Meet Our Team

Did you know over 1.1 million Australians have a communication difficulty?

The ability to communicate is a complex skill that most of us take for granted. We need to understand and use language so that we can interact with others, express our wants and needs, and develop meaningful relationships.

Our Speech Pathologists strive to provide the most effective and evidence-based services for both children and adults. We believe communication is the foundation for lifelong learning and success. We are passionate about enabling children and adults to reach their full potential by supporting their communication.

Meet our team…

Renae King (née Nash) – Director & Speech Pathologist

Renae has worked with children and adults in school, preschool, and clinic settings for over ten years. She is a member of the Professional Self Regulation program with Speech Pathology Australia. Renae enjoys working with clients and their families to make a positive and meaningful contribution to their lives. She is passionate about educating and empowering families and educators to support children with communication challenges. 

In 2012, Renae travelled to Canada to present her research which studied reading ability in children with Autism Spectrum Disorder. Renae’s research was published in the Journal of Research in Reading in 2014.

At the start of 2017, Renae opened Nash Speech Pathology in Drummoyne. Renae loves sharing her passion for Speech Pathology through mentoring and supporting her team. In 2021, she became a mum to her gorgeous boy, Alexander, who is a regular visitor at Nash Speech Pathology.

Trained In

  • Key Word Sign – using manual sign and natural gesture to support communication.
  • The Hanen Centre “It Takes Two to Talk” – engaging parents in their child’s early language intervention.
  • The Hanen Centre “More Than Words” – engaging parents of children with Autism Spectrum Disorder to facilitate their child’s social, communication and vocabulary development.
  • The Hanen Centre “TalkAbility” – engaging parents of children with Autism Spectrum Disorder to foster the higher-level language and social skills needed for successful conversations and social relationships.
  • Applied Behaviour Analysis (ABA)– interventions designed to increase positive behaviours, teach new skills, and generalise behaviours to new environments or situations.
  • Fussy Feeding Workshop –supporting children who have fussy or picky eating, food selectivity, food refusal, and/or problem mealtime behaviours.
  • Social Thinking – helping children build their social skills.
  • “The Traffic Jam in my Brain” course – a sensory processing approach to challenges associated with Autism, ADHD, Learning and Behavioural Differences.
  • Understanding Autism Spectrum Disorders Workshop
  • Early Screening and Transition to Preschool Workshop via Autism Spectrum Australia
  • Sensory Processing Disorder workshop via Child Sense Occupational Therapy
  • Cleft Palate Speech Therapy Hierarchy workshop via Columbia University
  • Infant Feeding Foundations Workshop – understanding feeding and oral development, assessment and treatment for feeding difficulties, including breastfeeding, bottle feeding and early solids difficulties.
  • Enriching Language in Early Childhood Webinar
  • Roots of Literacy: Play and Language Webinar
  • Taking Proloquo2go to the Next Level – AssistiveWare Training module
  • Colourful Semantics workshop – a method of teaching children how to understand and build sentences.

Presentations and Publications

  • July 2012 – the Society for Scientific Studies of Reading (SSSR) conference, Montreal, Canada
  • December 2012 – the Australasian Society for Autism Research (ASfAR) conference, Sydney, Australia
  • Publication – Nash R. and Arciuli J. (2014), Prosodic awareness is related to reading ability in children with autism spectrum disorders, Journal of Research in Reading. doi: 1111/1467-9817.12033

Catherine Penrose – Speech Pathologist & Team Leader

Catherine is a bubbly Speech Pathologist who brings passion, energy and empathy into each of her sessions. Catherine enjoys working with children, adults and their support networks to enable them to reach their communication goals. Catherine’s determined and positive attitude allows her to overcome challenges and accomplish goals. Catherine is a member of the Professional Self Regulation program with Speech Pathology Australia.

Catherine joined our team in 2019 and has previously volunteered in Vietnam to provide much needed speech and language skills to their communities. Catherine has taken on the role of joint Team Leader at Nash Speech Pathology from January 2022.

Trained In:

  • The Spalding Method – an evidence-based, explicit, systematic and multisensory approach to teaching language and literacy skills.
  • Facial Nerve Education at John Hunter Hospital
  • Paediatric Feeding at John Hunter Hospital
  • Smooth Speech Program at Newcastle University Stuttering Clinic
  • The Hanen Centre “More Than Words” – engaging parents of children with Autism Spectrum Disorder to facilitate their child’s social, communication and vocabulary development.
  • Social Thinking – helping children build their social skills
  • Intensive Interaction – an approach to teaching pre-speech communication to people with severe learning difficulties and/or autism.
  • Early Screening and Transition to Preschool workshop via Autism Spectrum Australia
  • Sensory Processing Disorder workshop via Child Sense Occupational Therapy
  • Taking Proloquo2go to the Next Level – AssistiveWare Training module
  • Colourful Semantics workshop – a method of teaching children how to understand and build sentences.
  • The Lidcombe Program – a behavioural treatment for young children who stutter.

