For over 23 years, Fiona Ann / Director of Communicate Connect, has delivered professional, person centred, holistic assessment and therapy to children and adults within all areas of need.

Since 2013, Communicate Connect / Ability for Disability has delivered valued and experienced speech pathology services to all age groups, with a predominant focus on adolescents and adults. Fiona has worked in private practice since 1998. We have delivered individualised care with a person centred focus in order to achieve the best outcome for our clients. We pride ourselves in being able to support our clients to develop better communication to support social connection, relationships, develop choice making skills, to be able to participate in the community and communicate needs and wants and to be able to consumes foods and drinks in a safe manner. The Communication Connect team are experienced in being able to assess swallowing function taking into consideration all aspects affecting the person; quality of life, decision making capacity, risk feeding and all allied health goals which usually involves open discussion and team management. Our team work closely with doctors, medical specialists, dietitians from a number of practices, occupational therapists, physiotherapists, psychologists, team leaders, persons responsible and support workers in the assessment and management of swallowing impairment.

Our team consists of four speech pathologists (all female) with unique skill sets and experience as well as two reception staff. We offer both ‘in clinic' sessions in our newly re-furbished professional practice rooms as well as offering school and home visits. We realise that home visits may not be suitable for everyone and so have invested in creating a warm, homely clinic environment.

We at Communicate Connect have a special interest in working with children and adults with a disability. We are experienced in working with adults with intellectual disability, in the areas of complex communication impairment, non-verbal communicators, alternative augmentative communication, dual diagnosis of intellectual disability / autism / mental health / behaviour (we have a special interest in communication and behaviour as these are so often linked), swallowing impairment (including profound dysphagia) and this includes being a member of a multi-disciplinary team for person centred practice.

Fiona is highly experienced in working with those on the autism spectrum, ranging in age children to adult. In addition to having a Speech Pathology Degree, Fiona has additional degrees in education and is a qualified Primary School Teacher, so has an understanding of language difficulties and their impact in the classroom and which affect your child's learning. Fiona has also completed professional development in the areas of dyslexia and difficulties in literacy. Fiona has been employed at large residential sites and has worked at Stockton, Kanangra, Casuarina Grove and Tomaree. The Communicate Connect team have a large number of clients who have transitioned from large residential sites into group homes / SIL placements and have provided services to assist in ensuring the transition can run as smoothly as possible. We offer training / education sessions in swallowing and meal time management to support our clients and the valued staff and carers that look after them.

Our Aims / Our Focus
Open communication with all stakeholders / significant others to achieve client goals

Client / person centred goals
Functional goals to meet your needs
Multi-disciplinary focus
Promotion of case conferences for all team input into management of swallowing and communication impairment as well as other issues which may arise