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Alison Marsh Speech Pathology, Shop 1A/47 Bourbong Street, Bundaberg (2026)

23/12/2025

Oh my goodness, it’s nearly time to slow down, sleep in, and beat my boys at Mario Kart, and I haven’t announced our final Reader of the Month recipient for 2025! In all fairness, he has been very busy with colour runs and school awards!

He’s smart, he’s funny, he delights in teaming up with his mum to give me a whooping at games, and he has a heart of gold! A huge congratulations to the very deserving Lucas! His mum, Jess, and myself couldn’t be prouder of this kid! I don’t think I’ve ever had a kid go from breaking my heart to making it swell as much as he has!

Lucas came to me just over a year ago. He was a non-verbal communicator until he was about 3 1/2 years old, and continues to be supported with his speech development. He knew his letters and some of the sounds that they made, but struggled to work out how to put it all together to read! Understandably this clever kid was frustrated!

Lucas and Jess are one super team both during sessions and between. You may have noticed a bit of a pattern here… it’s the continued support at home that makes all the difference! And the difference is obvious! Lucas has progressed from not even wanting to attempt to read, to declaring that the words in front of him are too easy!!

Congratulations Lucas! We can’t wait to see you cement your skills as an amazing reader and all round amazing kid in 2026!

14/11/2025

I’m a little late with announcing our October Reader of the Month, but she’s worth waiting for!
A huge congratulations to Macie! What can I say about Macie? 🤔 She’s got sass by the bucket load, absolutely delights in tormenting me and owns more lip gloss than there are lips in Bundaberg! She has unrivalled determination, and an enormous heart… and as an added bonus, my cuticles have never looked better!

Macie has been working with me since the beginning of the year and it has been amazing to watch this young lady’s confidence grow. She just wants to be able to read, and to write in her secret diary… it’s not a secret if someone has to write it for you!

I asked Macie, ‘If you could be anything you want when you grow up, what would it be?’.
Her response: ‘I would be a dance coach… or a chef. I love cooking, and I just love dancing’. Macie went on to describe just how important it is to be able to read and write to achieve her grown-up goals, ‘For a chef, you have to be able to read orders, and for a dance coach, you’ve got to read emails and programs and all sorts of things’.

I asked Macie, ‘How does it feel when she is able to read something that she wasn’t able to before?’. Her response, ‘I feel good! I feel accomplished!’.

Macie is supported by her wonderful mum, Robyn. Achieving great things requires a great team, and these 2 are a fabulous team! It’s the work between therapy sessions that makes the biggest difference, and watching Macie learn to read, there is no doubt of the teamwork happening at home.

As for Robyn, well you can see the pride, ‘I am very proud of Macie. She works so hard. Read3 is an amazing program. It’s lots of fun, it’s quick and easy to do at home, and it’s something we can do as a family with all of the games’. It’s just how therapy sessions should be… just the right mixture of fun, laughter, and hard work! There’s not a harder worker than Miss Macie!

Congratulations Macie! With your determination, the possibilities are endless (and I can definitely see you dancing around the kitchen as you whip up something amazing in your restaurant)!

07/10/2025

Today is World Dyslexia Day 💕

01/10/2025

October is Dyslexia Awareness Month!

Early detection and intervention is crucial for kids experiencing difficulties learning to read. Please don't wait!
SPELD Queensland and therapists with a special interest in literacy (including me 🙂) are here to help!

07/09/2025

August’s ‘Reader of the Month’ is Louis!

This little pocket rocket has taken to walking into sessions, tossing his activity folder on the table, and declaring that it’s too easy and he needs something more challenging!

Louis has had set-back after set-back with his health over the last 12 months or so, but this kid shows a determination that can’t be rivalled. He is tenacious, he is strong, he is witty, he is cheeky, he is a ball of energy, and he absolutely delights in teasing his poor old speech pathologist! Oh, and he is smashing his reading goals!!

Louis’ interview went something like this…

Me: ‘What do you want to be when you grow up?’

Louis: ‘Sit on the iPad and play games that make you money!’ (many a small boy’s dream)
… ‘or maybe a shopkeeper…so you can eat whatever you want!’ (again, many a small and
big boy’s dream)

Me: ‘What’s the best thing about learning to read?’

Louis: ‘Nothing… I hate reading!’
…then, (reading the cover of a book) ‘Oh look, this one’s about fishing. Can I take this one?’

Me: ‘How does it make you feel when you can read something that used to be too hard?’

Louis: ‘Makes me feel outstanding! Like, yeah I’m the best!’

