Meet our Team

OUR DIRECTORS

Kylie Martin Chatter-boxes Speech Pathology

Kylie Martin

Kylie is the founder of the formerly known Chatter-boxes Speech Pathology Services. In 2021, Kylie and Jo established Chatter-boxes Therapy Centre, sharing the vision of a multi-disciplinary approach to supporting children and families with developmental delays and disabilities across the Sunshine Coast. Kylie has been supporting children and families here on the coast, since moving here in 2001. Her reputation of delivering support to families from the heart is echoed from GPs, paediatricians, and most importantly from the the families she has worked alongside over the years. Kylie has a Bachelor of Speech Pathology and a Graduate Certificate in Autism. She has worked with children with complex communication needs for over 20 years and is now involved in complex case management, community support, therapist mentoring and training.

Kylie is invested in the big picture, supporting children, families and communities to do things properly and with love.

Outside of the office, Kylie loves to travel (let's hope the world opens up again), spending time with family, friends and enjoying early morning beach walks with her dog, Xo. 
Jacinta Swan Chattter-boxes Speech Pathology

Jo Emery

Jo is the Co-director of Chatter-boxes Therapy Centre. Formerly a primary school principal, she has 15 years experience supporting teachers, children and families within the educational environment. Jo's family connection with disability and Autism Spectrum Disorder, sits behind her passion to educate, advocate and inspire. 

Jo has a wealth of personal experience and knowledge pertaining to the NDIS and is available to support families to navigate their NDIS journey. Where an NDIS plan is not a match for a child's current circumstances, Jo is available to support families through the review process. 

Jo has a Bachelor of Education and a Graduate Certificate in Autism.  Jo strives to empower schools and families to achieve the true meaning of inclusion for children on the spectrum within our community. Jo believes the key to a child's success in school is collaboration which sounds complex, but it's easy and we can help!

For Jo, 'doing things properly with love' means going the extra mile for our community as she wears the shoes that many parents of disability walk in. 

Three children keep Jo on her toes out of hours, enjoying all the coast offerings. She is also the author of the much loved children's picture book, My Dad is a FIFO Dad, keeping kids and families connected.

SPEECH THERAPY

Nicole Dunn Chatter-boxes Speech Pathology

Nicole Dunn

Nicole is the Lead Speech Pathologist of the generalist team, working across all areas of speech, language, literacy, fluency, and social communication with a special interest in speech sound disorders and Childhood Apraxia of Speech. Nicole is trained in The Lidcombe Program, Sounds-Write, The Zones of Regulation, The Nuffield Centre Dyspraxia Programme, and has completed her level 1 PECS certification. 

Nicole can be known to be the goofball of the office, and extends this love and enjoyment to clients and families within sessions. 

This year, Nicole is focusing on developing her knowledge and skillset around early interaction skills in ASD, as well as assisting others within the team to develop their clinical skills. 

Outside of work, Nicole enjoys baking, spending quality time with friends, and doing CrossFit.
Lauren Hunter-Callogato Chatter-boxes Speech Pathology

Lauren Hunter-Calligaro

Lauren is a Speech Pathologist on our ASD and Complex Team here at Chatter-boxes and works in our Aura and Minyama clinics. She has a heart for helping people to feel valued and appreciated, and this extends beyond our team to our amazing families!

Lauren graduated from James Cook University (Townsville) and previously worked for a private practice in North Queensland, before moving to the Sunshine Coast for a sea-change. Lauren is passionate about helping our clients to achieve their full potential, and is trained in Hanen – It Takes Two to Talk, PROMPT, PECS, and the Sounds-Write (literacy program).

While Lauren navigates a full caseload, she also supports students to complete Speech Pathology placements with Chatter-boxes, and manages our social media presence.

For Lauren, “doing things properly with love” means showing up every day and combining a brave heart with clinical expertise to ensure our families feel a part of “our” family.
Lauren Hunter-Callogato Chatter-boxes Speech Pathology

Anja Labuscagne

Anja is the resident new-graduate speechie who joined Chatter-Boxes in January 2022. She completed her Speech Pathology Honours degree at Central Queensland University in the hot and steamy Rockhampton. She is part of the generalist team and is currently working to support her clients with speech sounds, language, social communication, and literacy. 

