OUR SPEECH PATHOLOGY TEAM
Lauren Miko
Lauren is the Director of Smart Talk Therapy for Kids. Lauren provides speech pathology services at our Wembley practice and loves working in the school environment. Lauren is passionate about continuing to expand her knowledge and skills and loves consulting with other health and educational professionals.
Lauren has a special interest in school-aged language, literacy and articulation. Lauren was one of the first speech pathologists in WA to undertake extra training in orofacial myology and is passionate about helping children stop sucking their thumbs. Lauren divides her time seeing clients and managing and supporting the Smart Talk team.
When she isn’t working, she can be found hanging out with her husband and spending quality time with her girls. Lauren loves being a mum, baking and watching period dramas.
Catherine Morris
Catherine is the founder of Smart Talk Therapy for Kids and provides services at our Wembley and Currambine practices, as well as at schools.
Catherine has over twenty years experience in both disability and mainstream caseloads, has additional training in Orofacial Myology and is PROMPT trained.
Catherine has a special interest in early language, Autism and literacy. She is passionate, energetic and loves discovering how children’s minds and brains develop to help them achieve their goals.
When she isn’t working she can be found hanging with her husband, two crazy cool sons, her Vizsla Billie and ginger Tabby Gizmo or tending her beloved plant babies. Catherine also loves jazz, anything creative or design-orientated. Currently this is renovating her 1920s character home.
Irene Orkopoulos
Irene is the director of The Feeding Clinic and an experienced speech pathologist in infant and childhood feeding difficulties, include tongue-tie assessment for feeding, oral motor treatment, myofunctional therapy as well as behavioural/sensory approaches to feeding using SOS approach to feeding.
Her experience includes:
- Breast feeding difficulties
- Bottle Feeding Difficulties
- Transition to Solids
- Feeding difficulty secondary to neurological/cardio/respiratory and gastrointestinal conditions
- Reflux/Crying, fussing and irritability with feeds
- Disability including Down Syndrome / Cerebral Palsy /22q11 deletion/ Autism
Outside of work Irene is a wife and mother of two children and her spare time is spent with her family. Her professional and personal life are closely aligned, as she enjoys creating lasting culinary and social experiences for those she loves through experimenting with tastes and flavours in the kitchen and cooking and entertaining for her friends and family.
Lisa Goddard
Lisa provides Speech Pathology services at our Rockingham practice as well as within schools.
Lisa has additional training in Auslan (sign language) having worked as an interpreter for over 10 years. She is also trained in Orofacial Myology, Key Sign and Sounds Write. Lisa has special interests in stuttering, literacy and hearing impairment.
Lisa is enthusiastic about helping students build confidence and realise their goals in a supportive, flexible environment.
When she is not working, Lisa can be found out and about adventuring with her family. Lisa loves nothing more than relaxing with a good book or catching up with friends over coffee.
Courtney Cahill
Courtney provides speech pathology services at our Wembley practice as well as at schools, and has additional training in Orofacial Myology.
Courtney has a special interest in school-aged language, literacy and articulation. Courtney is also Sounds-Write trained. She enjoys helping to develop children’s speech and language skills through fun, individualised therapy.
In addition to providing fun, engaging therapy Courtney is also our NDIS co-ordinator, and is also employed by Curtin University as Clinical Supervisor.
When she isn’t working, Courtney can be found having fun with her friends and family and watching the West Coast Eagles.
Genevieve Wilmot
Gen provides Speech Pathology services at our Wembley office.
Gen has a special interest in supporting school-age children to develop their articulation, phonology, expressive and receptive language. She is passionate about helping parents work together with their children to achieve their goals, through playing games and having fun!
When she is not working, Gen loves to spend time with her husband and two kids, pottering around the garden or going to the beach. Gen also enjoys reading a good book with a cuppa in hand.
Kelly Mackean
Kelly provides Speech Pathology services at our Wembley and Currambine practices, as well as at schools.
Kelly developed a passion for teaching language skills to students while she was an early childhood educator. This prompted her to further her studies and become a Speech Pathologist.
Kelly’s background in education has provided her with valuable skills enabling her to ensure that individual therapy goals generalise into the classroom environment. Prior to joining the Smart Talk team, Kelly worked as Speech Pathologist at schools around Perth.
Kelly has a special interest in early intervention for articulation, phonology and language skills and helping children develop their social skills.
When Kelly isn’t working, she enjoys spending time with her fiance and daughter, walking along the coast and brunching around the northern suburbs of Perth, as many days of the week as she can.
Sam Osborne
Sam provides Speech Pathology services at our vibrant Currambine practice as well as within schools.
Sam has a special interest in early language, literacy and articulation.
She brings her enthusiasm and energy to each session, and helps children reach their goals in a fun, supportive environment. After all kids that are engaged are more likely to reach goals more quickly.
When she isn’t working, Sam can be found at the beach, catching up with friends, or curled up with a good book.
Kelly Walker
Kelly provides Speech Pathology services at our Wembley and Currambine practices, as well as local schools.
As a mum of three boys and a cranky cavoodle, she studied speech pathology later in life but has a long history working with children in many different capacities.
