My Word Health

Meet Shannon ⭐️ Speech Pathologist

"I am a speech pathologist from New Zealand, and I have a passion for providing therapy services online. In 2019, I graduated from the University of Canterbury in New Zealand, with a Bachelor of Speech Language Pathology and am also a Certified Practicing Speech Pathologist with Speech Pathology Australia.

I have worked in special needs schools and private practice throughout my time as a Speech Pathologist, and I strive to empower my clients, as well as support the people around them".

🔹The best part of my job is...
I love recognising and celebrating the little wins for my clients as I watch them build confidence and further develop their communication skills. I enjoy working with a wide range of clients, but have a particular interest in working with speech sound disorders and literacy.

🔹My top tip for parents and carers is...
Don't be afraid to be silly! Our kids love when we are silly and it is an amazing way to create communication opportunities - sing a song, pull a funny face, put your shoe on your head so they can tell you how funny you look. It is a great way to get engagement and fill your day with some laughs along the way.

🔹Fun Fact..
I am the only person I know who has one and a half kidneys!

How lucky are we to have Shannon as part of the My Word Health team! To enquire further about working with Shannon, and our Speech Pathology services, give our team a call today on (02) 6023 6380

It's Speech Pathology Week here in Australia!

Did you know that an estimated 1.2 million Australians have communication support needs?

Communication bridges gaps, fosters meaning and understanding, and strengthens relationships. It’s about making connections and expressing ourselves in unique ways.

Have you noticed that your child experiences some challenges in communicating, in reading or spelling, or swallowing? Our Speechies are here to help!

Good news - We have immediate availability for Speech Pathology appointments!
Reach out to our team directly on 02 6023 6380 or head to our website to complete our intake form.

Join our passionate team of Allied Health Professionals!
We've just opened up 3 new roles. Head on over to our website to learn more - www.mywordhealth.com.au/careers

Are you tired of sitting on waitlists for early intervention services for your child?

At My Word Health, we are thrilled to share that we have immediate availability for new clients for both Speech Pathology and Occupational Therapy delivered via Telehealth!🎊

We get a lot of questions from families about our Telehealth services and we love sharing the benefits of accessing therapy via Telehealth...

🍎 Access therapy NOW, from the comfort of your own home. This means no travelling or piling multiple children into the car, as well as ensuring your child is engaging in therapy in an environment that they are familiar with and comfortable in.

🍎 No wait list. Book in and gain access to critical early intervention therapy for your child immediately.

🍎 Our therapists our experts at engaging children via Telehealth - and there are many fun digital tools to keep children engaged and motivated via this platform

🍎No limitations in therapy delivery - Many of our families will ask the questions "Is Telehealth therapy truly as effective as in-person therapy?". Our answer is Absolutely! Telehealth is equally as effective as in-person therapy! (Sometimes even more so, as it enables immediate access to therapy rather than waiting for in-person therapy!)

If you've got any questions about how our Telehealth service works, or if you would like to book an appointment for your child today, please contact our team on 02 6023 6380

Meet Maegen ⭐️ CEO + Senior Speech Pathologist

Many of you will already know our wonderful CEO Maegen, but for any new faces here, let us introduce her!

"I grew up in Young NSW and have always loved living rurally.

I moved to Albury 11 years ago to study Speech Pathology and fell in love with the area. After working as a Speech Pathologist at My Word Speech Therapy (now My Word Health) for a few years I was offered the opportunity to purchase the business & continue running it's mission to provide high-quality allied health services to rural and regional communities.

I'm so passionate about rural healthcare as I believe that where you choose to live should not impact the level of healthcare you are able to access. It's been such a fun journey navigating running a business and being a Speech Pathologist - two hats that I love to wear on a regular basis.

My huge passion is working with neurodiverse children and assisting them on how to navigate social environments. Other than hanging out with my family, it is one of my favourite things to do. In my spare time I enjoy spending time with my family, which includes my husband, son, and dog.”

🔹The best part of my job is...
I love empowering children and families to achieve their goals. It's such a delight to watch the pure joy on everyone's faces when kids achieve what they set out to do and the positive impact this has on their lives. My favourite area of practice is social skills.

