Hi, I’m Joanne, and I’m so excited to introduce myself as part of the DWSP team.
For almost 18 years I’ve been raising my three Autistic children, each with their own strengths, challenges and wonderfully individual personalities. Over the past decade, speech therapy has been a regular and important part of our world — sometimes with one child, sometimes with all three at different stages. Because of that, I’ve spent many years practising therapy strategies at home, working alongside clinicians, and learning how small, consistent steps can make a huge difference in a child’s confidence and communication.
Those experiences shaped the way I see children, families and support. I’ve always loved working with kids, and I find so much joy in helping others feel capable, understood and proud of themselves. Becoming an Allied Health Assistant felt like a natural next step — a way for me to bring everything I’ve learned as a parent, helper, organiser, teacher, cheerleader and advocate into a role where I can support other children to thrive.
In my work, I value warmth, patience and meeting each child exactly where they’re at. I understand how important it is for children to feel safe, included and understood in their everyday settings, and I love seeing their confidence grow as they discover new ways to express themselves. My goal is to support them to communicate more comfortably, participate more fully, and feel like they belong in the world around them.
Outside of work, I’m still very much a mum — playing games, reading books and heading off on little adventures with my family whenever we can. We love travelling, exploring new places and making memories together.
I’m really looking forward to meeting more families, supporting our wonderful clinicians, and being part of your child’s journey.