Meet our Allied Health Clinicians

Speech Pathologist, Counsellor, Guidance Officer & Educator - Clinical Director

Tracee is from Ireland and moved to Australia in 2007 with her young child who has ASD as well as other medical conditions. She began her professional career in nursing whilst in Ireland and to this day agrees this gives her a broad knowledge of medical pathology. After 5 years in nursing Tracee retrained as a Speech Pathologist due to her passion for the diversity and challenges people encounter with communication difficulties. Tracee has specialised as a disability professional and advocate for most of her 20 year career in speech pathology, and completed her registered training as a teacher in Australia in 2016 due to her interest and desire to encompass a functional projectory of service delivery to her paediatric caseload. Tracee was diagnosed with a progressive physical disability in 2017 and has walked the journey of disability support services herself as well as with her son over the years.

Tracee appreciates the psychological challenges of living with or being a carer of a person with a  disability and completed her Masters of Guidance and Counselling in 2023 

Tracee’s professional qualifications and experience has been invaluable for families and communities. She has supported more than 1000 families through the journey from pre-diagnosis into functional life, worked across many diverse and culturally challenged communities and has continuously supported new clinicians and teachers as a volunteer, to build the future workforce of services to the disability network. Tracee is currently engaged in policy at a national government level, hoping to leave a legacy of positive inclusion, accessibility and recognised differentiation in government mandates for future generations.

Senior Allied Health Assistant - Maryborough Region  

Lindy is originally from Melbourne and moved up to Maryborough in 2012. She has extensive experience with disability, child safety and vulnerable clients in a variety of communities including the homeless, child safety, supported independent living and detained services. As well as raising a large and loving family Lindy has attained competent qualifications and experience as a teacher aide and proficient AUSLAN user. As well as being an expert in play development with certification,  she is a qualified AAC and Pecs qualified clinician and has worked in the past in Fraser Coast Education to support teachers develop and implement intensive behaviour management and learning programs for students who have disengaged in education, in fact this is how our Clinical Director Tracee and Lindy first met, as they ran this program together for a year, however Lindy had many years experience prior. Lindy has a creative mind and an enthusiastic energy that shines every day of her life. Lindy’s positive attitude, caring and passion is outstanding, yet she always lets her client's lead their health journey. 

Senior Allied Health Assistant

  Martina is originally from the UK and moved to Australia over 15 years ago. She began her professional career as a building surveyor/ valuer for 10 years, before the joy of motherhood.  After her youngest child was born she took a career break to support him through early intervention, after receiving an ASD diagnosis, global development delay and being non verbal in his earlier years. Martina’s comprehensive personal experience in navigating the variety of Government systems to support her son, has brought her to her passion today. Martina's has come together with YAHS Clinicians and the Director, and her trust, enthusiasm and respect, compliment our values at YAHS.

Martina has not only years of experience in supporting and understanding the dynamics of disability and how this is a whole community approach, her patience and dedication to learning is like a rainbow. Martina has achieved the highest level of certification for feeding and Oro motor issues outside of the scope of a speech pathologist and also has certification in play therapy.  Her recent professional development include PECS and AAC training, AUSLAN and a Diploma in legal studies , which helps us keep informed and above board. Martina continues to advocate for all YAHS clients in multiple ways and shares her knowledge, experience and compassionate nature through advocacy from her heart. 

.

Through her own journey and along with her sons’ she has first hand experience of living with different challenges which has encouraged her to change career direction, and accomplish her desire to help others and support them in their journey.

Registered Nurse

Jay is a friendly, compassionate, diverse and culturally respectful member within the healthcare workforce and Wide Bay community. Jay is originally from Adelaide SA and moved to Hervey Bay in 2015. Following previous work experience in customer service, Jay engaged in aged care and disability support work. During this time a mentor saw something special in Jay and encouraged their further education development. Jay has combined their nursing qualifications within the disability sector and found their true passion and calling in life. A fire had been lit in Jay and they has been working collaborative with the senior YAHS clinicians now for 6 months. Jay states “ I believe in a holistic, person-centered approach to my care and I am very passionate about looking at the bigger picture. My ultimate goal is to help people reach for the stars and to live their best life no matter what stands in our way!”. Jay is a dedicated family and community person, always going that extra mile to support people within the wide scope of daily living and community or communication connections.

Allied Health Assistant

Chloe is a highly intelligent, committed and energetic member of the team here at YAHS. Having worked in the disability sector and shadowing the various services provided by YAHS, she has found a passion in working with clients of all age ranges. Chloe is described by many as “An Old Head on Young Shoulders”. Her personal and professional vision is to focus on a clients’ strengths, improve confidence and build their functional skills so they can achieve their independence and connection with others.  Chloe has been raised in Hervey Bay since birth and is staying around Hervey Bay due to her passion of family connection. YAHS leadership team are so very confident in Chloe that we aim to support Chloe to become a fully qualified Allied Health Clinician in future.

Speech Pathologist

Alea has recently graduated from Charles Sturt University with a Masters in Speech Pathology. She began her professional career as a teacher over 20 years ago and brings that experience to working with clients and families.

Alea has worked in schools with children from 5-13 years, and as a therapy assistant while studying. She enjoys connecting with the people that she is working with. Alea completed her final work placement with YAHS in 2024 and has developed an interest in working with clients and their families across a wide variety of ages and experiences.

Alea lives in Adelaide with her family and works remotely for YAHS.

Speech Pathologist

Katrina is a born and bred Queenslander. She is currently completing her final

year in Speech Pathology at Charles Sturt University. She has recently completed a

practicum at Your Allied Health Service and decided to continue developing her skills there on a casual basis.

Katrina qualified as a preschool teacher with the Queensland Department of

Education in 1986 and was posted to Cairns. She worked in that geographical area for 6 years, before attaining a scholarship with the Department to train as a Special Needs – Hearing Impairment teacher. After qualifying, she worked around the Brisbane area

supporting young children, with hearing impairments, and their families across a variety

of placements. Later she was transferred back into the classroom and taught preschool

and early Primary school classes.

In 2016, after 20 years with the Department of Education, she moved to the Sunshine Coast area, and began a career teaching in the private sector. She was employed as Head of Special Needs – having responsibility for the provision of Special Education services across the school – both Secondary and Primary. This position involved mentoring and training the Primary support teacher and taking a teaching role in both the regular and Special Needs Secondary classrooms. During her 13 years in

that position, she developed close relationships with children and parents as they navigated their way through their educational journey. Katrina has worked with a wide range of disability needs such as Autism, Cerebral Palsy, Downs syndrome, Hearing Impairment, Physical Disability, and Intellectual Disability. She has a passion for supporting people as they navigate an often difficult and complex health journey and is

eager to use her talents, knowledge, and skills to assist families and communities in

this endeavour.

Katrina walks this journey herself after being diagnosed with a chronic and

progressive disability in 2014.

Speech Pathologist

Larni completed her Masters in Speech Pathology at the University of Melbourne in 2023. She has had a wide range of speech pathology clinical experience working with children of all ages, adult rehab and psychiatric rehabilitation. Larni has done additional training in the Sounds-Write literacy program and enjoys the client-focused, problem-solving side of being a Speech Pathologist.

Larni lives in Melbourne with her two teenage children and husband. As a casual staff member she looks forward to contributing to the team at YAHS!