Anja completed her Sounds Write certification, allowing her to use a comprehensive, evidence-based approach to phonics and literacy. She is interested in further developing her skillset in speech sound and early language intervention. 

Outside of work, you can find her trying new recipes, exploring new additions to Netflix, or traveling between Lismore and Rockhampton to visit family. 

"Doing things properly with love means to combine our clients' needs with relevant evidence and our own passion for speech pathology to make sure we deliver the best service possible."
Lauren Hunter-Callogato Chatter-boxes Speech Pathology

Eliza Jorgensen

Eliza is currently on maternity leave. We look forward to Eliza re-joining our team mid 2024.
Lauren Hunter-Callogato Chatter-boxes Speech Pathology

Nicole Amos


Lauren Hunter-Callogato Chatter-boxes Speech Pathology

Christie Gicquel

Christie joined the Chatter-Boxes team in January 2023 as a Speech Pathologist after completing her Master of Speech Pathology at Griffith University, and previously her undergraduate degree in Psychology at the University of the Sunshine Coast. 

Christie is currently working as part of the generalist team supporting her clients and their families in the areas of speech, language, stuttering, social communication, and literacy. Christie is passionate about walking alongside families and clients each step of the way, and tailoring therapy to be an enjoyable and supportive experience for both children and their families.

Christie has recently completed training in the Lidcombe Program, specific for children with a stutter. She will also be completing further training in SoundsWrite this year, to further her skillset in supporting children in the area of literacy.

Christie values supporting children to reach their fullest potential so that they can engage meaningfully in their world. For Christie, doing things properly with love means going the extra mile for children and families, and striving to meet them where they are to support them to where they would like to be.

Outside of work, you’ll find Christie on bushwalks, reading, listening to music… and singing all the words wrong!
Lauren Hunter-Callogato Chatter-boxes Speech Pathology

Grace Elliston

Grace is a Speech Pathologist on our generalist team who started working at Chatter-Boxes at the start of May last year when she relocated from Brisbane to the Sunshine Coast.
 
Grace has previously worked for Language Disorder Australia (formerly Speech and Language Development Australia), a unique school for children with language disorders. Grace also has experience working in NDIS assisting a wide range of clients with speech, language, swallowing, literacy, and social communication difficulties.
 
Grace is about to complete Hanen more than words training in the coming months to further support younger clients in the area of social communication.
 
Grace finds fulfillment and immense satisfaction working with children and supporting them to reach their goals. Doing things properly and with love to Grace means collaboration and building connections to empower the children and families she supports to help them achieve their full potential.
 
She is passionate about establishing strong relationships with her clients and their families to ensure consistent, continuous and committed progress.
 
Outside of work, Grace loves being at the beach, reading and catching up with friends.

OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY

Lauren Hunter-Callogato Chatter-boxes Speech Pathology

Mel Johnson

Mel is one of our Occupational Therapists who work in our Aura clinic. Mel graduated from the University of Queensland in 2011 and has worked in Paediatrics since.  She has worked in a range of settings including private practice, and educational settings. Mel has experience working with, and in-depth understanding of the needs of families and children across all areas of development.

She is trained in, and utilises a range of approaches including DIRFloortime©, Learn to Play, SOS Feeding Therapy, trauma, co-regulation, and the CO-OP approach.

Mel has a passion for working with children to develop their confidence in themselves, their abilities, and what they  can achieve. She is dedicated to a holistic approach for her clients and families and is always working towards implementing best practice approaches with a strengths-based focus to real-world contexts.

Her professional focus for the year ahead is continuing to develop her clinical skill set for empowering and educating neuro-diverse children, and assisting their families, and educators utilise strengths based approaches to help children thrive.
Lauren Hunter-Callogato Chatter-boxes Speech Pathology

Tash Christie

Tash is one of our Occupational Therapists working in the Minyama clinic. She graduated from the University of the Sunshine Coast with a Bachelor of Occupational Therapy (Honours). Tash has experience working with children and adults to support them to participate in meaningful everyday activities that they need, like and want to do.

