Assessment
The Speech Tree provide comprehensive assessments for the purposes of diagnosis, school funding applications and therapy goal setting and planning. We offer assessment of:
– Language
– Literacy
– Speech
– Pragmatics (social skills / communication)
– Play
– NDIS assessments
Families and teachers play an important role in the assessment process. Parent interview will comprise part of the assessment and questionnaires may be provided for completion prior to the assessment sessions.
Social Group sessions
We run over 25 fortnightly social group sessions during term, ranging from our Sprouts program for toddlers through to our Life Skills Program for teens and young adults. We aim to help young people thrive in their social environment whilst encouraging them to be their authentic selves. Our young people love coming to group and many continue you with us through multiple stages of social group learning!
Individual therapy sessions
Individual therapy sessions are generally offered on a fortnightly basis, however, alternative arrangements can be made with your clinician. Therapy goals are set by considering the outcomes of formal assessment in conjunction with parent, teacher and client goals. We work together to reach client’s long term goals by setting short term goals to be targeted in both regular therapy sessions and home practice.
Where possible we work as part of a larger care team with the relevant professionals such as paediatricians, psychologists, occupational therapists, teachers, tutors and learning support staff.
School liaison
At The Speech Tree we believe in a holistic approach to our clients care in conjunction with families and, where appropriate, teachers and schools. This may involve providing training to school staff or attendance at Student Support Group (SSG) meetings.
School based programs
The Speech Tree services school using the Communicate Speech Therapy Assistant (STA) Program. The program helps schools provide regular, consistent therapy services to students with speech, language and literacy difficulties. The STA program enables Speech Pathologists to deliver an effective school-based therapy service. The STA program trains Speech Therapy Assistants to deliver therapy programs under the supervision of a Speech Pathologist. Students receive three therapy sessions per week, which results in more rapid progress towards speech-language goals. Speech Pathologists also benefit from an easier to manage caseload. The program is successfully running in hundreds of primary schools in Victoria and over a thousand Education Support Officers have been trained as therapy assistants.
Program Structure
The Speech Pathologist performs an assessment of the student and prepares an Individual Therapy Plan. The therapy plan is demonstrated to the Speech Therapy Assistant (STA), an integration aide employed by the school. The STA carries out the program three times a week in thirty minute sessions. The Speech Pathologist regularly observes a session to provide support and guidance to the assistant. Student progress is recorded using Therapy Outcome Measures which give the Speech Pathologist a clear view of progress made and allows adjustment of the therapy plan if required. At the end of each term, the Speech Pathologist reviews the student’s progress and prepares a report. The report is provided to teachers and parents.