🔹Favourite top tip to share with parents and carers...
My favourite piece of advice is parents/primary carers know their children best. Trust your instincts as you are the one that spends the most time with your child. Then find great therapists that are happy to support you and encourage you in achieving the goals that are important to you and your family.

🔹Fun Fact..
I'm an Australian and a New Zealand citizen. I love going to visit family & friends there. We also have a few Kiwi's on our team here at My Word Health and it does make it feel more like home for me 🙂

We're very lucky to have Maegen steering the My Word Health ship, and we love working alongside her to empower children to live whole, healthy, and happy lives!

In case you missed it, our fabulous Social Skills Program begins this coming Monday 29th July!

This upcoming Term, we're pleased to be running two social skills programs on Monday and Wednesday afternoons for the duration of the term!

Our social skills groups focus on fostering positive peer relationships and social thinking! This program is created by our brilliant Speech Pathologist and Occupational Therapists, and run by our experienced Allied Health Assistants.

Both groups run from 3:45pm-4:45pm on their respective days - with afternoon tea provided 🍎

Both private and NDIS participants welcome!

To book your child’s spot in our Term 3 Social Skills Program, call our clinic today on 02 6023 6380. There are just a few places left, so get in quick!

Service availability update 📣

Great news! We have appointments available for our Speech Pathology, Counselling, and Key Worker services.

📞 Contact us at 02 6023 6380 or visit our website via the link in bio to learn more about our team and services!

Meet Laura ⭐️ Key Worker

"My name is Laura and I love helping children become their best selves!

I grew up in Wangaratta, moved to Melbourne for University and came back to the North East for my career. I have a Bachelor of Applied Science Psychology degree (majoring in society health) and a Master of Primary Teaching.

I had previously been teaching for just over four years and love the connection you can build with students/children. I recently made the shift to Key Worker, joining My Word Health and am absolutely loving it!"

🔹The best part of my job is...
I have loved working with clients and their families as well as the other amazing health professionals on our team.

🔹Fun Fact..
I have two wonderfully cute Labradors, Sunny and Millie.
I love to travel and love to see new countries.

Laura works with families to deliver early intervention therapies such as Speech Pathology and Occupation Therapy support. Did you know that the NDIS states the Key Worker model as the Gold Standard of care for early intervention? 🥇

It truly is a remarkable role that supports families to bring multiple therapies together, and coordinate the professionals involved in your child's therapy support team. The best news is - we have current availability for clients for Key Worker services. To enquire further about working with Laura, and our Key Worker services, give our team a call on (02) 6023 6380.

Today we had our quarterly Team Wellness Day where we come together to take some time together as a team and also do a bit of PD and catch up after a busy term.

Our afternoon activity today was hosted by the amazing Sam from where she taught us how to make beanies using mostly one hand to knit and also about being resilient to whatever life brings your way. Thanks Sam for sharing your wisdom with us!

Welcoming the youngest member to the My Word team (with a very belated announcement post).

Our beautiful boy, Elijah Caleb Walsh, was born a few weeks ago in May 🩵

Thanks to everyone for all your kind words.

We are all doing well and soaking in all the newborn snuggles.

I'm looking forward to being back in the office shortly. For now, our incredible team are doing an amazing job at keeping everything running and I am so very grateful for all they do!

x Maegen

Are you an Occupational Therapist with a passion for working with children?

📣We’re Hiring!

We are on the lookout for some new team members to join our Albury, Wangaratta and Telehealth team, to help us achieve our vision of empowering children to live whole, healthy, and happy lives together.

If you’re interested in one of these Occupational Therapy positions please visit our website for more information, or head to the link in bio to view the SEEK links and apply!

We can't wait to hear from you.

New podcast episode out now!

Follow the link in bio to listen 🎧

Join us this school holidays for our Social Skills Program!

The Social Skills program is designed for children ages 5-12yrs of age and focuses on fostering positive peer relationships and social thinking through a range of fun activities.

Kicking off on Monday 8th July, our program runs every weekday (excluding Tuesday 9th) for the duration of the school holidays from 9:30am - 11:30am. Morning tea is provided.

A comprehensive report will be provided to parents/carers at the end of the group program.

To secure your child's spot in the program, please phone our clinic directly on (02) 6023 6380. Limited spots available!

If you've got an NDIS plan, NDIS funding is able to be used for these groups.