Kelly has a special interest in paediatric feeding, tongue-tie assessment, articulation and phonology. Kelly is trained in Orofacial Myofunctional Therapy, PROMPT therapy, Beckman Oral Motor Assessment and Intervention, and Sounds Write.
When she isn’t working, Kelly loves cooking, reading or spending time with her family and friends. Kelly is likely to be cheering for her boys on the side of a football field or basketball court most weekends.
Tayla MacPherson
Tayla provides Speech Pathology services at our Wembley and Rockingham practices as well as within schools, and has additional training in Hanen It Takes Two to Talk and Sounds Write.
Tayla has a special interest in early language, pre-school and school aged phonology and articulation.
Tayla is especially passionate about providing individualised and functional therapy for all children through fostering a positive and nurturing environment.
When she is not working, she can be found spending quality time with her friends and family, relaxing on the beach or curled up on the couch, having a netflix marathon or curled up with a good book.
Merryn Behn
Merryn provides speech pathology services at our Rockingham practice and is a Sounds Write and Talk for Writing certified practitioner.
Merryn has a special interest in working with school-aged children with developmental delays through to children with special needs (e.g., Autism Spectrum Disorder or cleft palate) in the areas of: language, literacy, articulation and social skills.
She enjoys finding innovative and fun ways to engage children in therapy, so the child enjoys participating in the process whilst seamlessly learning new skills.
When Merryn isn’t working, she enjoys getting away and going caravanning for the weekend to spend quality time with family and friends. She also enjoys quiet time at home listening to music, reading a book or bingeing on a really good TV series.
Lani Gibson
Lani provides Speech Pathology services at our Wembley practice as well as within schools.
Lani has experience with working with infants, children, and adults with a range of different backgrounds including developmental delays, Autism Spectrum Disorder, Cerebral Palsy, Down Syndrome, Foetal Alcohol Syndrome, Intellectual Disability and chromosome abnormalities.
Lani has additional training in Hanen It Takes Two to Talk and Key Word Sign. Lani also has experience with DIR Floortime, Social Thinking and Talkabout programs, Sequential Oral Sensory (SOS) Approach to Feeding and Mealtime Management, and Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) systems to promote a Total Communication approach.
Lani has special interests in neurobiology, understanding how children learn and explore their environments, the importance of play, and development of early language, literacy, and social communication skills.
Lani is passionate about helping children experience success in a fun and playful environment that incorporates a range of modalities including play and movement to achieve goals. Lani uses evidence-based practice to support children and adolescents with additional needs, their families, their educators and their communities.
When she is not working, Lani can be found out and about with her husband and two young kids, out chasing the perfect cup of coffee or enjoying hikes in one of the many beautiful national parks in and around Perth.
Jade Sadowski
Jade provides Speech Pathology services at our Currambine office, as well as at schools.
Jade enjoys working with school aged children to improve their articulation, literacy, language and social skills. She has additional training in Sounds-Write.
When she is not working, Jade can be found at the beach, playing AFL, or getting some avo toast on the coast.
Elizabeth Sydney-Smith
Liz provides speech pathology services at our Currambine practice as well as at schools.
Liz is also Sounds-Write trained and has additional training in Autism, Picture Echange Communication System, Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder(FASD), the Hanen 4 “I”s to Socialize™ Program, and language development. Liz has special interests in early language, literacy, social skills, Autism, and AAC.
Liz is enthusiastic about helping kids develop skills in a supportive, fun environment.
When she isn’t working, Liz can be found amongst friends and family. Liz loves nothing more than to go walking in the outdoors and
hanging out with friends.
Mel Davis
Melissa provides Speech Pathology services at our Currambine practices, as well as at schools.
Melissa has a special interest in articulation and phonology, early language and literacy and is a Sounds-Write certified practitioner.
Melissa is passionate about building and fostering positive relationships with her clients and their families. Melissa is also passionate about engaging clients in programs that are tailored to their interests and increase their engagement and confidence in real world settings beyond the therapy.
When she is not working, Melissa can be found volunteering at her local junior sporting clubs, as well as travelling and exploring WA’s coastline with her husband and 3 kids.
Jessie King
Jessie provides Speech Pathology services at our Wembley and Currambine practices, as well as at schools.
Jessie is passionate about working with clients of all ages. She is particularly interested in dysphagia and paediatric feeding, articulation, and phonology. She has experience in early ages therapy for children with Autism, and Cleft Lip and Palate.
When she is not working, Jessie loves to spend time with her family, dogs and 3 cheeky hens. Jessie is also likely to be seen at most AFL games, cheering on the Western Bulldogs.
Melissa-Sue Wat
Melissa-Sue has a special interest in mealtimes across the lifespan, AAC and Communication Access. She has been involved in working within the disability field for the past 16 years she is passionate about her clients having choice and control so that they can have safe, successful and enjoyable mealtimes with their family and friends.
Melissa-Sue is trained in Orofacial Myofunctional Therapy, The Beckman Oral Motor approach, SOS Approach and AEIOU Approach to feeding. Also trained in PROMPT therapy, PODD, LAMP approach, a Key Word Sign Presenter and Hanen Certified.
