Ellen is known for her warm, playful, and individualised approach. She takes the time to get to know each child and their family so that therapy is fun, engaging, and tailored to their unique strengths and goals. She strongly believes that play is at the heart of learning and strives to make every session a positive and motivating experience.

Ellen has a particular passion for Alternative and Augmentative Communication (AAC), having completed advanced training and worked extensively in this area. She also loves working with adolescents, supporting their language, literacy, and social skill development as they build confidence and independence in communication.

She is deeply committed to the principles of neuro-affirming practice, ensuring that her work celebrates neurodiversity and supports each individual’s authentic way of communicating and connecting.

Ellen graduated from The University of Queensland with Honours in Speech Pathology and brings a wealth of experience from her work in private practice in Mackay, Queensland, and as the on-call Speech Pathologist for Mackay Private Hospital. She has supported clients with a wide range of communication needs, including Childhood Apraxia of Speech.

Ellen’s lifelong passion for communication began well before her speech pathology career. She originally studied Journalism and Japanese, and later discovered her love for working with children while teaching English in Japan. This experience inspired her to combine her language skills, creativity, and care for others into a rewarding career as a Speech Pathologist.

Ellen leads the Allied Health Assistant team at DWSP, supporting their growth and ensuring high-quality, collaborative care across our clinics.

You can find Ellen at our Footscray, Northcote, and Coburg clinics.

Articles by Ellen Meet our new Speech Pathologist – Ellen! – Dee Wardrop