Meet Sarah ⭐️
Sarah has recently joined our team as a very experienced Social Worker, providing Social Work services, as well as operating as a Key Worker, and Counsellor.

"I have been a Social Worker for 20 years now, with some breaks to have 3 children and to travel. I have predominately worked with teenagers and adults in the past. I'm really excited to be working with younger clients, to hear about how they see the world and to help in anyway I can. I love listening to people's stories and meeting people from all walks of life".

🔹The best part of my job is...
The amazing caring staff who work here.

🔹Favourite top tip to share with parents and carers...
Even though life is busy, take the time to listen to your little people. They have so many insights to share.

🔹Fun Fact..
I'm a twin, so I have a look-a-like around town!

We are so lucky to have Sarah as part of the My Word Health team supporting our families and little clients. To enquire further about booking in for an appointment with Sarah, give our team a call on (02) 6023 6380.

Andrea, Elisha, Natalie, Marion & Lainie loving our brand new My Word Health jumpers we received this week! A big thank you to Birdy Design for printing these 😊

New podcast available for listening now! This one is a great episode for parents. I answer a question sent in by a listener around how we know what therapy supports are right for our children. Listen now by following the link in bio or search 'My Word Speech Therapy Podcast' wherever you get your podcasts. Enjoy!

Have you met the wonderful Shae? ⭐️
Shae is our Senior Speech Pathologist + Head of Clinical Services

I grew up locally and graduated from Charles Sturt University (CSU) in Thurgoona in 2016 as a Speech Pathologist. Since then, I've worked in various hospital settings, including acute wards, emergency department, rehabilitation and community health, with both children and adults facing communication and swallowing challenges. Particularly drawn to paediatric care, I left to pursue a role as a Key Worker where I gained valuable experience working with children with complex disabilities and additional needs. Transitioning to My Word Health and private practice in 2021 has been very fulfilling. It's allowed me the opportunity to deliver personalised care that meets the unique needs of each child whilst fostering meaningful connections with children and their families.

🔹The best part of my job is...
I love that each day brings new opportunities to connect with children and their families, empowering them, and guiding them on their journey to achieve their goals. I find it really rewarding witnessing progress and knowing that our work as a team makes a tangible difference in the lives of others. I also really value our incredible team, and the way we collaborate and support not only our clients, but each other.

🔹Favourite top tip to share with parents and carers...
Oh there's lots! Don't be afraid to sing songs, no matter how bad you think your voice is (especially ones with actions). Build in opportunities for your child to participate. You can pause and wait for a response - a wriggle, a sound, a word, looking at you, anything! This helps children learn how to take turns in an interaction with you, and will also help them learn new words. The most important thing is to have fun!

🔹Fun Fact..
I love staying active with CrossFit and netball. I am a netball coach, and get to coach an amazing team of people!

How lucky we are to have Shae as part of the My Word Health team. Comment below if you've had the pleasure of meeting or working with Shae!

We have been having a lot of fun over the past 6 weeks in our School Holiday, Early Birds and Lego Legends Group Programs.

Here's a few snaps📷 of what we've been up to within those groups as we work on developing social, fine motor, and school readiness skills.

Our next School Holiday Social Skills group is coming up, commencing on Monday 8th July. If you are interesting in learning more about this group, or signing up, please contact our team on (02) 6023 6380

We will be sharing details and dates for Term 3 groups (Early Birds School Readiness & Lego Legends programs) very soon 👀

Open and ready for a new week ahead ☀️Supporting families and our little clients to achieve their therapy goals.

Service availability (short or no waitlist!)...

ALBURY: Speech Pathology, Key Worker services, Social Work services, Educational & Cognitive Assessments, and Counselling.

WANGARATTA: Speech Pathology, Key Worker services, Social Work services, and Counselling.

TELEHEALTH: Occupational Therapy, and Speech Pathology.

If you'd love to learn more about our services, head to our website www.mywordhealth.com.au or call our team directly on (02) 6023 6380

Meet Lainie ⭐️ Head of Support Services + Allied Health Assistant

I have been with My Word Health for 3-ish years. Before working at MWH I was working in aged care, which was my first position working as an Allied Health Assistant. I studied my Certificate IV in 2020 (terrible year to return to study!) and chose the qualification because working in Allied Health opens so many gateways and opportunities to help people.

