Meet our team
Olivia Rayner
Senior Speech Pathologist
Director of Now We're Talking
"I am so thrilled to be doing something I love, in a community that I love! I am incredibly fortunate to be in a position to positively affect a person's life, to give them a voice and the ability to communicate!"
Olivia has completed a Bachelor of Speech Pathology at The Australian Catholic University and has also completed a Bachelor of Psychology Applied Science at RMIT University. She received the Executive Dean's commendation upon completing her Speech Pathology degree for her outstanding performance and in achieving a high grade point average.
Olivia is a Certified Practising Speech Pathologist (CPSP), and a member of Speech Pathology Australia and has had clinical experience in the assessment, diagnosis and intervention a wide range of practice areas, for both adult and paediatric clients.
Olivia's clinical experience ranges from a variety of settings including Community Health in Early Intervention, adult Community Rehabilitation, private practice and work in the primary school and kindergarten settings. She specialises in paediatric and adult speech sound production and associated oro-facial myology, as well as language development and disorders, and stuttering. Olivia is a Neuroaffirming clinician and enjoys working and supporting a neurodiverse population and their families.
Olivia is a positive and enthusiastic clinician and is passionate about helping others and making a difference by instilling confidence in each individual she works with. She believes that creating a fun and safe environment, tailored to each individual, is essential for their growth and progress. She applies a strength-based approach, building on the principles of positive psychology and helping the client understand how high they can reach with the right support, as well as providing them with the skills to independently reach beyond that point.
Olivia feels it is important to help educate families and share her knowledge on how they can facilitate the same learning and progress the client further at home so that you can have a seamless journey with Now We're Talking Speech Pathology and Psychology.
Olivia is Lidcombe trained and has participated in a number of professional development courses surrounding the forever adapting Neuroaffirming range of practice. She is committed to providing the most up-to-date care for her clients.
Olivia recently won the 2022 ACU Young Alumni of the Year. This award recognises a graduate from any field, who is 35 years old or younger at the time of nomination whose early accomplishments since graduation have led to high achievement in their professional field or community engagement. You can read more about Olivia's achievements in the Speech Pathology Australia's December Magazine here: SpeakOut December Edition.
Olivia is also the founder of an awareness raising campaign called ‘A Night for Aphasia’ (@anightforaphasia) and enjoys this work in addition to running Now We're Talking Speech Pathology and Psychology. Not sure what Aphasia is? Jump on our socials and check it out!!
Now We're Talking emphasises the importance of high quality community based services, specifically tailored to the clients needs and shared goals. We focus on the three C's; Connection, Community and Communication!
Olivia is passionate about the Speech Pathology field and looks forward to working with you or welcoming you into the Now We're Talking clinic.
Clinical Days: Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday
Kimberley Olive
Senior Speech Pathologist
Kimberley is a passionate and dedicated speech pathologist who is committed to developing the communication and social skills of children and young adults. Kimberley believes in the importance of client-centred, evidence-based intervention that helps her clients to reach their full potential. She thoroughly enjoys getting to know her clients and always incorporates their interests into therapy activities. Kimberley believes that building rapport and having fun are the best way to enhance therapy outcomes.
Kimberley is particularly dedicated to the happiness, success and celebration of neurodiverse members of our community. She applies a strength-based approach that presumes competence and respects the value of human diversity.
Kimberley completed her Bachelor of Speech Pathology degree at the Australian Catholic University and is a Certified Practising Member of Speech Pathology Australia. Kimberley has worked across a variety of settings including schools, private practices and homes. She has a keen interest in animal-assisted intervention and sometimes brings her dog, Stanley, into the clinic.
Kimberley has experience providing assessment, treatment and support to children and young adults, including those diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder, Intellectual Disability, Attention Deficit Disorders and Oppositional Defiant Disorder. Kimberley provides therapy for; language delays, dysfluency, speech sound delays, literacy difficulties, emotional regulation challenges and social skills development.
Kimberley and her family love living in the inner west and have also lived in Canada, England, Sri Lanka, Qatar and the UAE. She is kept busy by her two children, but in her spare time she enjoys spending time with friends, going away for weekends, and training her dog, Stanley.
Clinical days: Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday
Jennifer Nguyen
Senior Speech Pathologist
Jennifer has completed a Bachelor of Speech Pathology at The Australian Catholic University and she is a Certified Practising Speech Pathologist (CPSP), and a member of Speech Pathology Australia. Jennifer's clinical experience includes dynamic assessments, planning and delivering of therapy across a range of practice areas for both children and adults.