Tash is passionate about delivering a holistic, strengths-based approach that encompasses whole person wellbeing, within a variety of environmental contexts including home, school and the community. Tash is dedicated to incorporating evidence-based practice to empower children to develop increased confidence and independence. Tash is trained in the CO-OP approach (Cognitive Orientation to Daily Occupational Performance), and the DIR Floortime (R) approach (Levels 101 and 201), and is a certified LEGO (R) Based Therapy Facilitator. 

For Tash, doing thing properly with love means working collaboratively alongside families so that they feel valued, supported and cared for.
Lauren Hunter-Callogato Chatter-boxes Speech Pathology

Lucy Anderson

Lucy is an Occupational Therapist who joined our team in January 2023 and will be working across both our Aura and Minyama clinics. Lucy graduated with her Bachelor’s of Occupational Therapy (Honours) degree at the University of the Sunshine Coast in 2022. 

Lucy has previous experience working with children with autism in both clinical and educational settings. Lucy has recently completed ‘The Art of Paediatric Therapy’ professional development, providing her with a comprehensive foundation in working as a paediatric Occupational Therapist.

Lucy is looking forward to continuing to expand her skillset across all areas of development to support families in their therapy journey. Lucy is passionate about supporting children in increasing their independence across all areas of their life and celebrating the wins along the way!  

For Lucy, doing things properly with love means putting 100% into everything and working collaboratively with families and children to achieve their goals.

When not at work, you can find Lucy at the beach, drinking coffee, and spending quality time with family, friends and her dog. Lucy also enjoys travelling back to the UK to visit family.

FEEDING THERAPY

Lauren Hunter-Callogato Chatter-boxes Speech Pathology

Jess Wilson

Jess is our very own feeding therapist based at our Aura clinic. Jess is passionate about constantly updating her professional knowledge and development within the peadiatric feeding scope of practice.  She loves learning and enjoys the growing challenge and need for new skills. This not only benefits her, but also really benefits her clients.

To Jess, doing things properly with love means, not just going through the motions and ticking boxes to get something completed, but understanding that there are clients and families who are all unique and have a unique set of circumstances, so catering each session to them and not just going with a one-size-fits-all approach. They all deserve the best of us so we can help them achieve and realise their goals and potential.

When not at work Jess loves spending time with her partner and two sons. Other than enjoying her recent discovery of reformer Pilates, she also gets in plenty of exercise picking lego and transformer toys off the floor.  Jess also loves drinking coffee and reading a good book. 

PLAY THERAPY

Bridget McKeith Chatter-boxes Speech Pathology

Bridget McKeith

Bridget is a qualified Play Therapist. After earning her master’s degree at Deakin University. After a vast amount of experience working with children in education over the past 13 years, she decided she wanted to change her area of focus, to a more holistic therapeutic approach.

Bridget has a special interest in working with preschool children who present with anxiety, dysregulation, and attachment disruption concerns. She is also a trained and qualified Learn 2 Play Therapist and is accomplished in helping children to establish and support the building blocks of play which are necessary for mastery of more complex play skills that contribute to social, emotional, and cognitive development.

Bridget believes child development is influenced by family and community, as well as life experiences and the way in which these have been processed and understood by the child. She finds the best part of her job is getting to know the families she is working with, building a strong rapport with both the child and parents.

PSYCHOLOGY

Benita Philipson psychologist Chatter-boxrs

Benita Philipson

Benita is a passionate Psychologist working at our Minyama clinic. Her aim is to empower children, young people and their families to reach their potential of social, emotional and behavioural functioning. To achieve this, Benita works with children and young people in partnership with families and carers using evidenced based interventions to achieve positive outcomes. 

Please note that Benita is not taking on new clients.

She is "strengths-based" and believe in working with each child and teen to enhance the wellbeing of the individuals and their families. 
She is registered with the Australia Health Practitioner Agency and Medicare. 