I grew up in Albury-Wodonga and I love living in this region. We are close enough to everything we need and far enough away to enjoy the peace.

🔹The best part of my job is...
My favourite part of working with My Word Health is the kiddos. Being able to help these guys to reach their goals and seeing the satisfaction on their faces when they achieve them is amazing.

🔹Favourite top tip to share with parents and carers...
Take the pressure off yourself! 5 minutes of happy, easy home-practice is better than 30 minutes of grumbling to get the job done.

🔹Fun Fact..
I am a massive fan of musicals - I don't care what it is; old, new, nonsensical? Just give me a ticket!

Comment below if you've had the pleasure of crossing paths with the awesome Lainie in your family's therapy journey!

Did you know that we have a beautiful clinic space in Wangaratta?

A space that our team has been working hard to get set up, and make warm and welcoming for our families and little clients.

If anyone has spent time constructing flat pack furniture - you will know that sometimes it can drive you a bit crazy! Our Operations Manager Cherie has become a flat pack expert over the last few weeks 😂 But all well worth it to see this space coming together ... a huge thanks to one Dad that just couldn’t resist helping 😊

We can't wait to show you this clinical space once the flat-packing and decorating is complete. In the meantime, our therapists are holding sessions for Wangaratta clients here across a range of services such as (Speech Pathology, Social Worker, Key Worker, Allied Health Assistance). We also have capacity for Educational and Cognitive Assessments at our Albury office.

If you'd like to book in for an appointment at our Wangaratta space, please phone our clinic today.

Exciting news! ⭐

We are thrilled to share that appointments are now available for new clients across a range of services.

SWIPE ➡️ for details on service availability across Albury, Wangaratta and Telehealth (any location).

To book an appointment, head to the website to access our online referral form, or contact us directly on (02) 6023 6380

Meet Mikayla ⭐️ Allied Health Assistant

I was born and raised in a small town called Levin in New Zealand. After recently finishing my tertiary studies in counselling and educational psychology, I decided to move to Albury for a change of lifestyle and new opportunity. Therefore, you will find me meeting new people and exploring all the exciting things Albury has to offer.

🔹The best part of my job is...
I have recently joined the team here at My Word Health as an Allied Health Assistant and have loved meeting the children I get to work alongside and supporting them to achieve their goals.

🔹Fun Fact..
I have done a skydive in Queenstown in New Zealand and absolutely loved it :)

New podcast episode landed today!

This episode is a solo ep, where I talk about the benefits for families of utilising an Allied Health Assistant as part of therapy delivery.

Highlights include:
◽️What is an Allied Health Assistant and what do they do?
◽️How AHAs increase your child's access to therapy
◽️Utilising an AHA can be a cost effective way to manage therapy budgets - meaning less money out of pocket, and making your NDIS plan go further.

You can listen via the link in bio, or search My Word Speech Therapy Podcast on your preferred listening platform🎧

There is a common misconception that engaging a social worker is only required to support significant events in a child's world.

Mostly, it's the everyday events that can present challenges for many children. From navigating tricky peer dynamics to grappling with big emotions, we all know that life can be tricky!

Don't wait for a crisis—reach out for today and empower your child to thrive.

Swipe to learn just some of the ways our social worker service can support your child.

For all bookings, or further enquires, please phone our reception on 02 6023 6380

Our latest podcast is live! Follow the link in bio to listen to this fantastic episode with Beverley and Inez from Definition Diverse, where we chat all about their PEERS program - group programs for all ages that focuses on developing social skills.

I'm sure a lot of you have seen this growing bump for a little while now but for those that I haven't seen recently, I wanted to let you know that my husband, James, and I are expecting our first baby in a few short weeks!

We are very excited for this new season of life! It's sure going to be an adjustment and we wanted to let you know that My Word is being left in the hands of the incredible team that make this business of ours all that it is.

I will be stepping aside for a couple of months to bring this baby into the world and spend some time adjusting to motherhood. While I'm away, the My Word team will continue to uphold the vision and values of My Word Health and help you out with everything you need.

I wanted to say a huge thank you to each and every one of you for following along our journey, and for a lot of you, trusting us to help support you and your children. It is such an honour and a privilege, thank you.

Thank you for your continued support and I look forward to seeing you all on my return in a few short months.

Maegen 🙂