Jennifer feels passionately about supporting complex communication needs and working with clients and their supports to empower everyone through a strengths-based approach. She feels it is important to educate families and share knowledge, to collaborate, learn, grow and create strong working alliance as a team. Jennifer is a strong believer in co-creating person-centred strategies, empowering others to feel confident to play active roles in their goals and creating meaningful change.
Jennifer has experience working within schools, kindergartens and supporting participants who access the NDIS. Her passion includes working with clients with complex communication needs, augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) users and has completed professional development courses to continually adapt and amend strategies to best support her client's needs and goals.
Clinical days: Monday to Thursday
Bec Graham
Senior Speech Pathologist
Bec is a transdisciplinary-trained therapist committed to delivering innovative and accessible speech therapy services. Bec is passionate about building trust, mutual respect and collaboration with her clients to share in decision-making and planning for their care.
Bec’s approach is built on the insights gained from years of professional involvement in the Department of Education (in both Specialist and Mainstream schools), Child and Adult Disability Services, Early Childhood Intervention, and work with the NDIS.
Bec completed her Master of Speech Pathology at La Trobe University and is a Certified Practising Member of Speech Pathology Australia.
Bec is currently specialising in supporting clients with fluency difficulties such as stuttering. She is passionate about ensuring clients feel confident in their speech and that families are empowered to help achieve this goal. Bec is fortunate to have experience in a variety of interventions that enable her to support clients from the preschool years all the way into adulthood. Bec is formally certified in The Lidcombe Program for Stuttering Intervention.
Beyond the clinic, Bec enjoys spending time with her family and friends, learning new skills (currently learning Auslan!) and keeping active through running, hiking and gymnastics!
Clinical days: Thursday
Esta Williams
Speech Pathologist
Esta completed a Bachelor of Applied Science and Master of Speech Pathology at La Trobe University. She is a Certified Practising Speech Pathologist (CPSP) and a current member of Speech Pathology Australia.
Esta is committed to creating a warm and welcoming therapy environment that is tailored to the individual needs of her clients. She places great emphasis on incorporating clients' strengths and interests into therapy, making each session engaging and meaningful. Esta takes an evidence-based, client-centred approach to therapy to empower her clients and their families to reach their goals.
Esta is passionate about forming positive relationships, and values the importance of collaborating with families, caregivers, and other professionals to deliver comprehensive care that fosters positive outcomes.
When not working, Esta loves staying active at the gym, spending time at the beach, learning new things and exploring local cafes and restaurants with family and friends.
Clinical days: Thursday and Friday
Manelle Al-Hakkani
Speech Pathologist
Manelle is a Certified Practicing Speech Pathologist who has completed her Masters in Speech Pathology at La Trobe University.
Manelle loves working with children. This, combined with her belief that great communication is a core foundational skill for later success, is what inspired her to pursue a career in Speech Pathology.
She has a particular passion for Speech Sound Disorders and Stuttering.
Manelle is a friendly, community-oriented individual who is always happy to meet new people and be a part of making a difference in their communication goals.
In her spare time, Manelle loves to contribute to the community, spend time in the gym and she is always up for an outing to dinner!
Clinical days: Monday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday
Speech Pathologist
New speechie coming soon!
Sara Alic
Speech Pathologist
Sara completed a Bachelor of Speech Pathology at the Australian Catholic University and is a Certified Practising Speech Pathologist.
Sara has experience working with children and adolescents across a variety of settings including primary school, highschool, hospitals and private practice. Sara is passionate about working with children and their families and committed to providing therapy that is fun, family centred, neuro affirming and tailored towards a child’s communication needs.
Sara has a particular interest in language, literacy, fluency and social skills development. In addition to this Sara has also completed further training in the Lidcombe Program (fluency) and Sounds-Write literacy intervention program. Sara also enjoys supporting the neurodiverse population and their families to help reach their communication goals.
Prior to becoming a Speech Pathologist Sara volunteered at the Royal Children’s Hospital whereby she supported children and their families and collaborated with medical staff. This is where she discovered her passion in working with children.
In her spare time Sara enjoys playing soccer, cooking, camping and exploring new places with her family!
Clinical days: Monday and Tuesday - Telehealth
Luke Dunstan
Speech Pathologist
Luke is a recent Bachelor of Speech Pathology graduate from Australian Catholic University. He is a Certified Practicing Speech Pathologist (CPSP) and current member of Speech Pathology Australia.
Luke spent 2023 working as an Allied Health Assistant and Student Speech Pathologist for Now We’re Talking where he gained valuable first-hand experience working with both adult and paediatric clients, in-person and via Telehealth. This supplemented his final-year university placements, where he completed professional placement experiences at St. Vincent’s Hospital Melbourne and the Royal Children’s hospital working with acute stroke, cardiac, cleft and velopharyngeal insufficiency (VPI) caseloads.
