Speech Therapy for Kids near Petersham

Supporting your child to grow their communication skills.

Communication support shaped around your child

Every child has the right to be heard. Our team supports children to find and use the communication style that suits them, from those needing a gentle bit of extra support to those with developmental differences, disabilities or neurodivergence.

Personalised goals guide everything we do. At Inner West Paediatrics, our speech pathologists in Petersham lean on evidence-based therapy to support your child’s speech, communication and literacy development.

Our speech pathology services

From speech and language to communication, voice, feeding and fluency, our speech pathologists work across assessment, diagnosis, treatment and intervention.

We partner with you and your child on a broad range of areas too, from speech sounds, reading and writing to eating, play, self-advocacy, and taking part in social life. Here’s what our speech pathology support may include:

In-person speech therapy

Individualised speech therapy in an environment built to feel comfortable, friendly and supportive.

Dedicated family advocates

For families in Petersham who can’t travel to our clinic, we’re happy to come to you instead.

We work with you

Our online speech therapy service is designed to bring support within reach of children right across Australia.

The areas we focus on

Language and Communication

Guiding your child as they develop their grasp of language, spanning vocabulary, grammar, comprehension, and their ability to understand and express themselves.

AAC Assessment and Intervention

Access to communication belongs to everyone. Where AAC may make a difference, our speech pathologists guide children and young people through Augmentative and Alternative Communication in a way that suits them, teaming up with families at every step to assess, trial and put the right system in place around each child’s strengths, preferences and needs.

Reading and Writing

Reading, writing, spelling and phonological awareness all form part of the literacy skills we support children to develop for learning and everyday life. When appropriate, we may partner with your child’s school team so progress carries across home and the classroom.

Speech Sounds

We support children to build clear, confident speech, making it easier for them to be understood in everyday conversations.

Play

Learning comes naturally to children through play. We design our sessions around play-based activities that tap into your child’s interests and strengths, offering a fun, low-pressure and engaging setting where speech, language, communication and confidence develop through meaningful connection.

Stuttering (Fluency)

Using evidence-based, strengths-focused approaches, we support children who stutter to find confidence in their communication. Together with your child and family, we build strategies that make everyday communication feel more comfortable and assured.

Social Communication and Relationships

Home, school and the community are where children’s relationships take shape, and we support them to build meaningful connections across all three. Drawing on strengths-based, neuroaffirming approaches, we help children gain the skills and confidence to understand and express their feelings, advocate for their needs, and nurture positive relationships in ways that feel right for them.

Hanen Programs

It Takes Two to Talk®

The It Takes Two to Talk® program is designed for parents of children from 0 to 5 years who have been identified as having a language delay. In a small group setting, parents learn practical strategies to help their children develop language naturally throughout their day together.

The program teaches you how to:

Recognise your child’s stage and style of communication to identify goals and meaningful next steps
Identify what motivates your child to communicate
Use the strategies to encourage interaction and build communication confidence
Adjust everyday routines to help your child take turns back and forth in interactions
Support your child’s understanding and use of language through responsive communication strategies
Use play and book sharing to foster communication, interaction and language development

Email us at info@innerwestpaediatrics.com.au to learn when registrations open for the next It Takes Two to Talk® program.

More than Words

The More Than Words program is for parents and caregivers of autistic children or children with social communication differences. Parents and caregivers learn specific, research-based strategies to support their child’s social communication and play skills, while also connecting and having more fun together.

‍Through the program, you will learn:

What motivates your child to communicate
How to use your knowledge about your child to set appropriate and realistic goals
How to make interactions with your child last longer
Tips for using pictures and print to help your child’s understanding
Strategies for how to talk so that your child understands you
Strategies for providing new play opportunities for your child

To find out when our next More Than Words group program opens for registration, email info@innerwestpaediatrics.com.au.

Learning Language and Loving It®

Learning Language and Loving It® is an evidence-based program for early childhood educators and professionals who support young children. The program provides practical, responsive strategies to foster language, communication and early literacy through everyday interactions, play and routines.Throughout the program, you’ll learn how to:

Recognise each child’s stage and style of communication.
Create everyday opportunities that encourage language learning and participation.
Use responsive interaction strategies to support communication and extend conversations.
Adapt the learning environment and daily routines to promote communication.
Support children’s social communication and interactions with their peers.
Build language and early literacy skills through play, shared book reading and everyday experiences.

Email us at info@innerwestpaediatrics.com.au to talk through a bespoke package for your education setting built around the Learning Language and Loving It® program.

Paediatric Autism Communication Therapy (PACT)

At its core, PACT puts parents in the driving seat of an evidence-based therapy program suited to autistic children aged 2–11 and children with social communication differences. Along the way, parents and caregivers come to understand their child’s communication style more fully and strengthen daily interactions using responsive, enjoyable strategies that foster connection and engagement.

Using video feedback, our PACT-trained therapists help you notice and respond to your child’s unique communication style. As the program unfolds, you’ll gain practical, evidence-based strategies that support communication by drawing on your child’s individual strengths, preferences and needs within your family’s everyday routines and interactions.

