Meet the team

Who is Caroline?

Caroline has two daughters; Ava who is 12 and Aubrey who is seven years old. Ava has had several hiccups over the last few years with profound hearing loss being the most life-changing experience of them all. Although Ava has a cochlear implant it doesn't give her access to the hearing world to support her speech development and therefore New Zealand Sign Language (NZSL) is her main mode of communication. The family went through so many different emotions initially however they have discovered the beauty in NZSL and feel so fortunate to be part of this culture. This has shaped her into the Therapist she is today and helped her to connect with her clients and their families.

Caroline completed her Bachelor in Speech and Language Therapy at Massey University at the end of 2007 and began her journey at Wairau Valley Special School where she developed a passion for working with children with a diagnosis of Autism Spectrum Disorder. From this her love in Augmentative Alternative Communication (AAC) also grew. She spent roughly five years gaining experience in a number of areas (including; Intensive Interaction, language development, literacy development, working with children with Auditory Processing Disorders, and Makaton). During this time Caroline became trained in the use of PECS (Picture Exchange Communication System) and PODD (Pragmatic Organisation Dynamic Display) communication books.

She then moved into private practice where she was invited to join a team based on the North Shore. Being given the chance to work so closely with her clients and their families allowed Caroline to blossom and develop the confidence she has now. Because of the wide range of children she was able to cross paths with, Caroline was able to develop even more knowledge and skills (such as therapy approaches used with Childhood Apraxia of Speech, stuttering, articulation and phonology delays/disorders). Specific training carried out during her time there included the Lidcombe Programme (evidence based practice that is used to target stuttering in preschool aged children) and she was fortunate enough to attend a course in Sydney on "transitioning from PECS to SGDs".

Caroline spent just shy of five years at this private practice when an opportunity she couldn’t pass up dropped into her lap (or in this case in her email inbox) and that was to open her own private practice based at The Connection. The opportunity to have learnt from the other Practitioners and work collaboratively at The Connection has been invaluable. Since then both The Speech Room and The Move Room have moved to their own premises now located in Albany. This allowed for the growth of the two clinics and also provide more use of specialised equipment for the Occupational Therapist.

Caroline completed a three day introduction PROMPT (Prompts for Restructuring Oral Muscular Phonetic Targets) course in Sydney at the beginning of 2019. This evidence based therapy approach uses tactile cues through touch on the individuals face to shape and elicit accurate movements required for the production of speech sounds. This has given her fresh eyes and changed how she provides therapy for her speechie clients.

Who is Hana?

Hana is originally from the Hawkes Bay and moved to Auckland to pursue university in 2016. After completing an undergraduate degree in psychology and biology, she went on to do a postgrad diploma in psychology and a Masters in Speech and Language Therapy – all at the University of Auckland. Becoming an SLT has fuelled her passion for working with kids, getting down with the new toys on the block, and helping communication flourish within the youngsters.

Although she is the newest SLT to the team, Hana has experience working alongside families and children in various ways. She loves an integrated approach combined with continuity of care to ensure that all speech, language, and communication needs are met. Her background in psychology is also entwined in her practice, ensuring that you and your little one’s are heard on all levels.

Apart from being at The Speech Room, Hana can be found at the beach, with her friends, seeking out the next brunch place, scrolling the internet for the newest food trend or seeking self-care with a book, new manicure or massage. 

Who is Emma?

Emma became a speech-language therapist at the end of 2021 after completing a Master of Speech-Language Therapy Practice at Waipapa Taumata Rau - University of Auckland, and previously completed a Master of Arts in Linguistics from Te Herenga Waka - Victoria University of Wellington in 2018. After finishing her studies in Auckland, she returned to the Wellington region, where she worked at a specialist school with many tamariki using alternative and augmentative communication. She then moved into work with children and adults who have experienced brain injury, where she gained more experience with acquired communication disorders.

She is the current editor of the NZ Speech-Language Therapists’ Association magazine, and recently presented at the NZSTA Ngā Hononga symposium on adapting materials about healthy relationships for neurodiverse learners.

Outside of her work as a speech-language therapist, Emma enjoys long-distance running, singing and playing the piano and accordion, and reading (especially science fiction). She has previously studied NZ Sign Language, Te Reo Māori, French, Spanish, and Italian - and has also previously performed in Yiddish, Polish, and Klingon!

For Emma, one of the most fulfilling parts of being an SLT is helping people develop their self-expression and independence through communication. She is enthusiastic about making all forms of communication accessible, practical, and rewarding, and about celebrating and valuing our communication differences.