I am passionate about helping children improve their communication skills. With over 10 years of experience working in preschools, primary schools, homes, and clinics, I have developed a deep understanding of children’s language and social development. But most importantly, I love working with families to create a nurturing and supportive environment for their child's growth. Feel free to reach out for more information. I look forward to helping your child meet their full potential.

About me…

Emily Taylor

Speech Pathologist / Director

I am a certified practicing Speech Pathologist with over 10 years experience working with young children and their families. My key areas of interest are: Early Intervention, late talkers, working with Deaf/Hard of Hearing children, Key Word Sign, and supporting children with complex communication needs.

I live in Mudgeeraba with my husband, our two boys, and their furry sibling Daisy. I love the outdoors, camping, hiking and visiting our beautiful Gold Coast beaches in the summer.

Professional Credentials

• Masters of Speech Language Pathology - Sydney University, Australia

• Masters of Teaching English as a Second Language - University of Kentucky, USA

• Bachelors Degree in English Literature and Communications - Xavier University, USA

• Auslan - Cert II

• Speech Pathology Australia Membership - Certified Practicing Speech Pathologist

• Hanen: It Takes Two To Talk

• PODD trained

• PROMPT trained SLP

• Sounds Write Literacy Program

Services

How I can help…

  • Assessment

  • Intervention and therapy

  • Telehealth Services

  • Meetings and consultations with other professionals

  • National Disability Insurance Scheme

  • Articulation: Think of articulation as the way your child's mouth and tongue work together to create clear and precise sounds when they talk. Sometimes, kids might struggle with certain sounds, like "r" or "s." A speech therapist can step in to help them learn how to produce these sounds. This helps your child communicate more effectively, so others can understand them better.

    Phonological Processes: Phonological processes are like the creative shortcuts that young children use while they're learning to speak. These shortcuts can make talking a bit easier for them, even if it's not perfect yet. For instance, a common phonological process is when a child says "wabbit" instead of "rabbit" because it's simpler to say "w" than "r." These shortcuts are normal when kids are little, but if they persist as your child grows, a speech therapist can assist.

  • Expressive language is like your child's talking superpower. It's all about how they use words and sentences to share their thoughts and feelings. When your child tells a story, asks a question, or sings a song, they're using their expressive language skills. It's like their way of letting the world know what's on their mind.

    Receptive language, on the other hand, is like their superpower for listening and understanding. When your child listens to a story, follows instructions, or understands what you're saying, that's their receptive language at work. It's like their ability to understand and make sense of the words and ideas coming from others.

    Both expressive and receptive language skills are important for effective communication. They're like two halves of a conversation, with your child using expressive language to share and receptive language to understand what others are saying. Together, these skills help your child connect with the world around them and express themselves in meaningful ways.

  • Stuttering is when someone has a hard time speaking smoothly. When they talk, their words or sentences might get stuck or repeated, and sometimes they might make little pauses.

    Lots of kids go through a phase where they stutter a bit, and that's okay! It's a normal part of learning to talk, but if it continues for a while and bothers your child or causes you concern a consultation with a speech pathologist is recommended.

  • Early intervention in speech pathology means getting help for your child's communication skills when they're still very young. It's like giving them a boost in learning to speak and express themselves.

    Sometimes, kids might have trouble with talking or understanding words, and that's where a speech pathologist comes in. I work with your child to support communication development, using fun games and activities to help your child learn and practice speaking and listening.

    Early intervention is important because it helps your child build strong communication skills right from the start. It's like laying a strong foundation for their future learning and talking, so they can express themselves and understand others better as they grow up.

  • AAC stands for "Augmentative and Alternative Communication." It's a set of tools and strategies that help people with communication difficulties express themselves. AAC is used when individuals have trouble speaking or have limited speech abilities due to conditions like autism, apraxia, or cerebral palsy.

    AAC can take various forms, including:

    Communication Devices

    Picture Communication Systems

    Sign Language

    Communication Books or Boards

    Low-Tech Solutions

    AAC is personalized to meet an individual's unique needs and abilities. It helps people express their thoughts, needs, and emotions, fostering better communication and improving their overall quality of life.

