Find the therapist that best suits your needs.
Our Speech Pathologist Team
Jan Mackey
Director
Principal Speech Pathologist
Jan Mackey is the principal Speech Pathologist at Applied Communication Skills, recognised as a leading provider for the management of communication disorders. Jan has lectured and practiced in the area of complex cognitive-communication impairments following ABI. She has co-authored a number of communication resources that are widely used throughout Australia and the UK. Jan has an ongoing interest in the development and implementation of practical resources for language and social communication, combining the theoretical and practical elements of the skills that underpin successful communication. Good communication skills in turn reduce behaviours of concern. The incorporation of tailored and successful use of AAC and technology is integrated into therapy management as required. Jan provides training to support workers. She has recently provided support worker training for the My Support Space website, established to ensure that NDIS support workers are better placed to support participant's communication.
B. App. Sci (Speech Pathology)
M.A. (Applied Linguistics)
June Gladman
June is passionate about working with those who cannot speak for themselves. She has worked for the past 20 years with people with complex communication and swallowing impairments. Seeing individuals as a whole, she takes a functional approach in her work as a Speech Pathologist, integrating speech and language work and provision of technology/AAC to meet client needs. June also works with a range of clients in the adult justice system with communication difficulties, supporting them and those working with them in navigating the justice system and building communication skills that assist their transition back into the community. June lives in the Macedon Ranges and is happy to see clients in the north western suburbs and areas up to Bendigo.
B. App. Sci (Speech Pathology)
Speech Pathologist
Grace Scheiner
Grace has worked at Applied Communication Skills for 7 years and has a solid understanding of how community-based therapy programmes are developed to meet the needs of individuals. Grace supports individuals with complex communication needs as a result of disability, acquired brain injury, developmental impairments, mental health and/or complex psychosocial backgrounds. She also advocates that training and upskilling of support workers and family members is essential for communication development. Grace has contributed to professional conferences around the practical issues relating to the implementation of technology to support communication and has knowledge and experience to assist individuals at any stage of their augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) journey. Grace is based in geelong and is happy to see clients in the Geelong area and the outer western suburbs.
B. App. Sci
M.A Speech Pathology
Speech Pathologist
Rasangi Weerasekera
Rasangi is a dedicated speech pathologist with 8 years experience in a range of clinical assessment and intervention across hospital, nursing home and community settings. She provides support for individuals and families to accomplish their goals in communication and swallowing in all areas of disability including acquired brain injury, neurological disorders, voice disorders, developmental disabilities and stroke rehabilitation. Her involvement in research into aphasia management provides steady influence for clinical practice through building an evidence-based foundation.
B.Sc. (Honours) Speech and Hearing Sciences
Deborah Mylne
Deb completed her speech pathology training in 2016 at La Trobe University. After initially completing her graduate year at Royal Darwin Hospital, Deb return to Melbourne and has worked at the Acquired Brain Injury Unit at Caulfield Hospital and as part of the Trauma Team at Alfred Hospital. Deb has experience working with a wide range of brain injury and neurological presentations in both hospital and home-based settings.
Deb was the recipient of an Alfred Health Recognising Excellence Award in 2019. She has authored a peer-reviewed journal article published in Brain Impairment and is passionate about using current research to support clients to reach their goals.
Deb enjoys working in multidisciplinary teams and has a keen interest in communication & social skills, dysphagia/swallowing impairments, disorders of consciousness and long-term tracheostomies. She’s experienced at providing swallowing and communication training for carers and support workers.
B. Health Sciences
M.A Speech Pathology
Speech Pathologist
Speech Pathologist
Courtney Pell
Courtney is a Grade 3 speech pathologist. She has been working at Applied Communication Skills for 6 years. Courtney is passionate and has experience supporting individuals with complex communication and swallowing difficulties as a result of acquired and developmental disability including Neurological disorders, Mental Illness, Autism Spectrum Disorder, and Intellectual Disability. Courtney has contributed to relevant professional conferences regarding pragmatic intervention for individual’s with Schizophrenia in the community setting. Courtney has experience with AAC, language, speech, pragmatics, and voice. She has a keen interest in supporting individuals with communication challenges and dysphagia with Mental Health Illnesses and ABI.
