Speech Pathologists Auburn | Paediatric Speech Therapy

What Is Speech Therapy?

Through speech therapy, children learn to strengthen the skills that allow them to communicate, connect, and grow. The ability to both express themselves and comprehend others fosters meaningful relationships, builds resilience, and encourages participation in learning and daily activities.

At Chatterbox, our paediatric speech pathologists work with children at every stage of development. We support toddlers learning to talk, preschoolers building their language skills, and school-aged children managing speech, language, literacy, and social communication challenges.

Children can receive guidance from our skilled speech therapists in:

You can learn more about the conditions we address here.

If your child is taking longer to start talking, having trouble being understood, or finding it difficult to connect in conversations at school, we aim to support them.

Why Might My Child Need Speech Therapy?

While every child’s development is unique, speech and language abilities can sometimes be more challenging to build.

For some children, simply being exposed to language isn’t enough, they may benefit from structured support that builds skills gradually and aligns with their unique way of learning. Speech therapy may provide that crucial guidance.

It’s common to wonder if your child will simply grow out of their difficulties, but in most cases, these challenges don’t go away on their own. Not because your child isn’t trying, but because they need support to build the skills they’re finding hard right now.

The concern is that without support, the gap can widen. As children grow, so do the expectations at school, in friendships, and in everyday life. That’s why early intervention matters. It helps lay strong foundations early, giving your child the best chance to thrive and reducing the risk of those challenges becoming a barrier later on.

How Speech Therapy Works at Chatterbox

Starting speech therapy can feel like a big step, especially if you’re unsure what to expect. Here’s how we make it simple and supportive from the very beginning.

1. Initial Assessment
To begin, we use a fun, play-based assessment that aims to help your child feel comfortable. It gives us a clear picture of their communication development, showing strengths and challenges so we can tailor the right support.

2. Setting Individual Goals
Once the assessment is complete, we collaborate with you to set practical and motivating goals that reflect what’s most important in your child’s everyday life, whether that’s joining friends in play, keeping up with classroom instructions, or communicating clearly at home.

3. Fun, Personalised Therapy That’s Evidence-Based
Every child is unique, and their therapy should reflect that. At Chatterbox, our therapists:

Adapt each session to suit your child’s individual way of learning and stage of development
Apply therapy techniques that are grounded in the latest research and evidence
Focus on what your child does well, while giving extra help in the areas that are more challenging
Focus on growing confidence, connection, and independence

Our therapy sessions may use games, movement, chats, or hands-on experiences, whichever approach helps your child feel safe, engaged, and ready to learn. Sessions are always play-based and focused on real-world communication. We practise a neurodiversity-affirming model that encourages every child to develop confidence, connection, and independence in a way that embraces their individuality.

4. Family Support and Coaching
We know parents are central to their child’s growth, so we offer guidance and easy-to-use strategies that fit into home life, car rides, and daily routines.
At Chatterbox, our commitment extends beyond children to families, recognising that your wellbeing directly supports your child’s progress.

5. Ongoing Monitoring
We regularly check your child’s progress during sessions, allowing us to respond immediately to their needs. This way, therapy stays achievable, impactful, and suited to your family’s goals.

Why Families Choose Chatterbox

We work in a way that affirms neurodiversity and highlights every child’s strengths

We practise in a neurodiversity-affirming way, focusing on strengths and respecting every child’s individual style of learning and connection
Together with you, we create family-focused goals and adaptable therapy plans
Therapy is designed to be enjoyable, interactive, and personalised for your child
Children can access help for many areas of development with us, without needing to go elsewhere
Families can choose between face-to-face or virtual speech therapy, depending on what works best
We’re therapists with skill and heart, committed to making a real difference

While these are part of our services, the real reason stands out above them all.

Families choose Chatterbox because they want to feel confident their child is in good hands with people who don’t just deliver therapy, but genuinely care.

What’s the Next Step?

