Speech therapist recommendation Brisbane?

[Jandals]

Not sure if this is the right place to post? But we need to get our 4 year old DD in to some speech therapy and have no idea where to start. We are on the south/west side of Brisbane and I'd be so grateful if any-one could point me in the right direction. I have a 10 week old so although I'm happy to travel a short distance I'd prefer something over this side as long car rides can be a little frazzling at times

Do you think there's much difference between therapists, or would picking from the yellow pages be okay if I can't get a word-of-mouth recommendation?

[MantaRay]

Jandals, if you are happy to pay for a private speechie, Tyquin Group Speech Pathology are awesome. They are based at Bulimba, and used to have some other offices around the place, but some closed and I'm not sure what's left. If paying for a speechie is not easy, you might be able to get it cheaper under the family health care plan. You could ask your GP about this.

[~clover~]

Your GP or child health nurse should be able to put you in touch with any in your area
You usually need a referral from one of these anyway, if you don't have one.

[Jandals]

Thanks girls.

I had wondered about the Tyquin Group - I've seen them advertising in the Brisbane's Child mag. Going private will be a bit of a stretch for us but I think we'll have to as I want to get DD started asap. We've been umming and ahhing for over a year trying to decide if she needed it but now her kindy teacher has suggested it so I want to get it sorted before she hits school next year. I imagine there may be a wait to go through the public system? I assumed we would have to pay as I wasn't aware of the family health care plan. Maybe I'll take her to the Tyquin Group to have her assessed and see how many sessions they think she'll need. If it's going to be a lot we may have to try and get it subsidised.

Thanks again

[~clover~]

There is often a waiting list in the public system, but its different everywhere. Here it took about 3 months to get DD2 in, where we lived before we waited 12 months & she didn't get to see anyone. I'd ring & ask.
As far as I know speech therapy is an on going thing. They probably won't be able to tell you a number of sessions. My DD started last year & was going for 3 or 4 months & still working on the first 2 sounds. I think because of her age (4) she was too young for the concentration involved. Her hyperactive personality probably didn't help though! She was playing up the whole time, so I stopped it for a bit & will be starting her again soon. Hopefully now she's started school it'll be a bit easier for her, since she seems to be a great student!
I also know kids who are in high school who started as toddlers & are still attending speech therapy. Everyone is different, but I'm pretty sure my DD will be going for at least a few years.
Maybe you could start her in privately, but put her on the public waiting list as well. Then she is doing something while you wait. I'm not sure its allowed, but it might be worth a try. Talk to her kindy teacher too. If they know exactly what it is she's having problems with they will be able to help her a bit while she's in their care.