Children & adults  ·  All ages  ·  Early intervention  ·  Complex needs  ·  NDIS  ·  Orofacial Myology  ·  Speech sound disorders

Alison founded Newcastle Speech Pathology more than 15 years ago, driven by a simple belief: that everyone deserves the chance to communicate with confidence. What started as a single clinic has grown into a two-location practice with a team she is deeply proud of, but the values haven’t changed.

With over 30 years of experience spanning health, education, disability and rehabilitation, Alison brings a breadth of perspective that shapes everything about how this practice operates. She has worked with clients across the full lifespan from toddlers taking their first words to older adults navigating the communication changes that come with age or illness.

As a parent and grandparent herself, and someone who home-schooled her own children, Alison understands the experience of sitting in the therapy chair from the other side. That understanding runs through the way she works with families: practically, warmly and with genuine respect for the expertise parents bring about their own children.

Alison continues to see clients alongside her leadership role and holds qualifications as a Certified Practising Speech Pathologist, Speak Out provider and Orofacial Myology Therapist.

Practice location: Cooks Hill and Kurri Kurri

Outside the clinic: Reading, hiking and travelling – she believes curiosity is as important in life as it is in the clinic.

Ashley co-founded Newcastle Speech Pathology in 2014 and has been part of the practice ever since. He holds a Bachelor of Science from UNSW.

As Director, Ashley looks after the parts of the practice that clients rarely see but always feel: people, systems, facilities and the day-to-day operations that keep clinicians free to focus on their clients. It’s work that shapes everything from how quickly a family gets an appointment to how well supported the team feels on a busy week.

Coming from outside the clinical side of the profession has given him a particular appreciation for what happens in the therapy room. “Ashley marvels at the life-changing impact the speechies have on our clients, and considers it a privilege to be involved in running such a vital and vibrant practice.”

Outside the clinic: he’s a keen runner and will take any excuse to be outdoors.

All ages · Speech sound disorders · Parkinson’s Disease · Language disorders · NDIS ·  SPEAKOUT! Certified

Abbie officially joined Newcastle Speech Pathology as a Speech Pathologist in April 2026, but she has been part of the team since 2024, first as an Allied Health Assistant. That means she came to the role already steeped in the practice’s approach, its clients and the values that run through everything the team does.

She works with children, teenagers and adults across a caseload that spans speech sound and language disorders and extends to supporting people living with Parkinson’s Disease. What Abbie finds most meaningful is the moment a client develops a skill that changes something in their everyday life, however large or small that change might be.

Abbie holds a Bachelor of Speech Pathology (Honours) from the University of Newcastle and is a member of Speech Pathology Australia.

Practice Location: Cooks Hill and Kurri Kurri

Outside the clinic: Abbie loves to bake and is an avid reader.

Adult speech & language · Aphasia · Motor speech disorders · Paediatric speech & language · All ages · NDIS ·  SPEAKOUT! Certified

Ella joined Newcastle Speech Pathology at the start of 2026, having completed her internship with the practice. Coming in through that pathway meant she didn’t arrive as a stranger, she knew the team, the clients and the ethos before she wrote her name on the door.

Her clinical interests sit across two areas she feels strongly about. With adults, she is drawn to speech and language disorders, particularly aphasia and motor speech disorders, and the work of helping people rebuild the communication skills that connect them to their world. With children, she brings the same family-centred, evidence-based approach to speech and language difficulties, valuing the parents and caregivers who are the real constants in a child’s life.

Growing up in regional NSW has given Ella a firsthand understanding of what accessible, local healthcare means to families, and a commitment to providing it.

Practice Location: Cooks Hill and Kurri Kurri

Outside the clinic: Ella enjoys Pilates, travelling and spending time with friends and family.

All ages · Speech sound disorders · Language & literacy · AAC · Parkinson’s Disease · NDIS ·  SPEAKOUT! Certified

Jesse joined the Newcastle Speech Pathology team in 2026, bringing fresh energy and a genuine passion for helping clients reach their communication goals.

Working across our Cooks Hill and Kurri Kurri clinics, Jesse supports clients of all ages, from children and teenagers through to adults, including those funded through the NDIS. Her areas of interest span paediatrics and adult caseloads, with a particular focus on AAC, Parkinson’s, speech sounds, and language and literacy.

Jesse holds a Bachelor of Speech Pathology (Honours) from the University of Newcastle, is a member of Speech Pathology Australia, and is a Speak Out provider.

She’s passionate about providing client-centred, evidence-based support, and creating a positive, collaborative environment for the individuals and families she works with. “What I enjoy most about being a speech pathologist is having the privilege of supporting people through meaningful moments in their communication journey,” she says. “Being part of their growth and celebrating their achievements makes this work truly special.”