Luke is a big believer in making therapy an engaging & rewarding experience for everyone involved, and prides himself on building a relationship with the clients he’s working with. He loves seeing growth in those his clients and strives to ensure the therapy he provides makes a meaningful difference.
Beyond his time at the clinic, you might find Luke at a trivia night, playing guitar and writing music, barracking for the Western Bulldogs at the footy or playing board games with his friends.
Clinical days: Monday to Thursday
Stephanie Zaharis
Speech Pathologist
Stephanie is a recent Master of Speech Pathology graduate from La Trobe University. She is a Certified Practicing Speech Pathologist (CPSP) and current member of Speech Pathology Australia. She has previously completed a Bachelor of Arts with a double major in Psychology and Linguistics, where she found her passion for Speech Pathology.
During her university placements, Steph has had experience working with children and adults in a range of settings including public hospitals, primary schools, childcare centres, and community health centres. Throughout her studies, Steph has found a particular interest in speech sound disorders, language development, and literacy.
Steph feels passionate about providing therapy that is exciting and engaging for clients, and enjoys doing so in her local community. She believes it is important to build supportive relationships with clients and their families in order to achieve therapy goals.
In her spare time, Steph enjoys travelling, seeing friends and family, and spending time with her kitten, Maisie.
Clinical days: Tuesday- Friday
Anna Lennon
Qualified School Teacher
Now We're Ready-
School Readiness + Tutoring
A highly qualified and experienced Teacher, Anna is known for a combination of holistic teaching skills, leadership and interpersonal strengths. Anna has a strong background in Curriculum Development and Implementation, Program/ Project Management, Assessment and Data Analyses, Parental and Community Involvement, Classroom Management, Relationship Building and Administration gained from several years' employment history in academic (internationally and locally) sports and recreation sectors. Anna is recognised for successfully developing and delivering a multitude of learning materials and activities that enhance learning, utilising a student-focused approach. She is a hardworking and innovative professional who can easily utilise her instructional talents to support learners with diverse learning needs in a safe and nurturing environment.
As a qualified teacher, Anna has spent the last ten years teaching Kinder Gym at LFK. Building strength, coordination, balance and agility to children between the age of 2-5. Giving them confidence in their bodies to really be prepared for their transition in to school life. For those who have been involved with Kinder Gym, know that the social interactions the children learn through the program are just as important as the physical elements. Anna builds great rapport with the children and is able to steer them in the right direction giving them the right encouragement to extend their comfort zone. Individual milestones are celebrated and everyone is delightful to see the pride and confidence grow week by week.
Anna’s four children have helped her stay on top of what is expected in primary and secondary education settings. Anna is also heavily involved in Surf Lifesaving, having run the Nipper and Training Programs at the Wye River Surf Lifesaving Club over the past ten years. She is also very community minded, caring and thoughtful. She is extremely positive and with her ‘can do’ attitude anything is possible.
Anna has developed a school readiness program that will introduce students to the concepts of school life. Anna loves working with children, her natural ability to build rapport, enables for a very safe environment for children to build trust and confidence. The program includes academic, social and organisational elements, which will help develop skills that will assists in the transition to “big school” seamless.
Anna also has a Diploma of Linguistics and has recently completed a Multisensory course with the Institute of Multisensory Language Education and is equipped with the skills and knowhow to work with children with dyslexia, teaching them to maximise their individual learning style and give them confidence to achieve success in and out of the classroom.
Anna works with children, guiding them through a structured reading program, forming the building blocks of a successful reader and writer, which transcends way further into all the curriculum areas. There is nothing like a confident student who believes in themselves and has the humility to help themselves and others to achieve their best.
Clinical days: Monday and Thursday
Nicole Asher
Practice Manager
Nicole has worked for many years in senior managerial roles for a large corporate organisation before making the move into the world of Allied Health. Nicole has become a highly skilled Administrator working for the past 5 years across two Paediatric Psychology practices in Melbourne where she has gained valuable experience in the daily operations and running of an Allied Health Practice. Nicole has loved the change from the corporate world to a smaller business, feeling like she’s contributing in a big way and really loves helping to make a difference in people’s lives. Nicole feels privileged that she is now able to transfer her extensive skills to her role as Practice Manager at ‘Now We’re Talking’. Nicole loves a chat and has a friendly smile that is warm and welcoming.
When not at work, Nic enjoys being a busy mum to two boys- 14 & 12, is an avid tennis player and enjoys spending time catching up with friends over dinner and drinks, and the occasional boogie on the dancefloor!!
