Meet Your Practitioner

Hi there, I'm Kate, a Certified Practicing Speech Pathologist and Naturopath with over 15 years of experience helping people rediscover their voice, restore balance to their health, and thrive with confidence. Whether it’s voice rehabilitation, upper airway and swallowing disorders, or reflux management, my mission is to guide you toward a life where communication and well-being feel effortless and natural.

My career has taken me across Australia and the UK, allowing me to work in diverse settings, from community teams to acute care hospitals. In London, I held a position at The Wellington Hospital, where I worked across multiple units, including the outpatient voice clinic, ICU, and rehabilitation unit. Later, I became the lead speech pathologist at the Royal Darwin Hospital’s voice clinic, collaborating with Ear, Nose, and Throat (ENT) surgeons to diagnose voice disorders and create tailored treatment plans. I also worked closely with ENT and Maxillofacial teams, supporting patients through Head and Neck Cancer treatment, voice and swallow preservation & rehabilitation, and ongoing laryngectomy management. I am skilled in instrumental swallowing assessment with both Videofluoroscopy (VFSS) and Fibreoptic Endoscopic Evaluation of Swallowing (FEES). I have a comprehensive understanding of the anatomy and physiology of swallowing and am experienced in the assessment, diagnosis and management of complex swallowing disorders.

As a singer, I’ve always been deeply passionate about the voice. My years of vocal training, including studying music theatre at the Western Australian Academy of Performing Arts, laid the foundation for my work in this field. I understand the demands placed on performers and have extensive experience helping vocalists recover from vocal injuries. I am also trained in Laryngeal Manual Therapy (Lesley Mathieson) and Laryngeal Massage techniques (Walt Fritz) and can provide manual therapy sessions to those with tension in the larynx, jaw, tongue and neck. I am particularly passionate about working with voice in relation to gender identity and understand the importance of voice and communication patterns in gender expression. I established the first gender-affirming voice clinic in Darwin and later founded Affirm and Thrive, an LGBTQ+ well-being hub that provides Gender Affirming Voice services in Adelaide and globally online. Kate is a casual academic for Speech and Voice Science and a student assessor for the UniSA Speech Pathology course.

In my work as a Naturopath I am drawn to supporting the digestive health. Through this knowledge and my knowledge of the aerodigestive tract i bring a unique lens to reflux management, something that I see regularly in my Speech Pathology practice. By combining my knowledge of the aerodigestive system with a root-cause approach, I help clients find sustainable relief from reflux and related issues. My holistic perspective ensures that we’re addressing the underlying cause, not just the symptoms.

I’ve always had an adventurous spirit, which fuels both my personal and professional life. Over the years, I’ve trekked through the breathtaking Andes in Peru and the Himalayas in Nepal. These experiences have taught me resilience, adaptability, and the power of taking each challenge one step at a time—a philosophy I bring to my work with clients every day.

I look forward to working with you and guiding you on your unique journey.