Communicare provides a specialist speech and language therapy service to toddler, pre school and school aged children. Communicare aims to provide an evidence-based service in an enthusiastic and supportive environment to assist in the development of a child’s communication and literacy skills in the early years of their life.
Specialist assessment and treatment is offered for children with a range of developmental delays and specific communication difficulties including:
- Speech and articulation difficulties
- Stuttering
- Late talking / delayed language development
- Pragmatic language difficulties / social use of language
- Autism Spectrum Disorder
- Down’s Syndrome
- Global Development Delay
- Other developmental disorders
- Literacy Development – Reading, Spelling and Comprehension skills
We offer:
• Initial Assessments:
At the initial appointment the therapist will take a detailed case history and assess the client using observation, discussion and administration of appropriate assessments in order to completely understand your child’s difficulties and needs and if appropriate to establish goals of intervention. Prior to the initial consultation appointment, you will be asked to fill out a questionnaire. You may also be asked to provide copies of previous reports from paediatricians, speech pathologists, occupational therapists and school counsellors or other involved professionals.
• Standardised Assessments:
These assessments are in depth assessments used for diagnosis and planning as well as to provide greater information for educational settings and to support funding applications. They often take up to two hours to complete. The estimated time required will be discussed at the time of booking. The assessment may take place over a number of sessions depending on the child’s level of attention.
• Reports:
A summary report is provided as part of the assessment process. We also offer comprehensive reports which are suitable for funding applications or diagnostic assessments. These are issued on request, by prior arrangement. You will receive requested reports within two weeks of the testing date.
• Treatment Plans:
Following assessment, if indicated, a treatment plan will be designed and implemented in collaboration with the child’s family/carers. Therapy may take the form of individual therapy sessions or group therapy sessions in the clinic, nursery, school or home environment.
• Therapy Sessions:
Length and type of sessions offered depends on individual client needs. Individual session are offered in blocks of 30, 45 or 60 minutes.
• School Based Programs:
Communicare also provides screening programs for children in nurseries and primary schools along with clinical services delivered directly to specific schools, including contribution to IEPs. Bespoke school-based training workshops, seminars and professional development sessions can also be delivered.
• Home Visits:
Available on request for a school term. Off site visits are offered at the discretion of the service and are billed as off site sessions (travel time is included).
• Groups Sessions:
Designed to give children the opportunity to develop their communication skills in a small peer group setting. Please contact the clinic for further information and session times.
• Reading Readiness Group for Preschoolers:
Research clearly states that children who have a strong basis in phonological awareness combined with well developed oral language skills, are best able to cope with the demands of learning to read and write when they begin formal schooling. Please contact the clinic for further information and session times.
• Meetings / Consultations:
Available at daycare, preschool and school settings for meetings. These meetings are especially useful to ensure multidisciplinary work for early intervention and collaboration between school and therapy staff. These sessions are billed as off site sessions (travel time is included).
• Professional Education:
A popular service provided by the clinic include the education of parents, whole school staff and TAFE students (Studying child development and childcare) on typical communication development, when to refer, school readiness and how to support children with speech, language and communication needs. Education sessions will be tailored to the clients requirements, please contact the clinic for further information.
If you would like additional information about the clinical services that Communicare offer, please call the clinic on 9969 2167 or email info@communicare.net.au