About us
Medical Speech Pathology is a mobile practice in south-east Queensland dedicated to working with adults who have swallowing and communication difficulties. The practice was founded in 2022 to provide specialised services in the area of Medical Speech Pathology, a field that specialises in understanding body systems and knowledge of a vast array of specific health conditions and how they can interact with swallowing and communication.
Medical Speech Pathologists work collaboratively with a person’s medical and Allied Health care team and contribute to diagnosis and treatment in the context of their overall healthcare plan. You can find more information about Medical Speech Pathology here.
Melissa Kane – Director, Speech Pathologist
Since graduating from the University of Melbourne in 2013, Melissa has worked exclusively with an adult population in the hospital and healthcare system in Melbourne, Northern NSW and the Gold Coast, predominantly in acute/ICU and inpatient neurological rehabilitation settings.
Melissa is passionate about integrating evidence-based and person-centred approaches to assess and manage swallowing and communication disorders and is a strong advocate for instrumental assessment of swallowing (VFSS, FEES) to guide appropriate dysphagia management and skilled rehabilitation. She also actively contributes to research and clinical education in the field through positions with a number of Australian universities’ academic teaching and research programs.
Melissa has a special interest in working with people with Functional Neurological Disorder, Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome and those from multilingual backgrounds (she speaks English, Spanish, German and Japanese).
Melissa’s training and certification includes:
- Videofluoroscopic Swallow Studies (VFSS)
- Flexible Endoscopic Evaluation of Swallowing (FEES)
- Manual Therapy for voice and swallowing
- Videostroboscopy
- PhORTE voice therapy
- Lee Silverman Voice Therapy (LSVT)
- McNeil Dysphagia Therapy Program (MDTP)
- Gender-affirming voice services (La Trobe University)
- Tracheostomy management
- Cervical Auscultation
- Surface Electromyography (sEMG)
- Neuromuscular Electrical Stimulation (NMES) for dysphagia
Stacey Guy – Speech Pathologist
Stacey graduated from Griffith University with a Master of Speech Pathology and is a Certified Practicing Speech Pathologist. She has experience working across hospital, residential aged care and community settings, and has a special interest in adult acquired brain injury, especially stroke, Parkinson’s disease and dementia.
Stacey has strong clinical interests in the areas of aphasia, cognitive-communication, dysphagia and voice and is passionate about supporting clients with complex communication & swallowing needs.
Drawing on kindness, empathy and creativity, Stacey is focused on delivering holistic, evidence-based practice that is meaningful and considerate of the unique lives of her clients and families. Understanding that no two people are the same, Stacey adopts a collaborative, strengths-based approach to neurological rehabilitation, aimed at supporting clients to achieve their goals and positive, quality-of-life outcomes. In her spare time, you will find Stacey in the garden, exploring in nature, playing her guitar and singing songs, or curled up with a good book and a cup of tea.
Stacey’s further training and certification includes:
- MBSImp (for Videofluoroscopic Swallow Studies)
- Lee Silverman Voice Therapy (LSVT)
- Videostroboscopic interpretation of voice
- Expiratory Muscle Strength Training
- Manual Therapy for voice and swallowing
Rachel Mackenzie – Speech Pathologist
Since graduating from the University of Canterbury in 2018, Rachel has worked with adults in acute, community, and rehabilitation settings across Australia and New Zealand. She is deeply committed to applying evidence-based practices and individualized care to manage and treat swallowing and communication disorders.
Rachel finds great satisfaction in forming a genuine connection with her clients and their families and support networks, to establish holistic client centered goals and tailors her therapy approaches to focus on quality of life. Rachel believes a team approach is most effective in helping her clients reach their goals, and has a strong focus on working with her multidisciplinary colleagues to ensure the best outcomes for her clients.
Rachel has a special interest in complex dysphagia and progressive neurological diseases. She has further training and certification in the following areas:
- Videofluoroscopic Swallow Studies (VFSS)
- Flexible Endoscopic Evaluation of Swallowing (FEES) – Level 1
- Expiratory Muscle Strength Training (EMST)
- Cough Reflex Testing
- SpeakOut! Therapy for Parkinson’s
Values
Medical Speech Pathology’s core values are:
Person-centered care
While we pride ourselves on having in-depth knowledge about the conditions we treat, a person is not defined by their medical condition. We take the time to learn what is important for each individual, and tailor our intervention so that it aligns with their values, beliefs and preferences.
Excellence
We strive to deliver outstanding care by staying up-to-date with the latest research evidence, engaging in cutting-edge clinical training and certifications, tracking data to measure outcomes and ensuring access to the best evidence-based treatments.
Integrity
We aspire to always act with honesty, integrity and consistency. We protect the privacy and the dignity of those we work with, and ensure transparency with proposed treatments and anticipated outcomes to achieve results that matter to each individual.
Collaboration
We acknowledge and highly value the importance of working as part of a team - with an individual, their support network and other Medical and Allied Health professionals to deliver coordinated care.