Nerine McGrath
Port Macquarie,Australia
Summary
Warm, flexible Speech Pathologist with a passion for helping others in pursuit of improved communication. Advanced interpersonal skills, with 16 years of experience providing comprehensive assessment, planning and treatment for clients' speech, language, literacy and social skills, as well as providing information to their parents, teachers and healthcare providers.
Overview
18
18
years of professional experience
Work History
Speech Pathologist / Business Owner
Speech Pathology Assessment and Consultation - Private Practice
Port Macquarie, NSW
01.2016 - Current
- Completion of comprehensive speech and language assessments for primary school students
- Delivering professional learning to parents, teachers and teacher's assistants regarding communication difficulties, and supporting children in the classroom and home environments.
- Providing detailed information to parents and teachers regarding complex assessments in a sensitive and clear manner.
- Provision of feedback and recommendations to teachers and parents to enhance learning outcomes for students
- Developing and implementing individual and small group speech, language, literacy and social skills groups including Lego Therapy, Worry Woos Social Skills, and SoundsWrite Literacy groups
- Providing education and counseling regarding communication disorders.
- Mentoring Teacher's Aides and students
Speech Pathologist
Early Connections / Hastings Early Intervention
02.2013 - 07.2017
- Provided clinical speech pathology services including assessment and management of communication and feeding disorders, selection and development of AAC communication systems based on current best practice
- Facilitated and attended IFSP meetings as part of a multidisciplinary team including the provision of assessment of strengths and needs across home, preschool, and school
- Developed, implemented, and evaluated training and therapeutic programs in response to client and community needs
- Provided consultancy support to staff, families, and other professionals
- Maintained appropriate electronic and paper records to ensure continuity of care
- Collected and entered statistical data as required by funding bodies such as NDIS
- Liaised with other agencies including health, ADCH, Department of Education, private therapists, and educators to ensure effective outcomes for children.
Speech Pathologist
Department of Health
Port Macquarie, NSW
01.2011 - 01.2012
- Mixed caseload of paediatric clients, adult acute patients and adult outpatients across the Port Macquarie Base Hospital, Wauchope Base Hospital and Port Macquarie Community Health centre.
Intake Officer
Ageing, Disability and Homecare (ADHC) Secondment to Higher Position
02.2009 - 02.2010
- Completed detailed referrals from clients and their families ensuring all relevant information was included, in a sensitive manner.
- Provided effective and accurate information to people from a variety of cultural and socio-economic backgrounds in a timely manner
- Provided appropriate referral to informal and formal agencies
- Implemented regional systems to screen and assess clients for eligibility and create clear pathways to appropriate services
- Convened Regional Intake Panels and completed all relevant documentation with families, and on the Client Information System
- Provided advice to external organizations that was based on departmental guidelines and policies
- Communicated with a range of community organizations and internally across the department to build strong working relationships
- Maintained a thorough and up to date knowledge of both generic community services and disability services locally
- Contributed as a productive team member and maintained clear avenues of communication.
Speech Pathologist
Department of Aging, Disability and Home Care (DADHC) - Parramatta
01.2008 - 02.2009
- A member of a multidisciplinary team that provided effective and efficient services to clients/members/carers
- Implemented appropriate and varied service delivery models that met the needs of clients, within departmental resources
- Provided information and support to clients and their families regarding client's eating, drinking, and communication skills/difficulties
- Participated in Individual Service Planning process within the team to deliver coordinated effective, client-centered, needs-based service provision
- Interdisciplinary consultation about and referral of clients with specific needs to other team members or to other agencies
- Maintained client records, including client files and database and kept up to date case records (progress notes) and necessary reports (e.g assessment reports, action plans, intervention plans, closure reports)
- Prepared equipment and resources to meet the needs of clients including the development of programs, plans, and handouts
- Liaised with relevant persons in clients' environment regarding implications and management of eating/drinking and/or communication needs.
Speech Pathologist
Autism Spectrum Australia (ASPECT)
06.2006 - 01.2008
- Independent management of an early intervention caseload of children with a diagnosis of Autism Spectrum Disorder and developmental delay
- A trans-disciplinary role incorporating parent training, home programming, direct language therapy, and liaison with other health and education professionals
- Establishment of effective working relationships and provision of information & education to parents, members of the team, and other service providers
- Assessment of the specific communication, social, sensory processing, learning, and behavioral needs of each child
- Assistance to families with decisions about schooling options and provision of information about other available services they could access.
Locum Speech Pathologist
St Dominic's School for Children with Hearing Impairment & Language Disorders
06.2006 - 09.2006
- Collaboration with Teachers, Teacher's Aides, Parents, and Speech Pathologists to plan classroom-based intervention for children with hearing impairment, language, and behavior disorders
- Independent group and individual assessment and therapy sessions with children targeting language, speech, narrative, reading, and social skills.
Education
Bachelor of Speech Pathology -
University of Newcastle
Skills
- Written Communication
- Collaboration and Teamwork
- Caseload Management
- Parent Education
- Speech and Language Evaluation
- Individualised treatment plans
- Documentation and Reporting
- Progress Monitoring
Personal Information
Date of Birth: 04/09/80
Additional Courses Completed
- Evidence Based Interventions and Strategies for Children with Developmental Language Disorder 2024
- Lidcombe Stuttering Therapy 2022
- SoundsWrite Phonics Training 2021
- Learn to Play Therapy 2020
- The Learn To Play Approach for Kindergarten Teachers 2020
- The Imagine Create Belong social program for neurodivergent adolescents 2020
- First Aid Certificate 2017
- Human Rights in Disability Services 2016
- Counseling Skills for the Accidental Counselor 2016
- Key Worker Training - inclusion 2016
- Routines-Based Interview Training 2016
- Thriving at School workshop 2016
- Supporting Kids in Sensational Classrooms 2015
- Hanen More Than Words Training 2009
- Hanen It Takes Two to Talk Training 2009
- Paediatric Feeding Course 2009
- Basic Makaton Training 2006
- Introduction to Auslan - Newcastle University 2005
References
References available upon request.
Timeline
Speech Pathologist / Business Owner
Speech Pathology Assessment and Consultation - Private Practice
01.2016 - Current
Speech Pathologist
Early Connections / Hastings Early Intervention
02.2013 - 07.2017
Speech Pathologist
Department of Health
01.2011 - 01.2012
Intake Officer
Ageing, Disability and Homecare (ADHC) Secondment to Higher Position
02.2009 - 02.2010
Speech Pathologist
Department of Aging, Disability and Home Care (DADHC) - Parramatta
01.2008 - 02.2009
Speech Pathologist
Autism Spectrum Australia (ASPECT)
06.2006 - 01.2008
Locum Speech Pathologist
St Dominic's School for Children with Hearing Impairment & Language Disorders
06.2006 - 09.2006
Bachelor of Speech Pathology -
University of Newcastle
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