For many of our clients, speech pathology is just one of many allied health and medical services they are accessing to support them to work towards their communication and life goals. Through collaboration between the client, their carers, loved ones and health and medical teams, individuals can be supported to work towards and achieve their goals and enable them to participate and engage in everyday life to the best of their ability. With many different services out there that can provide support, we have complied a list of some of the other health professionals we regularly work and consult with or that our clients have reported seeing to help you to understand who is, or may, support you or the person you care for to achieve their goals.

Speech Pathology

Speech pathologists study, diagnoses and treat communication and swallowing difficulties. They work to support individuals with disorders of speech, language, literacy, voice, social communication, fluency and swallowing. Speech pathologists work with individuals across the lifespan, with clients including those presenting with developmental delays, developmental, intellectual or physical disabilities, mental health concerns, cerebral palsy, dementia, hearing loss and the elderly.

Support Coordination

Support coordinators assist individuals to coordinate different supports, plan for future goals and needs, and provide assistance with any difficulties and concerns relating to these. Support coordinators work to assist people to understand their NDIS or insurance plans, set up service agreements with NDIS providers, ensure disability supports are a correct match for the individual and supporting current and future goals, forming connections between the individual and other supports, and building competence and confidence in the client.

https://www.uniting.org/services/disability-services/support-coordination-ndis

Social Work

Social workers support individuals to identify issues that require change and connect them to the appropriate supports. Through this, they work to improve well-being, both personally and socially. Social workers have an understanding of human behaviour, the life-cycle, families, social networks, health and disability, and mental health. They can work with individuals across the lifespan with difficulties such as family dysfunction, abuse, trauma, disability, mental health, addiction, unstable accommodation or parenting difficulties.

https://ahpa.com.au/allied-health-professions/social-work/

Occupational Therapy

Occupational therapists work to enable individuals to participate in everyday occupations of life through enhancing their health and wellbeing. Such occupations of life include activities of self-care, education, volunteering, caring for others, and social activities. Occupational therapists work with individuals across the lifespan with disabilities, physical and mental health illnesses and those adjusting to life after an injury.

https://ahpa.com.au/allied-health-professions/occupational-therapy/

Psychology

Psychologists work to assess, diagnose and support individuals to change the processes of thinking, feeling, behaving and reacting. Psychologists study human development, the brain, memory and learning. They can work with individuals across the lifespan to support with issues such as learning difficulties, behaviour support, trauma, mental health, relationships, addiction, major health difficulties and dementia. Psychologists can work to support people at the individual, group and community levels.

https://ahpa.com.au/allied-health-professions/psychology/

Audiology

Audiologists specialise in hearing impairments and disorders of balance. Audiologists can assess and diagnose disorders of auditory and neural function, recommend and fit hearing devices and aids, and have specialist knowledge in implantable devices such as cochlear implants. Audiologists work with individuals across the lifespan to support or supplement their hearing to enhance their ability to communicate, interact and engage with others and within everyday life.

https://ahpa.com.au/allied-health-professions/audiology/

Positive Behaviour Support

Positive behaviour support is an effective way of managing behaviours and supporting the individual displaying these. Behaviours can be used as a means of communication. These behaviours may at times pose a risk to the safety and health of the individual displaying them and/or those around them, be a cause of frustration, or inhibit their ability to engage in everyday activities in a range of different settings. Behaviour support therapists aim to reduce challenging behaviours while supporting the individual to develop the skills to not resort to these behaviours in the future.

https://realtherapysolutions.com.au/services/behaviour-2/

For more information regarding these services, please contact your local service providers or chat to our staff who may be able to assist you to connect with other health and medical professionals.