Speech Pathology Tasmania

17/12/2025

As the end of the year approaches, we’d like to say thank you to our valued clients and colleagues, and wish you a very special holiday season.

We absolutely love what we do and feel privileged to support our clients to achieve their goals and be their most excellent selves. Thank you for partnering with us as we work together to break down barriers to good speech, language, literacy, and swallowing.

Our last day of business for 2025 is tomorrow Thursday 18th December. The clinic is closed on Friday 19th for staff professional development. We look forward to welcoming clients back for appointments in the new year when we re-open for 2026 on Monday 5th January.

14/12/2025

🙌Congratulations Linda! SPT’s Linda McKillop has been awarded by Speech Pathology Australia for 40 years membership of Australia’s peak body for speech therapists.

Linda recently received a Certificate of Recognition and award pin in acknowledgment of this significant achievement.

Earlier this year we also celebrated Linda’s 20th anniversary of working at SPT!

Countless Tasmanian families have benefited from Linda’s work and expertise over the years, and indeed our community as a whole as she has developed the delivery of Orton Gillingham Language Approach literacy training for parents and educators.

“Your dedication and contributions to the field over the past four decades has greatly enriched our community and the profession.” Said Kathryn McKinley, President of Speech Pathology Australia (SPA).

Linda joined SPA while studying to become a ‘speechie’. She graduated with a Bachelor of Applied Science (Speech and Hearing Science) from WA’s Curtin University in 1987, and began her career at the Tasmanian Education Department, working there for four years. Linda then spent two years in Sydney working at Liverpool Community Health, before continuing to gain experience in private practice in Sydney, Canberra and Perth. In 2005 Linda settled in Tassie and joined Rosie at the fledgling Speech Pathology Tasmania.

Linda says that over the last 40 years she has seen the profession grow – in depth, breadth and scope. In 1987 there were 9 training programs for Speech Pathologists in Australia. 15 graduated in Linda’s cohort. Now there are at least 24 training programs, including one in Tasmania. And there are over 15,000 members of Speech Pathology Australia. Speech Pathology as a profession has evolved significantly, expanding from a narrow clinical niche into an autonomous, culturally responsive, well-regulated, and digitally-enabled allied health discipline. It is deeply integrated within health, education, disability, and community sectors.

“We’ve grown as a profession in confidence as a voice.” says Linda.

⭐Join us in celebrating Linda and this special milestone! If you, your family or students have been impacted by Linda’s work, share your story or add your congratulations in the comments below 👇

11/12/2025

A great opportunity for kids starting high school and their caregiver.

We're excited to be taking our Dyslexia Empowerment Camp to the North West in February 26!

Join us for a fun and empowering experience at Camp Clayton, Ulverstone, from Friday 27 February to Sunday 1 March 2026.

Our camp supports Tasmanian students who will be in Grade 7 in 2026 and haven't previously attended a Square Pegs Dyslexia Empowerment Camp, along with their parent or caregiver, through community building, innovative workshops and engaging activities.

Don't miss out on this opportunity to grow, learn and have a blast!

To find out more about the camp and to book your spot, visit our website at www.squarepegstas.org/workshops

10/12/2025

🌏Dec 10 is Human Rights Day. Communication is everyone’s right. It is a thing that matters most in life. Communication gives access to everything else.

Our Director, Rosie wrote about this a little while ago. Read the blog post here👇

Communication is everyone’s right. It is a thing that matters most in life. Communication gives access to everything else. Like the cup, it is a humble tool of celebration, sharing and service.

08/12/2025

📆 Planning your PD for 2026?
We offer a range of professional development training packages that cater to various sectors, including organisations, businesses, speech pathology, allied health, education, and correctional services.

Our training programs are designed to be relevant and adaptable, ensuring that it meets the specific needs of your organisation.

👉 Learn more or request a customised training package for your organisation here: https://spt.com.au/services/professional-development-training-packages/

06/12/2025

📢5-7 year old Tasmanians wanted! Our friends at are doing a study to understand how children learn grammar. The aim of this research is to help children with Developmental Language Disorder (DLD).

Researchers are looking for two groups of children to participate: children diagnosed with DLD, and children with typical language development.

