Director | Senior Speech Pathologist | Southern Highlands

Certified Practising Speech Pathologist and Founder of Empower Health Collective.

Mikaela is a Certified Practising Member of Speech Pathology Australia. She is also a PhD candidate and lecturer at The University of Sydney, where her research focuses on improving collaboration and continuity of care in cleft speech services.

Mikaela works at The Children’s Hospital at Westmead as part of the Cleft and Craniofacial team and has clinical experience across public health, private practice, and global outreach. She has volunteered internationally with Global Smile Foundation, providing cleft speech services in underserved regions and training local clinicians.

Her passion for cleft and craniofacial care, combined with a commitment to evidence-based and family-centred practice, inspired her to establish Empower Health Collective as a place where like-minded professionals can collaborate and provide high-quality services.

Mikaela has broad experience across speech, language, feeding, swallowing, and communication disorders, with a particular interest in cleft palate speech, velopharyngeal dysfunction, and interdisciplinary teamwork. She is equally dedicated to mentoring and supervising clinicians, helping to build confidence and capability in this highly specialised area of practice.

Senior Speech Pathologist | Southern Highlands & Inner West Sydney

Catherine is an experienced speech pathologist (CPSP) who works with clients across the lifespan in a broad range of practice areas. 

Catherine’s special clinical interests lie in working with adults with neurodegenerative conditions as well as acquired brain injuries, voice disorders and dysphagia. Catherine also enjoys managing complex breathing disorders such as inducible laryngeal obstruction and supporting clients undergoing gender affirming voice training. 

Catherine is also committed to the advancement of the profession through high-quality clinical education. She has a strong interest in developing clinical reasoning, autonomy, and professional confidence in students and clinicians—particularly in the areas of complex voice and dysphagia.

She lectures in paediatric and adult clinical skills at the University of Technology Sydney (UTS) and serves as a clinical educator within the adult clinics at both UTS and Western Sydney University (WSU), where she provides supervision and support for students managing complex adult caseloads.

Senior Speech Pathologist | Macarthur Region

Erin is a Senior Speech Pathologist and Certified Practising Member of Speech Pathology Australia (CPSP). She brings experience from both her clinical career and diverse professional roles, offering a broad, practical perspective to her work, and possesses comprehensive knowledge spanning speech, language, swallowing, and communication challenges.

Specialising in the community disability sector (NDIS), Erin has experience managing complex communication challenges for children and young adults. Guided by Neurodiversity Affirming practice and evidence-based interventions, her focus includes early speech and language development and Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) systems. She is known for her hands-on work, including coordinating First Nations school readiness programs and providing intervention directly in home, school, and community environments.

Erin has contributed to professional development and community outreach, including lecturing at university, delivering in-house training for disability staff, and developing and delivering community-based parent outreach programs with local preschools.

Her passion is to ensure individuals achieve confident, effective communication through person-centred therapy and advocacy.

Senior Occupational Therapist

Lauren is a dedicated Occupational Therapist and Level 3 Senior Clinician specialising in the community disability sector (NDIS funding). She is a certified practising member of AHPRA, and brings over 15 years of experience in the disability sector, including 10 years as a practicing Occupational Therapist, working across a large range of age groups.

Lauren’s expertise is focused on supporting neurodiverse children, teens, and young adults. Guided by a Neurodiversity Affirming approach, her clinical focus covers essential developmental and functional areas: early childhood milestones, self-care (ADLs), independent living skills (IADLs), and school support (e.g., gross/fine motor skills, handwriting) across all physical, sensory, social, and cognitive skill domains.

She provides this support across the person's home, school and community environments. This experience also includes creating and coordinating First Nations school readiness programs, including past FIFO work in remote communities. Lauren values a collaborative team approach, partnering closely with families, educators, and other allied health professionals to ensure integrated, holistic support.

Her goal is to combine her senior and diverse experience to provide culturally safe, holistic, and evidence-based services with a deep commitment to family-centred care that enhances meaningful participation and functional independence.