Frequently Asked Questions

How are therapy goals set?

We begin by talking with you to understand your big-picture priorities for your child. Then, we shape these into smaller, achievable milestones that make progress clear, confidence stronger, and success possible.

When we design goals, we factor in your child’s age, development, and everyday life so the plan is meaningful, practical, and tailored to support their learning.

How many sessions will my child attend each week?

Your clinician will create a therapy schedule guided by evidence and tailored to what may work best for your child.

For most therapies, that means regular, consistent input. The more opportunities a child has to practise and build on their skills, the better the outcomes tend to be. In an ideal world, this would mean multiple hours of therapy each week. But let’s face it, that’s not always realistic for every family.

There are a few therapies, such as the maintenance stage of stuttering treatment, that may only need less frequent sessions, fortnightly or monthly, though this is uncommon.

We offer both 60-minute and 90-minute sessions at Chatterbox. Weekly therapy is our standard, guided by research, and families can also access extra weekly sessions or intensive programs, ideal during the school holiday period.

How long will my child need therapy?

There isn’t a single answer to how long therapy might continue, because it depends on individual factors like your child’s age, personality, learning style, developmental level, and diagnoses.

With time, your therapist can offer a more detailed idea of what therapy might look like. But progress requires patience, learning takes time, and there is no overnight solution.

Who will be my child’s speech therapist?

Our therapists are not only qualified and experienced, but also registered with Speech Pathology Australia. They’re committed to guiding children’s development with evidence-based strategies and supportive, family-focused care.

We ensure your child sees the same speech pathologist each session, so they may form a strong, trusting bond. With that consistency, your child may feel safe and supported, and therapy can be tailored more precisely to their needs.

But life doesn’t always follow a perfect schedule, and that’s where being part of a connected team really helps. Whether your clinician is away, you need to move an appointment, or want to book an extra session, we’ve got your back. We offer families the option for their child to see another one of our qualified clinicians when needed, so therapy stays consistent and flexible.

Since our team works hand in hand, your child’s goals and progress are always shared, making each session seamless even with a new therapist. Meeting different clinicians now and then may actually benefit your child, potentially helping them adapt, generalise skills, and build confidence across varied communication partners.

How can I get the most out of our therapy sessions?

Good news! There are straightforward strategies you can use to support your child’s therapy and help them keep building skills:

Support progress by attending sessions on a regular basis
Keep therapy on track by working on practice tasks outside of sessions
If possible, rebook appointments instead of cancelling to keep consistency
Use holiday breaks as an opportunity for intensive therapy sessions
Actively take part in sessions, your support makes a big impact

When you stay consistent and actively engaged, your child could make the greatest progress.

Do you offer online speech therapy for children?

That’s right! We provide speech and occupational therapy both in clinic and online , giving families choice and flexibility. Online therapy suits busy families, children who are most comfortable at home, and families living in remote or rural areas.

What funding options are available?

There are a number of options to help cover therapy costs. You can learn more about funding options here.

You may be able to access different funding options to help cover therapy. Learn more about funding options here.

Is there a waiting list?

Good news! We currently have no waiting list, which means your child can likely get started straight away. Early support can make a big difference, and we know that delays can be frustrating. That’s why we’ve made it a priority to keep access to therapy as smooth and timely as possible.

Where are you located?

With our primary clinics based in easily reachable locations across Bella Vista, Kingswood, Oran Park, Parramatta, and Penrith, you’ll find a friendly administration team on-site to help guide you and your family. Enjoy the convenience of free on-site parking at all clinics, making your visit for assessments or therapy as simple and stress-free as possible.

While our speech pathologists in Parramatta primarily help people from surrounding suburbs including Parramatta, Rosehill, Westmead, Harris Park, Rydalmere, Merrylands, Granville, Auburn, Newington, Wentworthville, Northmead, Oatlands, Lidcombe, and Guildford, our clinics are more than welcoming to anyone looking to use our services across Sydney.