The study involves short activities and games designed to support grammar learning in children. The activities are similar to what speech pathologists do and involve talking and playing with toys, so children usually find them fun. Participants will receive a gift voucher as a thank you.

The findings of this program will help researchers and practitioners better understand the most effective way to help children with DLD learn. Can you help?

To register your interest, contact Dr Sam Calder on email samuel.calder@utas.edu.au, or phone 6324 3567.

02/12/2025

This International Day of People with Disability, let’s look at communication disability.

Communication disability doesn’t discriminate. It touches all classes, all races, all ages. It’s often invisible and can have far reaching impacts. But with the right supports, people with communication disability can overcome barriers and thrive.

Speech Pathology Australia ’s Communication Hub has some great information on communication disability and supports. Check it out at communicationhub.com.au

👉🏽 Ask us today how we can help you with communication challenges. Visit www.spt.com.au for free resources or call 62345717.

01/12/2025

📢 Calling all grade 6 leavers!

Our friends at UTas are looking for Tasmanian grade 6 students and their caregivers to help with some research on child wellbeing & language development.

It takes 90mins and all kids participating receive a gift voucher. The tasks include some of the questions we ask as part of our speech and language assessment.

If your family is currently waiting for individual speech therapy, being part of this research project is a chance to get some assessment information. For current clients of Speech Pathology Tasmania, being part of this study is a great way to get some updated assessment information.

is one of four universities across Australia doing the study, to better understand how to support the wellbeing of students as they transition from primary to secondary school. The nation-wide project is funded by the Medical Research Future Fund.

Find out more and sign-up here: https://tinyurl.com/2xwjsebc

27/11/2025

What a great idea! Communication Boards in playgrounds is a fantastic way to make public spaces more inclusive for young people with communication challenges.

"A Communication Board is a sign that has different icons that non-speaking community members can point to... For example, there might be an icon saying, “I want to go on the slide” or “I feel happy”.

I have two younger brothers that are both non-speaking, and these Communication Boards could majorly assist them in communicating with me, my family, their carers and the rest of the community." says Hobart’s new Children’s Mayor, Noah.

We look forward to seeing the new communication boards installed City of Hobart

A big congrats to Noah from Lenah Valley Primary School - Hobart’s new Children’s Mayor! 🌟

Noah’s winning idea? Communication boards in playgrounds to help non-speaking kids connect and play. Inspired by his two non-speaking brothers, Noah’s vision is making playgrounds more inclusive 🛝

We can’t wait to see the first board go up! 🙌

Read the full story: www.decyp.tas.gov.au/2025/11/noah-helps-break-down-communication-barriers

27/11/2025

The Circle of Security Parent™ program supports parents to build strong, secure connections with their children, fostering:
🌟self-esteem
🌟emotional regulation
🌟confidence
🌟and language.

Businesses, organisations and community-minded individuals are invited to sponsor a community group of parents, or individual parents to participate in the Circle of Security Parenting™ (COSP) Program.

Want to sponsor a group to participate in COSP?
➡️ Learn more on our website:

Go BACK COSP™ Community Group Sponsorship! Businesses, companies and community-minded individuals are invited to financially support a community group of parents to complete the Circle of Security Parenting™ program. There is so much for all of us to grow from, in this program. Participants cons...

20/11/2025

🌏Nov 20 is World Children’s Day, marking the anniversary of the United Nations’ Declaration on the Rights of the Child.

At Speech Pathology Tasmania, children and young people are listened to, respected, and their rights observed.

We also believe that as well as being an essential part of childhood and learning, play is also an important tool in speech therapy. We love to play!

What games and play are popular in your household at the moment? Let us know in the comments 👇

17/11/2025

🗣️ Is your child not talking yet, or struggling to connect with others?
It can be hard to know where to start, but you don’t have to figure it out alone. More Than Words™ gives you the tools to support your child’s communication at home.

Find out more at https://spt.com.au/product/hanen-more-than-words-parent-program/

Secure your place with a $50 deposit paid online OR complete the 'More Than Words Registration Form' to receive a detailed NDIS invoice by email. More Than Words® program details: Format: Individual assessment, Group introduction session, 8x face-to-face parent group sessions, 3x individual session...