Cath Morrissy: Certified Practising Speech Pathologist
Cath brings a wealth of experience to the clinic in her work over the past 33 years in supporting children in their skill development in communication, learning and social interaction. Cath’s previous work history saw her teach children across all Year levels of the Primary school curriculum, having taught throughout Victoria for 23 years. Sixteen years saw her, as a Principal, also lead school communities to ensure the development of the child was paramount in all school endeavours. It was this desire to make a difference for the children in her care which led her to change direction in 2003, and return to University to become a qualified Speech Pathologist.
Since graduating from her Masters of Speech Pathology course at La Trobe University in 2005, Cath has worked at the Catholic Education Office: Western Region for the past ten years where she is currently the Senior Speech Pathologist.
A practising member of Speech Pathology Australia, and registered Medicare Provider, as a Speech Pathologist, Cath provides families with a voice in meeting the communication needs of their children. She works with children with additional learning needs including those with oral language difficulties, articulation errors, stuttering, voice concerns, learning difficulties and developmental delays. She also supports children with Autism Spectrum Disorder in developing their social language skills. Cath has extensive experience in working with children who are multilingual and supporting them as they develop their additional languages.
Cath’s passion for providing children with the confidence to engage in social interaction sees her develop a natural rapport with each child, challenge them to extend their efforts and work towards improved communication.
Central to supporting the child in their communication and learning is Cath’s belief that families are fully participatory, well informed and supported in their interaction and that where possible, best access to all additional service options are sourced. Discussion of mutually agreed upon goals consolidates the child-family-therapist relationship and guarantees that all are working together to achieve these goals.
Cath’s specialist skills have been enhanced by professional development in speech sound articulation with Caroline Bowen; stuttering through the Lidcombe training program; social language skills with Carol Gray’s social stories and social scripts as well as the SAS Secret Agent Society training programs; building Literacy skills in the Sutherland Phonological Assessment process with Ros Neilson and the OLSEL (Oral Language Supporting Early Literacy) research project and current involvement in the CPOL (Classrooms Promoting Oral Language) research project.