Rachel Horton – Speech Pathologist & Team Leader

Rachel is a wonderful Speech Pathologist who is passionate about working with children and their families. She is friendly, bubbly and dedicated to achieving the best outcomes for her clients. Rachel joined our team in 2020 following experience at another private practice. Rachel is a member of the Professional Self Regulation program with Speech Pathology Australia.

Rachel has a special interest in treating dysfluency/stuttering in both children and adults. She also takes on the role of primary Clinical Educator to our Speech Pathology students as well as joint Team Leader at Nash Speech Pathology. Rachel currently works with us on Mondays, Tuesdays and Fridays.

Trained in:

  • Sounds-Write First Rate Phonics – a direct, systematic and phonics based approach to literacy intervention
  • Understanding Dementia MOOC Course
  • Syllable Timed Speech approach to stuttering treatment
  • Social Thinking – helping children build their social skills
  • Sensory Processing Disorder workshop via Child Sense Occupational Therapy
  • The Hanen Centre “More Than Words” – engaging parents of children with Autism Spectrum Disorder to facilitate their child’s social, communication and vocabulary development.
  • Enriching Language in Early Childhood Webinar
  • Taking Proloquo2go to the Next Level – AssistiveWare Training module
  • Colourful Semantics workshop – a method of teaching children how to understand and build sentences.
  • Addressing the vocabulary needs of late-talking toddlers

Louisa Wilson – Speech Pathologist

Louisa is a kind and caring Speech Pathologist who is dedicated to supporting children and adults achieve their goals. Louisa’s calm and nurturing personality enable her to easily build rapport with her clients and their families. Louisa joins our team with experience working as a disability support worker and coordinating AAC voice, which is a charity that raises awareness of and advocates for people who use augmentative and alternative communication. Louisa is an active member of Speech Pathology Australia.

Louisa is passionate about working with both children and adults to improve their communication outcomes. Louisa enjoys working with some of our local schools to provide a collaborative approach to her clients’ intervention.

Trained in:

  • The Spalding Method – an evidence-based, explicit, systematic and multisensory approach to teaching language and literacy skills.
  • Social Thinking – helping children build their social skills
  • Sensory Processing Disorder workshop via Child Sense Occupational Therapy
  • Infant Feeding Foundations Workshop – understanding feeding and oral development, assessment and treatment for feeding difficulties, including breastfeeding, bottle feeding and early solids difficulties.
  • The Hanen Centre “More Than Words” – engaging parents of children with Autism Spectrum Disorder to facilitate their child’s social, communication and vocabulary development.
  • Taking Proloquo2go to the Next Level – AssistiveWare Training module
  • Roots of Literacy: Play and Language Webinar
  • Colourful Semantics workshop – a method of teaching children how to understand and build sentences.

Ally Rowe – Speech Pathologist & Clinical Mentor

Ally is passionate about supporting families and individuals who experience communication and feeding difficulties. She brings energy and care to therapy sessions, and a commitment to implementing a high-quality, evidence-based approach. Ally has a particular interest in providing early intervention services for children with developmental delays, as well as supporting those with language and literacy difficulties. She also has experience implementing Alternative and Augmentative Communication (AAC) methods with her clients. 

Ally has been an integral part of Nash Speech Pathology since April 2021, and currently works onsite at the clinic, and in the local community at preschools and schools. She supports the ongoing development of junior Speech Pathologists and students through clinical mentoring at the practice. Ally is a certified member of the Professional Self Regulation program with Speech Pathology Australia.

Trained in:

  • ‘More Than Words’, The Hanen Centre, – engaging parents of children with Autism Spectrum Disorder to facilitate their child’s social, communication and vocabulary development.
  • ‘Lindamood-Bell Learning Processes’ programs – Instruction based on the sensory-cognitive processes involved in reading and comprehension. Trained in, ‘Seeing Stars’, ‘Visualising & Verbalising’, ‘Talkies’ and ‘On Cloud Nine’ programs. 
  • ‘Literacy Read and Write’, ‘Invincible Vocab’, ‘Language Comprehension’ and ‘Story Writing’ programs at The Language Tree, Avalon. 
  • ‘Sign Language 1 Course’ via the Deaf Society.
  • Key Word Sign – using manual sign and natural gesture to support communication.
  • ‘Developing Sentence Complexity in Written Expression’ workshop.
  • ‘Colourful Semantics’ and ‘The Shape Coding System’ workshops – multisensory teaching approach to support children to understand and build sentences.
  • ‘Alternative and Augmentative Communication Foundations’ modules via Liberator.
  • ‘Taking Proloquo2go to the Next Level’ AssistiveWare Training module. 
  • ‘Infant Feeding Foundations Workshop’ – understanding feeding and oral development, assessment and treatment for feeding difficulties, including breastfeeding, bottle feeding and early solids.
  • ‘Working with People from Refugee Backgrounds Conference’ via NSW Service for the Treatment and Rehabilitation of Torture and Trauma Survivors.

