted their ability to communicate and swallow safely. 

Sarah enjoys: 

• Personalising her therapy sessions to meet her clients' needs and interests to ensure therapy session remain client-centred.

• Witnessing small wins and quick changes during therapy interventions and activities as this is extremely rewarding!

• Building rapport and getting to know her clients, as well as their support networks, to maintain high quality comprehensive care.

Clinical Interests
Sarah is most passionate about supporting adolescent and adult caseloads with communication and swallow safety. Sarah is highly skilled at taking comprehensive medical histories to assist with setting functional goals for her clients. 
Sarah's skills support a variety of clientele which may include clients with developmental disabilities such as autism, cerebral palsy and intellectual disabilities as well as acquired conditions including progressive Illness, acquired brain injuries and strokes. 

Meet Olivia

Olivia completed her Masters of Speech Pathology at The University of Melbourne and quickly launched into her extensive Speech Pathology career. 
Olivia is well equipped to support both children and adults with her comprehensive experience across a variety of environments including supporting her clients in hospital, clinic and community settings. She has also worked in the NDIS setting for many years helping her clients of differing backgrounds and needs achieve their goals. This includes providing support for swallow safety, language, AAC, speech, stuttering, and social skills.

Olivia loves building genuine connections with her clients and their families and believes therapy works best when it is meaningful and enjoyable. By incorporating each client’s interests into sessions, she creates engaging and motivating therapy tailored to the individual. 

Olivia is deeply passionate about delivering compassionate, client-centred care, ensuring that every person feels heard, supported, and empowered to meet their individual goals and priorities.

Consultations are available in English, Cantonese, and Mandarin.

Clinical Interests
Olivia has a strong interest in supporting individuals with language, speech, AAC, and swallow safety across the lifespan. She is particularly passionate about helping her clients develop safe, functional, and enjoyable mealtime experiences. 

Olivia believes in creating personalised mealtime management plans that are tailored to each client’s unique needs, preferences, and cultural or linguistic background. By considering factors such as communication style and family routines, Olivia supports safe, meaningful, and functional mealtime experiences to allow her clients achieve their swallow safety goals.

Meet Grishma