ABOUT US

We are passionate about delivering a holistic, evidence-based and client-centred service. We believe no two children are the same and aim to offer an individualised plan to support your child’s needs.

Experience has shown us that children enjoy learning in their natural environment. Tree House Speech Pathology provides a mobile service, whereby therapy can be conducted at:

  • Home
  • Childcare
  • School

WHY US

OUR TEAM

Rayyan Yasseen | Speech Pathologist

B.Spch.Pth, MSPA CPSP

Rayyan is a Certified Practising Speech Pathologist and a member of Speech Pathology Australia. She enjoys working with children as young as 1 year of age. She is passionate about working collaboratively with children and their support networks. 

Rayyan has experience working with children with complex communication needs and diagnoses including Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), Cerebral Palsy, Microcephaly and Down Syndrome. She particularly has an interest in ASD, language delays, and speech sound difficulties associated with cleft. 

She has experience working in a range of settings including private practice, school, childcare and social skills group. She is a strong advocate for a child’s communication needs. Rayyan is proactive in communicating with educators, providing them with necessary tools and strategies in the class room to facilitate a child’s communication and learning.

Rayyan is a board member of Global Smile Foundation (GSF) Australia. GSF is a not-for-profit organisation that provides comprehensive care to alleviate the suffering in patients with congenital facial deformities including cleft lip and palate in developing countries. She travels with GSF to countries including Ecuador and Lebanon to provide Speech Pathology intervention.

Rayyan continually maintains evidence-based practice through ongoing professional development. She has completed several courses including Picture Exchange Communication System (PECS), DIR 101 Introduction to DIR® and DIRFloortime®, SOS Approach to Feeding and LEGO®-Based Therapy. 

When not at work, Rayyan enjoys cooking new recipes and going on adventures with her husband and daughter. 

Shima Jafari | Speech Pathologist

B. App. Sc (SpPath), MSPA CPSP

Shima has a masters in Speech-Language Pathology from the University of Sydney and has years of clinical experience that has been varied by choice. She enjoys an adventure and has worked across a range of locations including hospitals both in Sydney and rural-remote Australia.

Whilst her passion is helping little ones and their families to meet their communication goals, she has specific interests in Autism Spectrum Disorder, early language (0-3), and literacy during the school aged years.

Shima is also a mum to two little boys which somehow gives her more gusto (you know what they say, if you want something done give it to the busiest person!).
Outside of work, Shima loves getting outdoors with her family and going for a swim

Maysa Eldhaibi | Speech Pathologist

B. App. Sc (SpPath), MSPA CPSP

Maysa is a passionate Certified Practicing Speech Pathologist who has experience working with adults and children from diverse backgrounds and is committed to achieving exceptional outcomes with her clients and families. She completed a Bachelor Of Applied Science (Speech Pathology) at The University Of Sydney and is a member of Speech Pathology Australia.

Maysa has worked with children with special needs and is particularly passionate about advocating for clients of all abilities to assist with their communication needs. She particularly has assisted in seeing clients with various diagnoses including Autism Spectrum Disorder, ADHD, Global Developmental Delay, Intellectual Disability and Child Developmental Disorders.

Maysa has experience working in a variety of settings including school, childcare, aged-care and private practice. Maysa is passionate about collaborative goal-setting with clients and their families, teachers and other health professionals to ensure that her therapy is both functional and in the best interest of the client.

In her spare time, Maysa enjoys cooking, adventuring and spending time with family and friends.

Mariam Kassem | Occupational Therapist

Mariam is a registered Occupational Therapist who is committed to working closely with families using strength based and holistic approaches to ensure children meet their goals. Mariam has bachelors in health science and a masters in occupational therapy from the University of Sydney. She has also undergone key worker training to further support and coach families.

Mariam has worked with children with diagnoses such as Global Developmental Delay (GDD),  Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), Autism Spectrum Disorder, Fragile X and down syndrome. She has a particular interest working with children on fine motor skills, developing independence in the home and other environments, sensory processing as well as play skills. Mariam is passionate about advocating for all children and equipping families with the skills and confidence to do so too.

Mariam has had past experience working in hospitals and rural/remote areas. In her spare time, Mariam likes to stay active, enjoys nature, and spending time with family/friends.

SERVICES

Tree House Speech Pathology provides diagnostic assessment and intervention for children who have difficulty in the following areas

  • Speech: Articulating sounds clearly in words. This includes, children changing one sound for another for e.g. ‘gog’ for ‘dog’ or omitting sounds e.g. ‘poon’ for ‘spoon’
  • Receptive language: Understanding and interpreting words heard or read. This includes, the ability to follow instructions or understand a story
  • Expressive Language: Expressing needs and wants through verbal or nonverbal communication. This includes, the ability to put thoughts into words and sentences in a way that makes sense and is grammatically correct
  • Pragmatics: How language is used in social settings. This includes using language for different reasons, changing language to suit different listeners or situations and following rules for conversations and storytelling
  • Literacy: Skills required to read and write. This includes phonological awareness and phonemic awareness e.g. identifying words that rhyme, identifying syllables in words or segmenting and blending sounds in words. 
  • Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC): Modes of communication other than verbal language for children who have significant difficulties speaking. This includes ‘low tech’ such as picture exchanging and ‘high-tech’ such as speech generating devices. 

FUNDING BODIES

Depending on individual circumstances and your child’s diagnosis, there are a number of funding bodies that can support your access to Speech Pathology.  Therapy services can be funded through the following: 

  • National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) including the Early Childhood Early Intervention (ECEI) approach. Tree House Speech Pathology accepts self-managed and plan-managed funds. The NDIS is a funding scheme for people with a disability and children (under 7 years of age) with a developmental delay or disability. For further information on the NDIS please visit https://www.ndis.gov.au/
  • Medicare- Chronic Disease Management Plan (CDM) provides you with a rebate for 5 sessions per calendar year on referral from your GP. In accordance with the Medicare Benefits Schedule (MBS) item 10970, your referral entitles you to a rebate of $55.10 per session. For further information, please contact your GP or visit https://www1.health.gov.au 
  • Medicare- Better Start for Children with Disability entitles children with an eligible disability up to 4 diagnostic/assessment services and up to 20 treatment services. The initiative is offered once in your child’s lifetime and can be referred by a GP, specialist or consultant physician. In accordance with the Medicare Benefits Schedule (MBS) item 82005 and item 82020, your referral entitles you to a rebate of $77.80 per session. For further information, please contact your GP or visit https://www1.health.gov.au
  • Private Health Insurance the level of cover is dependant on your health fund insurer
  • Private paying

CONTACT US