Francesca Daly – Speech Pathologist

Francesca is a warm, nurturing and bubbly Speech Pathologist who joined our team full-time at the start of 2022, after providing casual support throughout 2021. Francesca is dedicated to her clients and their families to ensure they achieve their communication goals. Francesca’s enthusiasm, creativity and passion shines in each of her sessions to ensure her clients receive the best possible care.

Francesca brings prior years of experience working with people with disabilities through her roles at a disability support service and Autism Spectrum Australia. Francesca is also a member of the Professional Self Regulation program with Speech Pathology Australia.

Trained in:

  • The Hanen Centre “More Than Words” – engaging parents of children with Autism Spectrum Disorder to facilitate their child’s social, communication and vocabulary development.
  • Social Thinking – helping children build their social skills
  • Management of Actual or Potential Aggression (MAPA)
  • Safe Swallowing Education and IDDSI Food and Fluid Modification Program
  • Key Word Sign – using manual sign and natural gesture to support communication
  • Enriching Language in Early Childhood Webinar
  • Treating Childhood Apraxia of Speech Module by Dr Edythe Strand
  • Taking Proloquo2go to the Next Level – AssistiveWare Training module
  • Colourful Semantics workshop – a method of teaching children how to understand and build sentences.
  • Developmental Language Disorder online learning module facilitated by Speech Pathology Australia

Charlotte Lemon – Speech Pathologist

Charlotte is a dedicated Speech Pathologist who is committed to making a difference in the lives of others by helping them achieve their right to communication. Charlotte brings her warmth and enthusiasm to each of her clients. She has a kind and nurturing personality that perfectly suits her passion for working with young children to support their early communication development. Charlotte is a member of the Professional Self Regulation program with Speech Pathology Australia. Charlotte joined our team in 2022 following multiple years experience working with children at another practice.

Charlotte enjoys working within a team of professionals to provide holistic care to her clients. Charlotte is committed to supporting and empowering children through fostering their communication skills. 

Trained In

  • The Hanen Centre “It Takes Two to Talk” – engaging parents in their child’s early language intervention.
  • The Hanen Centre “More Than Words” – engaging parents of children with Autism Spectrum Disorder to facilitate their child’s social, communication and vocabulary development.
  • Read3 method of literacy instruction
  • The Spalding Method – an evidence-based, explicit, systematic and multisensory approach to teaching language and literacy skills.
  • Learn to Play Therapy by Professor Karen Stagnitti
  • Developmental Language Disorder online learning module facilitated by Speech Pathology Australia
  • Lidcombe Program and Oakville Program for young children who stutter
  • Visualising and Verbalising for language comprehension

Maria Vasili – Speech Pathologist

Maria is a passionate and nurturing Speech Pathologist who loves making a positive impact to the lives of her clients. Maria enjoys collaborating with families and other professionals to ensure a holistic and team-based approach to support is provided. Maria’s calm yet bubbly personality means that her clients always enjoy their sessions with her. Maria brings enthusiasm and dedication to our team.

Maria will also provide whole class and withdrawal group Speech Therapy as part of her role as Drummoyne Public School’s onsite Speech Pathologist from January 2023. This sees her collaborating with teachers, learning support staff and executives to provide quality services to our local school.

Trained In

  • Applied Behaviour Analysis (ABA)– interventions designed to increase positive behaviours, teach new skills, and generalise behaviours to new environments or situations.
  • Colourful Semantics workshop – a method of teaching children how to understand and build sentences.
  • Literacy Assessment and Intervention for Primary School
  • Children’s Consonant Acquisition
  • Perspective Taking in the Classroom

Liz Manak, Dannielle Jollow & Jes Short – Administrative Assistants

Liz, Dannielle and Jes are the smiley face that greet each family at reception. They ensure all appointments, payments and processes run smoothly. Liz, Dannielle and Jes are happy to answer any questions or pass them on to one of our Speech Pathologists. They enjoy getting to know all of our families and making sure they feel comfortable in our clinic. Their kind and nurturing qualities are highly valued as part of our team!