Tania Teitzel - Senior Speech Pathologist & Centre Director B Sp Thy (Hons), MSPA, CPSP

Tania Teitzel established Therapy Matters in 1995 after having worked in the public sector, for Community Health and Disability agencies as well as at the University of Queensland, as a researcher, in the field of speech sound disorders and early literacy development. Tania has interests in the treatment of learning disabilities and complex communication disorders such as childhood apraxia of speech, autism spectrum disorders and developmental disabilities. She has done further training in PROMPT, Hanen ‘It Takes Two to Talk’, Hanen ‘More Than Words’, Hanen 'Talkability', Lidcombe Program, Key Word Signing, PODD, Picture Exchange Communication System (PECS) and Thrass.  She has co-authored two publications: Preschool and Primary Inventory of Phonological Awareness (PIPA) and an Inclusion Resource Guide for Young Children with Disabilities.  Tania regularly presents workshops for parents, educators and colleagues. Tania is a trained Key Word Sign Presenter. Tania has presented at local, national and international conferences on speech sound disorders, language-literacy links and the inclusion of children with disabilities. Tania is a passionate and innovative speech pathologist keen to explore the latest resources and technological advances that help contribute to high quality speech pathology services. Tania sees clients at our West Burleigh clinic from Mondays to Fridays.

Lauren Macintosh - Speech Pathologist B Sp Path MSPA CPSP

Lauren Macintosh comes to Therapy Matters from positions in the Disability Sector and a Private Practice in Sydney. She is particularly focussed on meeting the needs of children with disabilities and children with complex communication needs. Lauren is passionate about working with children, their families and community to provide holistic, client and family centred services.  She enjoys developing fun, creative therapy approaches that consider each child's unique strengths when working to achieve communication goals. Lauren is experienced in applying a wide range of therapy approaches and keeps up to date with the latest in innovation and research. She has completed further training in Hanen 'It Takes Two to Talk', PROMPT, PODD and Key Word Sign approaches. Lauren works at our clinic on Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Fridays as well as at Somerset College on Thursdays. 

Jacqui Sullivan - Speech Pathologist B Sp Path MSPA CPSP

With vast clinical experience working for Montrose Access and the Cerebral Palsy League as well as Education Queensland, Jacqui has treated a great variety of children with unique, complex communication and feeding needs across a range of disabilities.  Treating such specialised caseloads has led Jacqui to pursue a range of additional professional skills in Key Word Sign, augmentative and alternative communication (high and low tech options), PROMPT and DIR Floortime.  Jacqui’s specialty interest areas lie in early intervention with young children with disabilities, augmentative and alternative communication and motor speech disorders.  She is an understanding and supportive therapist who enjoys working together with children and their parents within a family-centred intervention approach. Jacqui is a trained Key Word Sign Presenter.  Jacqui is a strong advocate for creative solutions for children with disabilities that enable them to have a voice to communicate their needs, thoughts and feelings. Jacqui sees clients at our West Burleigh clinic on Tuesdays and Wednesdays. She also visits clients in their homes, early childhood settings, community centres and schools across the Tweed and Murwillumbah areas on Thursdays.

Rachel Fanning - Psychologist B Sc (Psychology)

Rachel has over 20 years experience in supporting children, adolescents and their families. She has previously worked in a range of hospital and community settings within mental health teams.  She has specialist skills in Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT).  She is dedicated to individualising programs for families and promoting good family relationships and emotional well being. Rachel can help with difficulties in the areas of anxiety, phobias, bed wetting, bullying, sleep difficulties, anger management issues, ADD/ADHD, depression, fears, grief and loss, self esteem issues and behavioural difficulties. Rachel leases rooms at our West Burleigh Clinic on Tuesdays and Thursdays. All visits are by appointment only and can be arranged by phoning Rachel directly on 0424944761 or contacting our clinic. 

Tara Calderon - Receptionist & Accounts Manager B Arts (Leisure Studies), Grad Dip (Psychology) and Cert IV Bookkeeping

Tara is our hard-working, friendly and helpful receptionist who works on the desk Mondays and Tuesdays. On Thursdays and Fridays, Tara is our dedicated Accounts Manager. She supports our school based families as well as our HCWA, Better Start and NDIS families manage their accounts and payments. We are fortunate to have Tara bring her talents to Therapy Matters, having worked in a range of industries across Australia, Asia and the USA as a Dance Instructor, Office Manager, Operations Manager, Business Development Manager, Events Manager and Bookkeeper/Payroll Officer. Tara is a mother of two and she also understands the challenges of juggling family comittments. She is happy to help and assist families in whatever way possible.  

Colette Daly - Receptionist Hotel Management

Colette is the kind, caring and helpful receptionist that families will meet on Wednesdays, Thursdays and Fridays. Colette comes to Therapy Matters after working extensively in Australia and New Zealand fulfilling roles in the Hospitality and Mining Sectors. Colette understands the joys and challenges of parenting and she is always welcoming of the big and little people that come to Therapy Matters seeking help. Colette has the lived experience of parenting a child with a disability who has complex communication needs. She looks forward to using that experience to support, understand and help the children and families that seek a service from Therapy Matters.

Leia Wilton - Receptionist/Allied Health Assistant B ManProfSt Cert IV AHA (Speech Pathology)

Leia Wilton is the newest member of our Therapy Matters team. She is the passionate and talkative Allied Health Assistant who helps our speech pathologists behind the scenes, preparing resources for the therapists to use in therapy and looking after our treasured toys so that they are organised, tidy and clean and ready for their most important job, engaging and motivating our clients in therapy. Leia also works on our reception desk on Wednesdays and fortnightly on Thursdays. Leia comes to our clinic having worked in a variety of roles as an administration officer, volunteer fire fighter, small business partner and cleaner. Leia has the lived experience of parenting a child with a disability and it is her experience of bring her own child to speech therapy that ignited her interest in communication disorders. Leia fostered this interest by recently, successfully completing studies to become an allied health assistant in speech pathology. Still seeking more knowledge ... Leia then enrolled in a Bachelor of Speech Pathology degree. She is excited to be already working in the "real world" where she can so readily apply what she is learning at university in order to become a qualified Speech Pathologist in the future. Leia works at Therapy Matters on Wednesdays and Thursdays.