Meet our team


Dr. Tessa Weadman
Director and Owner

Tessa is the new owner of The Little Bookworm. She took over the business from Dr. Michelle O'Brien at the beginning of 2023. She currently works part-time at The Little Bookworm. She also works at La Trobe University as a lecturer and researcher in the School of Education.

Tessa recently completed her PhD, exploring the role of early childhood teachers in supporting preschoolers' oral language and emergent literacy skills using shared book reading.

Tessa has experience working with children across a range of clinic, school and kindergarten-based settings. Her main clinical experiences including supporting students with literacy and learning difficulties (reading, writing, spelling, reading comprehension and phonemic awareness). She also works with children with speech and language difficulties, and children with autism.

Tessa is a member of Speech Pathology Australia. She is trained in Sounds-Write, SRSD, Talk for Writing, The Writing Revolution, The Lidcombe Program (therapy for preschool children who stutter), Key Word Sign, and Picture Exchange Communication System (PECS).

She has a strong passion for working collaboratively with families to provide evidence-based therapy, whilst maintaining a fun and friendly approach.




Dr. Michelle O'Brien
Senior Certified Practising Speech Pathologist

Michelle is a Certified Practicing Speech Pathologist, a member of Speech Pathology Australia and the founder of The Little Bookworm. She works part-time at The Little Bookworm (Wednesday to Saturday).

She has 30 + years experience as a paediatric speech language pathologist, working with children and their families in early intervention (children 0-6) and with children in schools. Her background includes working with children with underlying physical and/or intellectual disabilities, and also children with developmental speech and language delays and disorders, and literacy difficulties. In addition, she has previously worked at La Trobe University as a lecturer and researcher.

Her clinical skills and experience are in the following areas:

- Speech development and disorders (delayed speech, disordered or distorted speech, dyspraxia (difficulty with coordinating oral muscles to form speech sounds), dysarthria (difficulties with muscle tone - low tone resulting in floppy muscles, or high tone resulting in very tight muscles and the impact of muscle tone on speech);
- Language development and disorders (children late to begin talking, difficulties with any aspect of spoken language development such as spoken grammar, vocabulary, narrative and conversation skills);
- Autism spectrum disorders including children from mild disorders, to children who have no speech;
- Pre-literacy skills (oral vocabulary, phonological awareness - the ability to identify words in sentences and part words (sounds and syllables) in words;
- Parent/child interaction and its impact on early speech, language development, pre-literacy and literacy development; and
- Assisting parents and carers choose books and use book sharing strategies that enhance their child's interest and skills in oral language, pre-literacy and literacy.

Michelle has skills and interests in using up-to-date research evidence to inform her clinical practice.
In addition to her qualifications and experience as a speech pathologist, she is also a parent and Aunty, and has the practical day-to-day experience of managing a household, family and career. As a result of this experience, she understands the importance of incorporating speech and language goals into everyday activities where possible rather than attempting to add them to an already busy day.

Michelle has two gorgeous dogs, Audrey and Henry, who are at the clinic with her (Wednesday - Saturday), helping children to relax, laugh and understand that even dogs can have a different agenda to theirs.




Laura Elder
Senior Certified Practising Speech Pathologist

Laura is a Certified Practicing Speech Pathologist and a member of Speech Pathology Australia. Laura works full time at The Little Bookworm as one of our senior speech pathologists (Monday to Friday). Previously she worked as a Paediatric Speech Language Pathologist in the UK. She moved to Melbourne in late 2018 and has been enjoying working at The Little Bookworm ever since. Laura is passionate about using evidence-based therapy approaches while ensuring therapy sessions are relaxed and fun. She strives to tailor therapy to each child's interests as best she can to keep them motivated and enthusiastic about learning.

Laura has experience working with children requiring support with a range of communication skills including speech sounds, receptive and expressive language skills, and social skills. She has a particular interest in working with children with Autism Spectrum Disorder.

Laura holds a Post-Graduate Degree in Speech and Language Therapy from Queen Margaret University in Edinburgh as well as an Honours degree in Linguistics and Spanish from the University of Edinburgh. She regularly attends professional development events and familiarises herself with current research in order to ensure she is up to date with current evidence which can inform her clinical practice.

Laura is a bubbly team member who loves art, indoor gardening and her adorable cat 'Beans'.




Melissa Anthonisz
Certified Practising Speech Pathologist

Mel works 4 days a week at The Little Bookworm (Monday to Thursday). She has 7 + years of experience working with children and adolescents with language and literacy difficulties. As a former gymnastics coach, she enjoys involving movement and fun in her sessions whenever she can.

Mel is a member of Speech Pathology Australia and holds a Masters Degree in Speech Pathology from the University of Melbourne as well as an undergraduate degree with a major in linguistics. She has experience working with children of various ages in both primary and secondary school. She has also previously had the privilege of working with members of the AFL and VFL to improve their language and literacy skills. You'll recognise Mel from a mile away as being the short therapist with very bright clothing!




Cassie Karanicolos
Certified Practising Speech Pathologist

Cassie is an enthusiastic speech pathologist who works full time at The Little Bookworm (Tuesday to Saturday). Cassie is passionate about providing evidence-based speech pathology services for a range of areas including speech, language, social communication, and literacy. Cassie is a member of Speech Pathology Australia and is also trained in PECS and the Sounds-Write Literacy Program.

Cassie has a background in disability support work, with experience working with children with a range of social and communication needs, including autism. During her studies at Australian Catholic University, she also had the opportunity to participate in a community engagement program in Vietnam/Thailand, and gained knowledge about the culture, as well as the speech pathology and occupational therapy services provided in those countries.

Cassie's bubbly personality and her ability to tailor therapy activities to the child's interests highly motivates children during her sessions. When Cassie isn't working, she enjoys sport, trying new cafe's and restaurants, and spending time with her pet parrot Jerry!







Others who work behind the scenes
We have many other people who work with us to help make The Little Bookworm run smoothly, and we are very grateful for their support. They include:

Wes, bookkeeper from Allied Health Accounting
Shane, handyman from Big Handy