Clinic days: Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday
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Leisha Campbell
Senior Receptionist
Leisha is a skilled Medical Receptionist, well versed in patient-focused service with genuine empathy and interest in their needs and has been working as a Medical receptionist in Williamstown for the last three years.
“I feel so lucky to have found a role that I not only get to work with and meet new people everyday but make visiting this Now We’re Talking a calm, safe and supported experience for clients and their families. I love living and working in our lovely Western Suburbs Community. When not working, I am happiest spending time with my Husband, my two teenage daughters & not to forget our dog Alfie!”
Clinic days: Monday, Wednesday and Thursday's.
Susan Johnson
Receptionist
Susan is a keen all rounder that has been a part of the real estate industry for the past 25 years. A local born and bred, her passion and dedication has been providing exceptional customer service and helping others.
After beginning her career as a receptionist, Susan is excited to be a part of the Now We’re Talking Team with her aim to display her communication, multi tasking and social skills to everyone that walks through the door.
In her spare time Susan is spending time with her gorgeous family - husband Nathan, three daughters Maya, Zara and Ruby and a cavoodle puppy named Buddy. She attends pilates and loves being an active member in our fabulous community.
Clinic days: Wednesday and Friday
Emily Campbell
Receptionist
This info is on the way!
Kate Mitchell
Allied Health Assistant and
Student Speech Pathologist
Kate is currently completing her final year of Speech Pathology at Australian Catholic University, she is a dedicated and enthusiastic fourth year student. Excited to contribute her skills as an Allied Health Assistant at Now We're Talking, Kate is truly passionate about the field of speech pathology. She finds it rewarding to engage with clients, build meaningful relationships, and make a positive impact on their lives. Eager to learn and grow, Kate looks forward to gaining valuable insights from her experienced colleagues at Now We're Talking.
Throughout her academic journey, Kate has undertaken placements across various settings, including schools, community clinics, and aged care facilities. These placements have allowed her to work with individuals experiencing Dysphagia, Aphasia, Parkinson's Disease, Dementia, and Speech Disorders. Alongside her academic pursuits, Kate has contributed to the education sector as a Teacher Aide in the Williamstown area during the past three years.
In her spare time, Kate loves catching up with her friends and family, going to the movies and her passion is travelling to new destinations around the world.
Kate's journey in speech pathology is marked by a commitment to making a positive impact on the lives of others. She brings not only her academic knowledge and previous work experience to our clinic, but also a warm and friendly approach to her work.
Clinical Days: Wednesday and Saturday
Stephanie Davis
Allied Health Assistant and
Student Speech Pathologist
Stephanie is in her fourth and final year of a bachelor of Speech Pathology at Australian Catholic University (ACU). She is excited to work alongside experienced speech pathologists to further broaden her skills and knowledge as an Allied Health Assistant.
Throughout her first three years at university, she has gained experience working with adults and children in a range of placement opportunities. This includes providing assessments and intervention at Cana Catholic Primary School, Hillside. She also provided treatment for adults with Aphasia post-stroke, Cognitive impairment, and Parkinson’s Disease at the ACU Health Clinic.
Steph has previous paediatric work experience as an Allied Health Assistant (AHA), where she facilitated social skills programs for Autistic clients, and conducted childcare and clinic sessions, to help promote play skills, social communication, literacy, expressive and receptive language.
Steph's career ambition is to help others improve their quality of life by enhancing and enriching the way and means by which they communicate. She finds it truly rewarding seeing clients achieve their goals and develop meaningful relationships with them and their families.
Steph is an avid Western bulldog’s supporter having grown up in the West and is also a big foodie and love trying new restaurants with her friends. Steph loves to travel and has big dreams to travel the world in the future.
Clinical days: Wednesday and Saturday
Sarah Terret
Allied Health Assistant and
Student Speech Pathologist
Sarah is currently in her final year of Speech Pathology at Australian Catholic University. Sarah is excited to join the Now We’re Talking team as an Allied Health Assistant to be able to learn and expand her knowledge as a Speech Pathologist.
Through her academics at the Australian Catholic University, Sarah has had experience in adult and paediatric environments in both clinics and schools. These experiences involved a number of ranges of practice including; language, articulation and Aphasia. Throughout these placements, Sarah was able to conduct assessments and provide intervention in a fun and engaging manner tailored to the clients therapy goals and functional needs.
Sarah prides herself on building positive relationships with clients. Outside of Speech Pathology work, Sarah enjoys dancing, reading and baking. She also has a love for learning new languages and tries to study them in her spare time.
Clinical days: Friday and Saturday