Communicate Connect has a dedicated team of six Speech Pathologists, five of which are Senior Speech Pathologists, two Allied Health Assistants (speech pathology students) and two administration staff. We are an outcome based service delivery model where the attainment of client goals is our focus and where our commitment to best practice through professional development as well as our team focus is key to achieving client goals. We pride ourselves in a responsive service that is person centred and offer services to suit our client needs whether this be in our professionally renovated clinic rooms or a service that is brought to you based on your needs.
Senior Speech Language Pathologist
Fiona Ann is a highly experienced Senior Speech Language Pathologist with over 22 years of expertise in the disability and health sectors. She founded Communicate Connect (formerly Ability for Disability) in 2013, and today leads a passionate team of speech pathologists providing support across Lake Macquarie, the Central Coast, and wider NSW.
Fiona holds degrees in Speech Pathology, Education, and Teaching, and has worked across a wide range of settings including hospitals (John Hunter, Rankin Park), schools, community disability services, and residential care. She has a special interest in supporting adolescents and adults with disabilities, particularly in the areas of complex communication and swallowing needs.
Fiona has led major projects in mealtime management and dysphagia, and is experienced in conducting swallowing assessments, developing safe meal plans, and training staff on IDDSI standards. She regularly collaborates with allied health and medical professionals to support safe and person-centred care.
In addition to her clinical work, Fiona is an Accredited Witness Intermediary, assisting vulnerable children giving evidence in court by supporting their communication needs.
Fiona’s dedication to person-first, holistic care stems from her early work as a support worker. She brings compassion, deep clinical knowledge, and decades of hands-on experience to every client and family she works with.
Fiona holds degrees in Speech Pathology, Education, and Teaching, and has worked across a wide range of settings including hospitals (John Hunter, Rankin Park), schools, community disability services, and residential care. She has a special interest in supporting adolescents and adults with disabilities, particularly in the areas of complex communication and swallowing needs.
Fiona has led major projects in mealtime management and dysphagia, and is experienced in conducting swallowing assessments, developing safe meal plans, and training staff on IDDSI standards. She regularly collaborates with allied health and medical professionals to support safe and person-centred care.
In addition to her clinical work, Fiona is an Accredited Witness Intermediary, assisting vulnerable children giving evidence in court by supporting their communication needs.
Fiona’s dedication to person-first, holistic care stems from her early work as a support worker. She brings compassion, deep clinical knowledge, and decades of hands-on experience to every client and family she works with.
Certified Practising Speech Pathologist
Wendy brings over 17 years of experience across both the public health system and private practice. While she primarily works in the public sector, she joined our team in 2020 to support clients with a range of complex needs across the lifespan.
Wendy has experience working with paediatric, adolescent, and adult clients. She has particular expertise in managing complex dysphagia related to neurodegenerative conditions, traumatic or acquired brain injury, developmental disabilities, and post–head and neck surgery care. Wendy is highly skilled in the management of both short- and long-term tracheostomies and is qualified to perform Modified Barium Swallow (MBS) studies.
Her clinical interests also include assessment and therapy for communication disorders such as dysarthria, dysphonia, dyspraxia, cognitive-communication impairments, and the implementation of complex augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) systems.
Wendy is passionate about supporting families and care teams through education and training to promote consistent and effective communication and mealtime strategies.
She provides comprehensive assessments and progress reports, including Mealtime Management Plans, Communication Profiles, tailored therapy programs, and projected speech pathology needs to guide long-term care planning.
Wendy has experience working with paediatric, adolescent, and adult clients. She has particular expertise in managing complex dysphagia related to neurodegenerative conditions, traumatic or acquired brain injury, developmental disabilities, and post–head and neck surgery care. Wendy is highly skilled in the management of both short- and long-term tracheostomies and is qualified to perform Modified Barium Swallow (MBS) studies.
Her clinical interests also include assessment and therapy for communication disorders such as dysarthria, dysphonia, dyspraxia, cognitive-communication impairments, and the implementation of complex augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) systems.
Wendy is passionate about supporting families and care teams through education and training to promote consistent and effective communication and mealtime strategies.