Practice location: Cooks Hill and Kurri Kurri

Outside the clinic: You’ll usually find Jesse at the beach, whether she’s going for a walk, swimming, or simply enjoying the fresh ocean air.

Parkinson’s Disease · Dysphagia · Voice · Language · Speech sound disorders · All ages · NDIS ·  SPEAKOUT! Certified

Hannah brings a genuine love of the breadth of this work to everything she does. Her caseload spans children and adults, and she finds something to appreciate in both. With children, she focuses on speech sound disorders. With adults, she has developed a particular interest in Parkinson’s Disease, dysphagia, voice and language.

What drives Hannah is the diversity of what progress looks like. For one client it might be a child producing a sound clearly for the first time. For another it might be an older adult rediscovering the confidence to speak up at the dinner table. She takes the time to understand what each person is working towards before mapping out how to get there.

Hannah holds a Bachelor of Applied Science (Speech Pathology), is a Certified Speak Out! provider and is trained in the Sounds Write literacy program.

Practice location: Cooks Hill and Kurri Kurri

Outside the clinic: A puzzle enthusiast, the 1,000-piece variety, and also loves crocheting and travelling.

Early language · Speech development · Orofacial Myology · Social & pragmatic skills · Voice · All ages · NDIS · OMT ·  SPEAKOUT! Certified

Lucy came to speech pathology with a head start. Before completing her degree, she spent time with Newcastle Speech Pathology as an allied health worker, which means she arrived on her first day as a clinician already knowing the practice, the people and the kind of care the team is committed to providing.

Now in her second year as a speech pathologist, Lucy works with a broad caseload spanning children, teenagers and adults. She is drawn to the variety of people she meets and the different ways communication shapes each person’s life. Whether she is supporting a toddler finding their first words, a child navigating social situations, or an adult working on voice, Lucy brings curiosity and warmth to every session.

She is trained in Sounds Write and ReST, and is a member of Speech Pathology Australia.

Practice location:  Cooks Hill and Kurri Kurri

Outside the clinic: You’ll find Lucy on the soccer field, at a cafe catching up with friends, or lost in a good book.

Speech Pathology · Aged Care · All ages · Positive Behaviour Support · Community-Based Practice ·  SPEAKOUT! Certified

Lucy joins Newcastle Speech Pathology with clinical experience across hospital, community, aged care and school settings, having qualified through the University of Newcastle.

Her experience has included the acute ward at John Hunter Hospital, working with adults with communication, cognitive-communication and swallowing difficulties, paediatrics, and a school-based program. She has spent two years working as an Allied Health Assistant alongside speech pathologists, and as a Behaviour Support Practitioner supporting clients with developmental and behavioural needs.

That range means Lucy is comfortable working with people across the lifespan, and she takes the time to understand each person’s strengths, goals and experiences before anything else.

“I’m passionate about support that’s practical, meaningful and tailored to the individual,” she says. “I want people to feel heard, respected and empowered.”

Her particular interests are communication, positive behaviour support and community-based practice.

Practice location: Cooks Hill and Kurri Kurri

Tim has been part of the Newcastle Speech Pathology team since 2018, one of our longest-serving members, and often the first voice you’ll hear when you call.

Working across our Cooks Hill clinic and supporting our mobile services, Tim helps keep everything running behind the scenes: bookings, enquiries, NDIS paperwork, and all the practical details that mean our clinicians can focus on their clients. He works with families and clients of every age, from children through to adults.

Tim holds a Bachelor of Information Technology from the University of Newcastle, and has also studied towards a Master of Divinity at Sydney Missionary and Bible College.

What he enjoys most is the people. “You’re meeting and working with new people all the time,” he says, “and helping them work toward greater independence in their day-to-day lives.”

Outside the clinic: Tim is a self-confessed film and live music junkie, so if you’ve been to a great gig or seen something worth watching, he’ll want to hear about it.

Linda is who you’ll meet when you walk through our door at Cooks Hill making people feel comfortable and welcome is exactly how she sees her job.

She joined Newcastle Speech Pathology in late 2023, bringing with her more than two decades of experience: nineteen years in administration in the not-for-profit sector, followed by several years in allied health. She works with clients of every age, from children through to adults, including NDIS participants and their families.

“I’m not a speechie,” Linda says, “but I love talking to people and hearing their stories and their journey. Life isn’t easy for a lot of people, and if we can help and support them, then that’s a good day.”

Outside the clinic: Linda is an avid art journaller, and spends as much time as she can with her husband, their children and their spouses.