  • Speech pathologists support literacy by helping individuals improve their skills in reading and writing. They work on phonological awareness, letter-sound knowledge, language comprehension, and other aspects to ensure individuals can read and write effectively.

Frequently Asked Questions…

  • No you do not need a referral to see a speech pathologist, however, a GP may be able to provide you with a referral to assist in claiming a Medicare rebate.

  • Certain children may be eligible for an Enhanced Primary Care Plan (EPC), also referred to as a Chronic Disease Management Plan (CDMP). This scheme enables your child to utilise a maximum of five allied health sessions per calendar year.

    How do I access the EPC/CDMP?

    Your General Practitioner (GP) is the one responsible for creating the plan and supplying the necessary documentation. You must schedule a meeting with your GP and inform them that your child either requires or is already receiving services from a speech pathologist or other Allied Health Professional.

    The most convenient way to claim your Medicare refund is by logging into your Mygov app

    Please keep in mind that this does not entitle you to free speech pathology sessions. This is a Medicare-rebated service. We do not offer bulk-billing at our clinic.

  • What is NDIS?

    https://ourguidelines.ndis.gov.au/early-childhood/early-childhood-approach/what-early-childhood-intervention#:~:text=Early%20childhood%20intervention%20is%20all,best%20possible%20start%20in%20life.

    How I can help?

    Over the course of therapy, while working with young children, it sometimes becomes apparent that a child would benefit from additional support. I can support NDIS applications and work with a broader team to provide coordinated care for the child and their family.

  • I am a mobile service therefore I work with your child wherever they communicate! Home, daycare, kindergarten, schools.

  • First Visits: A thorough case history will be completed with the parent or care giver. Formal assessments may be completed to allow me to get an understanding of your child’s speech, language, social skills and overall communication. Results will be analysed and a written report will be prepared and provided to the family. Families are encouraged to share this report with others who may be supporting the child. This assessment and report supports the formation of goals and aids therapy. If you have had a recent assessment from another speech pathologist, this can be used. If required, I can support applications to NDIS.

  • This is highly dependent on the age of the child. Therapy is often play based, especially for younger children and may include tabletop activities for school aged children. But therapy sessions are definitely not all about the child! A parent or carer coaching model is highly beneficial so that practice can take place at any time, not just in sessions. Therapy works best when parents or carers are involved, participate in the session, learn new strategies themselves, and use these strategies in daily life.

Contact Me

Feel free to reach out with any questions or concerns. I’m here to help! After contacting me, you can expect a prompt response. I value your time and will do my best to provide the information you need. I understand the importance of keeping your data secure and confidential.

Emily Taylor

0433-952-140

info@emilytaylorspeech.com.au

Privacy Policy

Purpose of this Policy

Your privacy is important to us at Emily Taylor Speech Pathology Services. We are committed to protecting any personal information that we collect about individuals who deal with us. The purpose of this policy is to explain what kinds of personal information we collect, how and why we collect it, how this information is stored and protected, how you can request to access your personal information as well as how to make a complaint. At Emily Taylor Speech Pathology Services, we handle your personal and health information in accordance with the Privacy Act 1988 (Cth) including the Australian Privacy Principles (APPs), with the Health Records and Information Privacy Act 2002 (NSW), and in compliance with Speech Pathology Australia’s Code of Ethics (2010). You may request a printed or electronic copy of this Privacy Policy.

What personal information is collected

The amended definition (2014) of “personal information” according to the Privacy Act is: Information or an opinion about an identified individual, or an individual who is reasonably identifiable:

▪ Whether the information or opinion is true or not; and

▪ Whether the information or opinion is recorded in a material form or not. The information we collect about you includes:

▪ your name and gender

▪ date of birth

▪ address / contact details

▪ languages spoken at home

▪ school / childcare centre

▪ information about your health and developmental history

▪ information about any disability / impairment

▪ information about your family history

▪ information about your past / current involvement with other health professionals

▪ your interests / past-times

▪ Medicare / health fund details

▪ financial information (e.g. We may store your credit card details securely on our HealthKit database)

Why this information is collected

We need to collect your personal information in order to provide you with the health care services that you have requested and to complete administrative tasks relevant to this service. We will only collect the information that is necessary to deliver quality, evidence-based speech pathology services. If you provide incomplete or inaccurate information or withhold personal and health information, we may not be able to provide you with the services you are seeking. Your personal information affects our clinical decision making from assessment and diagnosis, through to intervention and discharge. Your information is required for other purposes such as billing, communicating with your GP and other professionals, discussions with insurers, and in order for us to comply with our ethical obligations (Code of Ethics, 2010).