She provides comprehensive assessments and progress reports, including Mealtime Management Plans, Communication Profiles, tailored therapy programs, and projected speech pathology needs to guide long-term care planning.
Certified Practising Speech Pathologist
Hello, my name is Madonna and I am a Speech Pathologist at Communicate Connect / Ability for Disability Speech Pathology. I graduated from The University of Newcastle with Honours.
I am a mum of three children and my speech pathology experience has been both as a clinician and as a parent of children who have benefited from speech pathology.
Each day, I have the pleasure to meet and interact with families, care-givers, staff and our wonderful clients. I support children, teenagers and adults in assessment and therapy, including speech, swallowing, fluency, language, social skills and AAC. I also provide training for parents, staff, and our clients in topics ranging from homework for speech, voice, language and stuttering, and training staff in swallowing.
I manage a wide case-load with a variety of diagnoses including chronic cough, selective mutism, Parkinson's Disease, Angelman's Disease, Cerebral Palsy, Intellectual Disability, ADHD, Autism Spectrum Disorder, Huntington's Disease, Rubinstein-Taybi syndrome, Borjeson-Forssman-Lehmann syndrome, amongst others.
I am a member of our professional body Speech Pathology Australia, and enjoy keeping up with continuous professional development. One of my more recent development experiences was the completion of a swallow course for persons with complex needs, and my next opportunity is an upcoming seminar on adolescents with language disorders.
I enjoy the opportunity to work with clients and their families and care-givers, alongside a range of professionals including other allied health professionals, teachers, GP's, and support staff. This experience has supported furthering my knowledge for clients and in individualising care for each client for their own unique needs. I look forward to welcoming you to our services.
I am a mum of three children and my speech pathology experience has been both as a clinician and as a parent of children who have benefited from speech pathology.
Each day, I have the pleasure to meet and interact with families, care-givers, staff and our wonderful clients. I support children, teenagers and adults in assessment and therapy, including speech, swallowing, fluency, language, social skills and AAC. I also provide training for parents, staff, and our clients in topics ranging from homework for speech, voice, language and stuttering, and training staff in swallowing.
I manage a wide case-load with a variety of diagnoses including chronic cough, selective mutism, Parkinson's Disease, Angelman's Disease, Cerebral Palsy, Intellectual Disability, ADHD, Autism Spectrum Disorder, Huntington's Disease, Rubinstein-Taybi syndrome, Borjeson-Forssman-Lehmann syndrome, amongst others.
I am a member of our professional body Speech Pathology Australia, and enjoy keeping up with continuous professional development. One of my more recent development experiences was the completion of a swallow course for persons with complex needs, and my next opportunity is an upcoming seminar on adolescents with language disorders.
I enjoy the opportunity to work with clients and their families and care-givers, alongside a range of professionals including other allied health professionals, teachers, GP's, and support staff. This experience has supported furthering my knowledge for clients and in individualising care for each client for their own unique needs. I look forward to welcoming you to our services.
Accounts & Admin Manager
Hi, I’m Alison and I am the Accounts/Admin Manager here at Communicate Connect Speech Pathology. I started working at CC Speech in 2016 and have seen it grow from just 3 staff members. I have been in different Administration roles for over 30 years including Finance, Medical Education and now Speech Pathology. I have a special interest in finance, accounts administration, being organised and organising others. I enjoy creating spreadsheets to keep everything running smoothly. My other interests include Dancing, attending local Theatre and Musicals, watching movies and relaxing.
Receptionist
Fiona is our newest Receptionist to join Communicate Connect Speech Pathology. With over 20 years of working in the medical administration industry she brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to the role, most recently as the practice manager for a Surgeon on the Central Coast. She understands the fast pace of a busy medical practice, the need for excellent communication skills, to multitask, prioritise tasks, a keen eye for detail as well as looking after the patients to help them feel comfortable while delivering excellent customer service both face to face and over the phone. She has used various medical software, is very organised and has a proven history of organising and running a busy admin area. She is very friendly and able to relate and make patients feel comfortable.