She has extensive experience working in children, adolescents and families with intellectual impairment, Learning disorders, ADHD, Autism, Anxiety Disorders, Adjustment Disorders, Resilience, self esteem and skills building. Reducing worries, managing emotions, learning social and friendship skills, improving mood and creating positive behaviour change are just some of the areas of expertise. 
Benita Philipson psychologist Chatter-boxrs

Gabrielle Acton

Gabrielle is our general Psychologist working from both or Minyama and Aura clinics. Gabrielle graduated from the University of the Sunshine Coast with a Bachelors of Psychology (Honours) in 2019 and has now completed her internship to become a General Psychologist. Gabrielle has experience working across the lifespan with individuals aged from 3 to 100 years. Gabrielle has worked with anxiety, depression, grief, adjustment, anger management, Autism, ADHD, and many more presentations. Gabrielle has recently found her passion is with working with children and is excited to be able to spend her time helping children and their families to reach their full potential. 

To Gabrielle, doing things properly with love means embracing everyone’s differences and providing the children and their families with a safe space to learn and grow. 

When not at work, Gabrielle enjoys nature walks, baking and reading books.

ALLIED HEALTH ASSISTANTS

Lisa Gadsby Chatterboxes Speech Pathology

Lisa Rielly

Lisa Gadsby Chatterboxes Speech Pathology

Kayla Crawford

Kayla is currently on maternity leave and we look forward to her re-joining our AHA team early 2024.
Lisa Gadsby Chatterboxes Speech Pathology

Sam Forlonge

Sam is an Allied Health Assistant working out of the Minyama clinic. Sam has over 15 years' experience working in Early Childhood as a room leader with a variety of ages and running her own Family Day care business for over 5 years. Sam has commenced her Bachelor of Health Science/Masters of Speech and Language degree, and a Cert 4 in Allied Health to further her interests and knowledge on working with children in the field of Speech and Language. Sam recently became trained in Sounds Write, a literacy program which will enable Sam to focus on reading, writing and spelling skills. 

Sam believes in doing everything with love and connection when working with children. This means bringing her knowledge and enthusiasm to each session and ensure the children and families have fun and feel supported.         

When Sam is not at work she is off enjoying sporting activities with her family or playing tennis with her friends, and camping holidays.

ADMINISTRATION

Lisa Gadsby Chatterboxes Speech Pathology

Nina Emmerson

Nina joined the Chatter-Boxes Administration team back in 2015. While starting in payroll, Nina has also taken on other finance, reception and administration tasks during her time with us. Nina has a Bachelor of Business with a double major in Economics and Marketing and has worked as an Advertising rep for a print media company in Regional Victoria, before moving to the Sunshine Coast. 

For Nina, doing things properly with love, means making sure each person who walks through our doors, whether child or parent, feels valued and welcomed in our space. Nina loves seeing the smiles on our little peoples faces and celebrating their wins with their parents. 

When not in our Minyama office, Nina can be found drinking good coffee with friends, exploring the hinterland with her husband on the back of a motorbike and spending time with her two daughters, usually watching Bluey. Her favourite place on earth is the Noosa National Park and she loves our Sunshine Coast community. 
Kerrie O'Brien Chatter-boxes Speech Pathology

Bec 




Kerrie O'Brien Chatter-boxes Speech Pathology

Kerrie Lander




PRACTICE MANAGER

Lisa Gadsby Chatterboxes Speech Pathology

Elaine van Heerden

Elaine joined the Chatter-Boxes Administration team shortly after moving to the Sunshine Coast from New Zealand.  Elaine has a Bachelor of Health Sciences and a Certificate in Medical Terminology. Since completing her studies, she has worked in a range of administrational settings from a personal training studio to overseeing and coordinating a national supply-chain workshop.

For Elaine, doing things properly with love, means to always be the listing and understanding ear. 
All though new to the paediatric setting, she enjoys working with clients, both children and parents to create a supportive and welcoming environment.  

When not at our Minyama reception, Elaine likes to spend time with her husband and 2 year old, getting to know the Sunshine Coast. Going on outdoor adventures with her two Rhodesian Ridgebacks and enjoys blogging about her baking antics.
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