Meet Rowan (Speech Pathologist)

Services offered:

• 1:1 Speech Pathology
• Assessments

Rowan is an experienced Certified Practising Speech Pathologist who has worked in paediatric private practice across Australia and New Zealand. She began her Speech Pathology career in Wellington, supporting children and young adults aged 3 to 25 with disabilities and developmental differences, before moving to Australia and working with children aged 1 to 17.

Rowan has a particular interest in neuroaffirming practice, early language, Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC), gestalt language processing and literacy. She has also completed professional development in culturally informed and neuroaffirming practice, the SCERTS framework, trauma-informed therapy and understanding the communicative intent behind behaviour.

Connection, safety and giving children a genuine voice in therapy are central to Rowan's sessions. Her approach is warm, creative and responsive to each child's interests, communication style, sensory needs and energy on the day. Sessions might involve sitting on the floor for a sensory activity, playing hide-and-seek with speech cards or creating a story together with a soft-toy tea party. Rowan also incorporates choices, seeks children's feedback and adapts her approach so children feel heard and supported rather than pushed through a predetermined agenda.

Most of all, Rowan loves seeing the wins that help children feel more confident and empowered to share what they want, think and feel — whether that's a new word, sound or sign, a first intentional phrase using AAC, or a family gaining a better understanding of their child's communication and how they can support them.

•  Early language and communication
• Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC)
• Gestalt language processing
• Literacy development
• Neuroaffirming communication support
• Supporting children to understand and advocate for themselves

 "Therapy is here to give you extra tools and ideas to support your child and family in reaching your goals, in ways that fit naturally into your routines. Drawing on time spent with your child, your guidance and my clinical knowledge, I aim to create a supportive partnership where we work together towards meaningful progress." 

Outside of Playology, Rowan enjoys playing guitar, writing poetry, board games and Dungeons & Dragons, seeing live music and spending time in nature. She can also make up a silly song or poem about almost any topic on the fly. Her bucket list includes skydiving, learning to surf and, one day, having a patch of land with fruit trees and a beehive. 

Creative   •   Warm   •   Genuine