Melinda is a qualified Speech Pathologist with over 20 years of experience. She loves helping children with speech sound problems, especially those with Childhood Apraxia of Speech (CAS). She is also very interested in telepractice — using video calls to give therapy to families who live far away.

As a busy professional and a mum of three, Melinda understands how important it is to make therapy friendly and easy for families.

Since 2000, Melinda has worked in many places, including:

• Early intervention for children aged 0–5, alongside other health professionals like Occupational Therapists, Physiotherapists and Psychologists.
• Private clinics and schools, helping children with speech, language, and learning difficulties.
• Hospital - 1 year working with adults.
• Supervising and mentoring other Speech Pathologists, students, and therapy assistants.

Melinda has completed extra training in:

• Complex speech sound disorders, including special therapy methods like DTTC, ReST, and Nuffield for CAS and speech motor delay. Phonological therapy (helping children hear and use speech sounds correctly)
• Sounds-Write (a program that helps with reading and writing)
• Story Champs (language learning programs)
• DIR Floortime (a therapy approach that builds communication through play and connection)
• Developmental Language Disorder (DLD)

Melinda enjoys giving back to the community and has volunteered in many roles over the years, including Chair of the SA Branch of Speech Pathology Australia, MOPS coordinator, youth leader, karate teaching assistant, and Parkrun volunteer — even guiding a vision-impaired runner.

Laura is a passionate Allied Health Assistant who supports children with their speech, language, and literacy. She brings creativity and warmth to every session.
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Laura follows the Speech Pathologist’s program and delivers therapy sessions either in person or online. She provides intensive support for speech sound disorders (including phonology and Childhood Apraxia of Speech), oral language, and written language development.

Working closely with Melinda, Laura helps carry out each child’s therapy plan. Her role allows Sprightly Online to:

• Support more children through in person and telepractice sessions.
• Offer more frequent therapy for those who need it.
• Keep costs lower for families while still providing high quality care.

• Certificate in Allied Health Assistance
• Training in:
  - Sounds Write (reading and writing support)
  - Story Champs (language development)
  - Kimochis Therapy (emotions and communication skills)
  - DTTC foundations (for motor speech difficulties)
• Laura used to handle all our admin before stepping into Allied Health Assistant work.

Laura loves arts and crafts, plays guitar and sings beautifully, enjoys learning new languages, and is a proud mum of a primary school-aged daughter.

Cathy helps keep things running smoothly at Sprightly Online as our friendly Administration Assistant. She has experience in a range of industries and also spent several years homeschooling her four children through most of primary school. Now back in the workforce, she’s enjoying the buzz and bringing her skills to the team.
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When she's not keeping us organised, Cathy loves creative projects like sewing, quilting, and junk journaling. She’s also a keen runner who enjoys hitting the trails and spending time outdoors.