How this information is collected

We will always first collect personal information directly from you. We do this in ways that are lawful, fair and non-invasive. We may collect your personal information during an initial interview or during subsequent sessions, over the phone when you call to enquire about our services, via email or via other correspondence (paper or electronic) and via our social media sites (e.g. Facebook). As we work with children under the age of 18 (i.e., minors), we collect information from parents or carers who have authority to act on the child’s behalf. Where this is impractical or unreasonable for us to do so we will collect information from other professionals or family members. We may receive information about you from an external source (e.g. teacher, allied health professional) without your request. We will contact you to inform you that we have received this information.

How your personal information will be used

We only use your personal information for the purpose you have given the information to us. We will use your information to provide speech pathology services to you, to manage our relationship with you and to contact you in relation to matters concerning your care. We may also use your information for other purposes permitted under the Privacy Act 1988 (Cth) or if required by the law (e.g. for a court order). Occasionally, we may use your information to send you promotional materials relevant to this speech pathology service. Please contact us if you do not wish to receive these materials. We will never sell, trade or rent your private information.

How this information is stored and protected

We take reasonable steps to protect your information from misuse, interference, loss, unauthorised access, modification or disclosure. As such, your information may be stored:

▪ as a hard copy in a lockable filing system

▪ electronically in Halaxy (a secure practice management software) or electronically in Dropbox (a secure cloud database) on a password-locked computer. This information is accessible only by us, at Emily Taylor Speech Pathology Services. In the event that a third party views your information (e.g. IT support) we will inform them of the relevant privacy laws. Data Retention In accordance with Health Records and Information Privacy Act 2002, we are obliged to retain records of children until they attain 25 years of age. Records will be kept securely for the duration of the retention period. After this time, the file will be securely deidentified or destroyed. Disclosure of your information Disclosure of your information is an important part of delivering effective intervention. With your consent, we may disclose your information to other professionals involved in your care (e.g. allied health professionals, teachers, etc.), to other family members, or to the referrer at discharge, when you no longer require our services. Under certain circumstances APP 6.2 your personal information may be lawfully used or disclosed (e.g. if required by law). Additionally, your personal information may be disclosed or used for activities such as:

▪ accreditation, audits, risk and claims management

▪ invoicing, billing and account management

▪ to liaise with your health fund or Medicare and where required provide information to your health fund or Medicare to verify treatment provided to you

▪ the purpose of sending you standard reminders, for example for appointments and follow-up care, by text message or email to the number or address which you have provided to us Although we take all due care in protecting your personal information, it is possible that this information could be disclosed to a third party (person or entity) when it is stored or handled over the internet. This third party (e.g. insurance agencies, or IT service providers) may be located in Australia or abroad. It is not practicable to specify in which countries these third parties may be located. We will take reasonable steps to ensure that any overseas third-party recipient of your personal information complies with Australian privacy laws in handling it, where this is practicable. We are not responsible for any third party who illegally observes your private information.

How to access and correct your health information

We take reasonable steps to ensure that your personal information which we collect, use or disclose is accurate, complete and up to date. You have the right to access the personal and health information that we hold about you, subject to restrictions under the Australian Privacy Policy (i.e. where privilege or legal restrictions may apply). Should you require access to your personal information, please contact us directly. Please note that we may recover reasonable costs associated with supplying this information to you. If you believe that your information is inaccurate, you can also request an amendment to your personal and health information. We will reply to your request as soon as practicable (usually within 14 days). If we do not agree to change your medical record or personal information in accordance with your request, we will permit you to make a statement of the requested changes and I will enclose this with your record.

Complaints and enquiries

If you would like further information about our Privacy Policy or if you would like to enquire or complain about the way we have handled your personal information, please contact us (see Contact details below). We will reply to your enquiry / complaint within 14 days of receipt. Contact: Emily Taylor info@emilytaylorspeech.com.au