B. Speech Pathology
Speech Pathologist
Ellen Hall
Ellen is enthusiastic about working closely with individuals to increase their capacity for communication and engagement within the community. Ellen’s primary interest area is exploring creative ways to increase client motivation in therapy with particular focus on motor speech therapy. Ellen pioneered the Motivating Motor Speech program which combines traditional motor speech therapy with explicit learning on motivational theories and use of themes to explore integrating motor speech practice into different types of activities such as interviewing, public speaking, music, use of technology and poetry. Additionally, Ellen has a strong interest in the use of project-based therapy to further assist with client engagement and outcomes. She is dedicated to linking current evidence with everyday clinical practice and has completed research and conducted presentations in both of these areas to promote client motivation in long-term community-based therapy. This has included presenting at the Speech Pathology Australia National Conference in 2022, 2023 and 2024 and internationally at the NR-SIG-WFNR conference in Coimbra, Portugal.
B. Psychological Sciences
M.A Speech Pathology
Speech Pathologist
Rebekah Billington-Kerr
Rebekah is an experienced speech pathologist based in Melbourne who has worked in education, private and community based settings. Rebekah is an avid advocate about partnership and sharing skills in order to provide effective and successful speech pathology services for all. Rebekah appreciates a key part of her role is to empower family, carers and other health providers as key agents of change, to increase people’s quality of life impacted by communication and swallowing challenges.
Rebekah has experience in aged care, pediatrics, developmental disorders, progressive neurological conditions, acquired brain injuries, hearing impairments, and voice.
Rebekah is also a certified practitioner of the Lee Silverman Voice Treatment (LSVT) technique for the treatment of people with Parkinson’s disease.
B. Speech Pathology
Speech Pathologist
Cailey Waterman
Cailey graduated in 2016 from the Australian Catholic University, studying a Bachelor of Speech Pathology with Honours. She co-wrote her honours thesis on adapting communication tools from using within the aphasia population to use with people with dementia. This paper was later published in the journal Aging and Mental Health in 2019.
Cailey has a special interest in working with clients with AAC and has experience with working with clients in the disability sector. She has a passion for seeing clients achieve their communication goals, is an advocate for accessible communication in the community and bring a lot of energy and joy to her sessions.
B. Speech Pathology (Hons)
Speech Pathologist
Lilly Bridie
Lilly is an early-career speech pathologist based in Melbourne who works with a broad range of clients with complex cognitive, sensory, physical, communication and swallowing needs. Lilly is committed to strengths-based approach and neurodiversity-affirming practices. Before completing a Masters in Speech Pathology, Lilly studied psychology with a particular focus on developmental conditions, especially Autism Spectrum Disorder. Lilly is particularly passionate about social communication skills, including understanding and embracing different communication styles, and alternative and augmentative communication (AAC).
B. Psychological Sciences (Honours)
M.A Speech Pathology
Speech Pathologist
Admin Team
Anna Pilot
Anna is one of our ACS office administrators and PA to our Principal Speech Pathologist. Anna studied Disability studies at university and has been working in the disability sector for over 15 years, at disability residential services, day services and in management. Anna is our contact person for referrals and caseload management. Anna enjoys going to see musicals, live bands and is fascinated by neuroscience.
Kylie Keegan
Kylie started working at ACS as the Financial Administrator in December 2019. New to the Allied Health sector she has enjoyed developing new skills and working with the teams of people involved in supporting our Speech Pathology clients. Kylie has developed her bookkeeping experience over 14 years working with various organisations and clients. Prior to that she had many years administration experience in the university sector. She enjoys watching and playing Netball, kayaking, beach and bush walks with friends.
B.Ec
Certificate IV BAS Agent for Bookkeepers
Registered BAS Agent
Financial Administrator
Office Administrator
Sarah Gosch
Sarah has been one of our ACS office and therapy admins for over 2 years. She previously studied health science and is now studying speech pathology. Sarah assists with daily office admin tasks, speech therapy resources and allied health assisting for all of our therapist. She is excited to be a part of the team and can’t wait to gain knowledge and experience at ACS to facilitate her as a future speech pathologist.
B. Health Science
Office Administrator & Allied Health Assistant
Bella Nicholls
Bella is one of our ACS office and therapy admins. She has moved to Melbourne from a farm in regional Victoria to study Speech Pathology at ACU. Bella is currently in her second year of study, and has a particular interest in pragmatics, mental health and assisting justice clients. She is excited to further her knowledge and improve her skills as she continues to work with us.
Office Administrator & Allied Health Assistant