You are the best Louis! We’re all incredibly proud of what you are achieving!

Louis has an amazing support team around him, helping him to achieve his goals. His mum, dad and granny have been there, playing games to practice skills, sharing his achievements and cheering him on.

Louis’ mum, Shalena, was asked how she felt about his progress, to which she responded, ‘It’s very encouraging and exciting to see that we’re moving in the right direction. I could say that it might boost his imagination and storytelling, but he’s already too good at that.’ 😉

Congratulation Louis!

(ps… I’m still never going to let you beat me at Loopin’ Louie!!)

29/08/2025

I’ve had to introduce some new rules during sessions this week:

1. When playing card games, I must be given all of the good cards.

2. All attending must let me win!

Why? Because it’s National Speech Pathology Week!
Did the kids follow the new rules? No, no they didn’t!

I don’t really take much notice of the media associated with Speech Pathology Week and the recognition it promotes… I don’t think there are too many speechies that do this job for the recognition (I did however enjoy the spoils in the form of a magnificent lunch time cheese platter 😋), but I do like to take a moment to reflect on the opportunities my career has presented me with, and the wonderful people I have met and worked with along the way ❤️

Just over 30+ years so far! I’ve travelled the country, from Bunbury to Ballarat, and the East Kimberley to Far North Queensland, before settling here in Bundaberg. Community Health, Specialist Children’s Services, Education Department, Disability Services and finally, Private Practice. I’ve supported tiny babies, our beloved elderly, and everything in between 🤗 How many careers can offer such an enormous variety of experiences!! All the time learning from, and being supported by amazing colleagues.

Just over a year ago, I made the decision to follow my heart and passion and focus entirely on supporting kids to learn to read and spell ❣️ What a great decision that was! Nothing makes my heart sing more than the joy on a young one’s face when they read their first book ❤️ It makes me look forward to the next 30+ years (okay, maybe not that long 😉).

To all of the Speech Pathologists out there, Happy Speech Pathology Week… you are appreciated ❤️

…and to all my speechie kids… let’s try again next week with the ‘must let Alison win’ rule!!

12/08/2025

Boy oh boy is this year flying by! I’m a little bit late introducing my July ‘Reader of the Month’, but it brings me great pleasure to introduce Jackson 🤗.

Jackson is humble, inquisitive, hard working and even after a tough day at school, turns up to appointments ready to learn and give it his all. Let me tell you, his ‘all’ is getting hard to keep up with!! This young man has blown his mum and myself away with how much his reading and spelling have improved over the last few months… I don’t think Jackson can believe it himself!

I asked Jackson about his ‘grown-up’ plans (well actually I wrote them down and he responded in writing) and this is what he had to say…

What do you want to be when you grow up?
A Police Officer.

Why do you want to be a Police Officer?
Because you get to save the world!

Do you think it would be important to be able to read when you are a Police Officer?
Yes, because you have to read the rules about the world.

How does it make you feel when you can read stuff?
Excited, because you feel like a good reader.

We’re excited for you Jackson, and you are becoming a good reader!! Jackson is supported by his mum, Nicole… getting him to appointments, practicing new skills at home, and most importantly encouraging him to discover his love for reading!

Congratulations Jackson! We’re all incredibly proud of you 🙌🏼

13/06/2025

Thankyou 'A Current Affair' for bringing some attention to Developmental Language Disorder (DLD). DLD is a hidden disability impacting 1 out of 14 Australians. It has a significant impact on understanding and learning, with a large number of people also experiencing literacy difficulties.

For more information on DLD, please check out 'The DLD Project'
https://thedldproject.com/about-the-dld-project/

06/06/2025

Drum roll please….

Introducing our May, ‘Reader of the Month’!!

It’s a huge congratulations to Beau 🤗

What can I say about Beau? Beau’s personality is larger than life! He’s a natural born entertainer. He’s energetic, funny, loves to make you laugh and boy oh, boy does he pour his heart and soul into everything he does.

Beau and his mum, Stacey, make a wonderful team, and their hard work is paying off! I had the pleasure of meeting Beau and Stacey in January. Beau knew most of the letters of the alphabet and some of the speech sounds that these letters represent. He could write his name, but Stacey was really worried about his literacy, saying that he couldn’t read at all.

Fast forward almost 6 months and this kid is amazing us! He can now sound out and write simple words and the joy at watching him read a decodable book makes my heart sing!

Beau is a hearty Harry Potter fan, so when I asked him what he wanted to be when he grows up, not surprisingly, he wants to be a dragon. “I’ve been dreaming about it. I would help people and save them from bad guys!”.