When she isn’t working, Melissa-Sue can be found hanging out with her husband, two young boys & pets, trying to renovate the family home or likely at her pilates class.
Jessica Boam
Jess provides speech pathology services at our Currambine practice as well as at schools.
Jess has a passion for working in the early intervention sphere, targeting both communication skills as well as feeding skills. She provides comprehensive autism assessments as part of the multidisciplinary team. She has a strong background in the areas of:
- Infant feeding and food avoidance/picky or restrictive eating
- Parent and family lead therapy approaches with a strong focus on chid directed play
- Kindy and school readiness
- Stuttering therapy across the lifespan
Jess is Hanen certified and is a member of the Western Australian Autism Diagnosticians Forum (WAADF). She is a competent user of Key Word Signs and has a background in working with children with Autism.
Outside of work she likes to spoil her dog Ernie and play team sports with her friends. She loves to eat chocolate and bake foods at home.
Bella D’Annunzio
Bella provides Speech Pathology intervention at our Currambine office and schools.
She loves working in the NDIS area and empowering people living with disability has always been an area of speech pathology that she finds extremely rewarding.
When she isn’t at work Bella enjoys taking her dog, Cleo on adventures. She is definitely a dog person! She also enjoys going to Pilates, cooking, and baking and spending time with her family and close friends whenever she can.
Susie Chlohessy
Coming soon
OUR OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY TEAM
Naomi Liddelow
Naomi is a senior occupational therapist who provides OT services at our Wembley practice. She has over 20 years of experience working in disability organisations, private practice settings and in schools.
Naomi loves being a therapist because she thinks children are the funniest and most interesting humans on Earth and every day is creative and different. Naomi enjoys forming strong, collaborative relationships with families and children to help them achieve their goals. She is Talk 4 Writing trained with a special interest in developing written expression and using assistive software especially in students with specific learning disorders, developmental coordination disorder and autism.
Naomi loves group training, writing and chasing beauty and bargains online. She is house-mad wannabe designer who can be found pottering about the house and organising more than is strictly necessary. On the weekends, Naomi loves sleep-ins and going on outdoor adventures and trips with her husband, 3 kids and super dog Chewie.
Kylie Kemsley
Kylie is a Senior Occupational Therapist who provides services at our Currambine practice. Kylie has experience supporting children with a range of needs and is passionate about helping each child and family reach their full potential.
Kylie loves being a therapist because kids are just so much fun to be around and play is such an incredible tool for therapy.
Kylie has a keen interest in sensory processing and regulation, and enjoys developing therapeutic relationships with families where she can assist in setting and achieving goals.
When Kylie isn’t at work she can usually be found at the park with her two littlies, spending time with family or catching up with friends for a good yarn!
Rhianna de Vries
Rhianna provides occupational therapy services at our Wembley and Currambine practices, as well as at schools.
Rhianna has a special interest in motor skill development to help children reach their goals. She has experience working with children with a range of needs to reach a wide variety of goals. Rhianna has completed ‘Talk 4 Writing’ training and enjoys supporting children with developing their handwriting and written expression skills.
Rhianna is passionate about seeing children enjoying their occupational therapy and having fun whilst making progress towards their goals.
When she is not working, Rhianna can be found bushwalking with her dogs, going on roadtrips and spending time with friends and family.
Keren van Rooyen
Keren provides Occupational Therapy services at our Currambine practice as well as at schools.
Keren loves working with children and their families collaboratively, with special interest in helping children develop their motor skills to facilitate optimal participation in activities of daily living.
She has experience working with individuals from different cultures and backgrounds, and has worked as an Occupational Therapist in South Africa and Qatar, both in private practice and in schools. Keren is passionate about working with children to help them reach their goals whilst having fun along the way!
When not at work, Keren loves to spend time with her husband and 2 energetic boys, explore the beautiful beaches of Perth’s coastline, have meals with friends, and take photos of beautiful things.
OUR ADMINISTRATION TEAM
Yvette Whyte
Yvette is our super efficient Admin Co-ordinator and Receptionist at our Currambine office. She has spent the last 15 years working in a busy physiotherapy practice, from part time receptionist right thru to office manager. After a long and rewarding period of employment she was ready to make a change.
The chance to work in a child rich environment is the main reason Smart Talk was a perfect fit for Yvette. She loves all things kids!
She has 3 grown up kids, still living at home. In her time away from the office, you will find Yvette spending time with her husband or curled up on the couch with her fur babies Tank and Dozer, watching her favourite TV shows.
Kate Milne
Kate is our Business Co-ordinator, Kate has experience managing hospitality venues, extensive customer service and administration experience.
She is also an NLP Practitioner and life coach, she is passionate about working with people while they reach for and grab their dreams.
When she is not working, Kate can be found with her two young children climbing all over her. She loves to spend time cooking up a storm, playing board games, reading and spending time outdoors, especially camping next to WAs beautiful remote beaches.
Alyce Rock
Coming soon
Jordyn Dore
Coming soon