Get in touch at info@innerwestpaediatrics.com.au to hear when registrations open for our next PACT program.

Is communication a challenge for your child?

Every child’s communication journey is different, and wherever yours leads, our experienced team is here with evidence-based, family-centred care.

The therapy techniques we use

Our speech pathologists draw on a broad range of therapy techniques, each tailored to suit you and your child’s needs. Alongside being fully qualified and accredited, our therapists bring extensive training and experience across the following:

- Hanen Programs® (It Takes Two to Talk, More Than Words, Target Word, Talkability, Learning Language and Loving It)
- Key Word Sign
- SOS Feeding Approach
- The Lidcombe Program
- DIR Floortime Principles
- Learn to Play approach
- Paediatric Autism Communication Therapy (PACT)
- Responsive Feeding Approach
- Sounds~Write
- Meaningful Speech for Gestalt Language Processors
- Occupational Performance Coaching
- High and Low Tech AAC implementation
- DTTC and ReST

The ways speech pathology supports your child

Speech clarity

Our speech pathologists support children to develop clear, confident speech so they can be understood more easily in everyday conversations.

Language Development

We support children to build the language skills they need to understand others, express themselves and communicate with confidence.

Fluency

We support children who stutter or experience other differences in fluency to communicate with confidence using evidence-based, strengths-focused approaches.

Social communication

We help children grow the skills and confidence to communicate, connect and take part in ways that suit them.

Self-confidence and self-advocacy
By meeting your child’s communication needs in ways that work for them, speech pathology may help build confidence, foster genuine connections and support their participation in daily life.

Speech therapy FAQs answered

What exactly is speech pathology?

Speech pathology focuses on the assessment, diagnosis, management, and possible prevention of speech, language, voice, and fluency disorders.

What can a speech pathologist help with?

Speech pathology supports children to communicate in ways that work for them. Speech pathologists assess and provide evidence-based support for speech, language, communication, voice, fluency, literacy, feeding and swallowing, helping children participate more confidently in everyday life.

Can you support toddlers with speech therapy in Petersham?

Yes, we do. From infancy through to 18 years, we support children at every stage, including toddlers developing their early communication, language and speech skills. If your toddler’s communication is something you’re wondering about, early intervention may help.

Which conditions and disabilities do you work with?

Children come to us needing communication and language support for many different reasons. Our speech pathologists have experience across a wide range of disabilities, such as autism, cerebral palsy, intellectual disabilities, global developmental delay, ADHD, social-emotional difficulties, trauma, behavioural differences and other neurological disorders, along with articulation and stuttering difficulties.

Will speech pathology support my child at school?

Yes. Communication skills lay the groundwork for learning, so where appropriate, our speech-language pathologists partner closely with teachers and educators to support your child’s progress both in and beyond the classroom.

What length of time will my child need speech pathology?

Each child follows their own path. Our dedicated team reviews progress regularly and, in partnership with you, shapes therapy plans around your child’s growth and development, so support may always reflect where they are right now.

What speech and occupational therapy approaches do you provide?

Highly skilled and always building on their training, our paediatric speech therapists in Petersham draw on a wide range of areas to provide meaningful therapy. Some of the services and approaches we may offer include:

Hanen Programs® (It Takes Two to Talk, More Than Words, Target Word, Talkability, Learning Language and Loving It)
DIR Floortime Principles
Learn to Play approach
Key Word Sign
Paediatric Autism Communication Therapy (PACT)
SOS Feeding Approach
Responsive Feeding Approach
The Lidcombe Program
Sounds~Write
Meaningful Speech for Gestalt Language Processors
Occupational Performance Coaching
High and Low Tech AAC assessment, trial and intervention
Handwriting Without Tears programs
Cognitive Orientation to Daily Occupational Performance (CO-OP Approach)
Toileting interventions
Zones of Regulation
Alert Program
Regulation and sensory supports

How can I fund speech pathology support?

Several funding options for therapy may go towards the cost of speech pathology support, among them the NDIS, Medicare and private health insurance.

What areas do you service?

We service areas around:

And more!

Other ways we can help your child

Occupational Therapy

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Speech Pathology

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Feeding Therapy

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Group Programs

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Orofacial Therapy

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Key Worker Service

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Allied Health Assistants

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Support Work

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Why families choose Inner West Paediatrics

Reliable support

We’ve supported over 5,000 children and families since 2015, and we bring that experience to every session.

Care across disciplines

With a range of services under one roof, we can support your child across multiple areas of need.

Flexible ways to access therapy

At home, at school, in childcare or online, our team is here to support your child in the setting that suits them.

Support your child's communication with speech therapy in Petersham

Communication looks different for every child, and that’s exactly how it should be. Some children need just a little extra support, others have more complex needs, and our experienced speech pathologists are ready for both. By teaming up with your family and building on your child’s strengths, we provide practical, evidence-based support that helps them connect confidently day to day.