I asked Beau what the best thing about learning to read is: “I like learning how to read, so I can get better (at reading). I feel happy when I can read a book, so I can learn. I love to learn all of my work.”

As for Stacey, you can see the pride on her face watching Beau read and comprehend what he’s reading. “It’s great to see his confidence grow”.

We’re super proud of you Beau! Keep on reading and keep on learning ❤️

14/05/2025

It’s time to introduce our April ‘Reader of the Month’!
A big congratulations to Aya!

Aya first came to see me almost 12 months ago. She was already clever at knowing the letters of the alphabet and the speech sounds they represent, but needed help to put it all together to read and spell words. She has worked incredibly hard with her mum, Brynelle, and is now devouring so many books that I am struggling to keep up with her!

Aya has the most wonderful imagination and just loves to write stories. Maybe we’ve got an author in the making!

I interviewed Aya, and here’s what she had to say…

Me: What would you like to be when you grow up?
Aya: I want to be a vet because I can see animals. I can see all the animals in the whole wide world… except for frogs.
Me: Do you think that being able to read will be important when you’re a vet?
Aya: Yes…so you can read the list of people and animals that have appointments. And see their medicines and when they have to stay in hospital.
Me: What’s the best thing about learning to read?
Aya: You get to see all the funny pages and learn all the words.

We can’t wait to see all of those funny pages and watch you learn to read and spell all of those words Aya! Your kindness, intelligence and love of learning would make you a wonderful vet if that’s what you decide to be… except for those slimy frogs! 🐸🤭❤️

04/04/2025

Incredibly it’s a brand new month, so time to announce our March ‘Reader of the Month’ ❤️

Introducing Enna-Beth (also known as EB, which is quite fitting as we head towards Easter)… I can’t show you her face because she is going to be famous (and a little camera shy at present).

This little lady is fierce… fiercely independent, fiercely stubborn, fiercely competitive and fiercely determined! All qualities that have resulted in her incredible progress in reading and spelling over the last few months. EB has gone from struggling to sound out simple words to reading multi-syllable words! Today as she entered, she flung the latest decodable book on the table with a ‘Well that’s far too easy!’ 🙌🏼 Nothing makes my heart sing more than watching this young lady grow in confidence and ability!

EB wants to be a beautician when she grows up… ‘I love doing nails, doing hair and doing massages’.
When asked what she likes the most about coming to sessions with me, she replied, ‘I get to learn how to read stuff. I struggled. It makes me feel happy when I can read’.

EB has an amazing support crew in her mum, Karleigh, and dad, Kurt. Appointments, home-practice, encouragement and pride…all in bucket loads. When asked his thoughts on EB’s progress, Kurt shared, ‘Enna-Beth is doing so well, and we are super proud. This year she has been crazy (when thinking about how much improvement she is showing), and she’s really enjoying the practice’.

We’re all incredibly proud of you EB! You’re an absolute super star ⭐

10/03/2025

Q & A: “WHAT ARE DECODABLE READERS?”

A decodable reader is a book that helps kids practice reading by using words that they can sound out. The stories are formulated with words contain the ‘code’ (sound-letter correspondences) that they have learnt or are learning, so kids can read them on their own and feel confident!

The top photo is from a decodable reader (from the PhonicBooks, Moon Dogs series)… you can see that there are no tricky words and a child would be able to say the sounds and read the word.

The bottom is from a non-decodable reader… if a beginning reader tried to sound out some of those words, they still wouldn’t know what it said (/l/ /a/ /u/ /g/ /h/ 🤯) and would be tempted to look at the picture to work it out! It relies on sentence ‘patterns’ for kids to ‘learn’ the text.

There’s no such thing as a ‘bad book’ (ok, that may be a bit of a stretch), but it’s vitally important that books are fit for purpose. Decodable books for beginning readers learning the alphabetic system and books for reading with or by an adult for fun and fostering the love of reading! Eventually almost all words become decodable… then we can read whatever we want ❣️🤗

Alison Marsh Speech Pathology

23/12/2025

14/11/2025

07/10/2025

01/10/2025

07/09/2025

29/08/2025

12/08/2025

13/06/2025

06/06/2025

14/05/2025

04/04/2025

10/03/2025

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Monday	9:30am - 5:30pm
Tuesday	8:30am - 2:30pm
Wednesday	9am - 5:30pm
Thursday	8:30am - 5:30pm
Friday	8:30am - 5:30pm