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Ritta Assaad
Ritta is a Speech Pathologist and the managing director at Think Say Sing Move Play.
Ritta offers 25+ years of experience as a speech pathologist and many years in leadership. She works in partnership with families to meet the needs of children, youth and adults with developmental delays and/or disabilities.
Ritta graduated from La Trobe University with Honours and has a Master’s Degree in Health Administration. She is a certified practicing speech pathologist and a member of Speech Pathology Australia. Ritta has worked in early intervention, private practice, special schools, community health centres, research projects through La Trobe University and lead projects through Communities for Children, she has also worked in program development and in management.
Ritta is bilingual and often uses her Arabic to connect with many families. Ritta is a caring professional who delivers her therapy with respect and compassion.
Johnny Farhat
Johnny Farhat holds a Bachelor of Psychology and an Advanced Diploma in Disability. Johnny has more than 25 years experience in supporting young people of all abilities.
He worked for 14 years as a social worker and youth leader at an Internationally known SOS children's Villages In Lebanon. His role was to keep families together, provide alternative care when needed, support young people on their path to independence, and advocate for the rights of children. He was a volunteer in the Lebanese Red Cross, supporting families in need during crises.
For the last 8 years Johnny has been working as a disability support worker through DHHS and Home at SCOPE. He has provided care for children and youth with disabilities in respite houses, as well as support for residents in permanent disability housing.
Johnny is compassionate and caring and works with honesty and integrity.
Johnny is fluent in both Arabic and English.
Marie Olsson
My name is Marie and I am a fun, playful and engaging specialist teacher with a knack for motivating children. I love to help families help their children and do this by supporting you to find information, services, supports and to develop new ways to work towards your goals at home.
My skill is to help children who are having difficulties to get along with others, express and manage their feelings, and develop their play and learning abilities. I have worked as a Key Worker alongside Speech Pathologists, Occupational Therapists and Music Therapists for many years, and have experience helping children develop their communication skills, daily living skills and participation in activities.
I have a special interest in helping children who have challenging behaviour learn different ways to have their needs met. I am passionate about inclusion for all children and can support education and community settings to make changes that help children of all abilities to participate and belong.
I love animals, growing things in the garden and reading books. One day I would like to travel the world and take beautiful pictures with my partner and three girls.
Emily Lutton
Emily holds a Bachelor of Applied Science and Masters of Speech Pathology from La Trobe University. She is passionate about helping children of all abilities and working closely with their families. Emily has a keen interest in all things relating to language and is currently also completing a Diploma in Languages majoring in French Advanced.
Emily has experience working alongside children with varied presentations including autism spectrum disorder, intellectual disability, children with hearing loss, articulation and phonological delays, and children using alternative and augmentative communication. Her experience comes from working in the private and NDIS sector as well as in a number of volunteering roles with programs run locally and internationally.
Emily is dedicated and committed to the families that she works with and uses a family-centred and evidence-based approach to all intervention.
Virginia Porteous
Hi, my name is Virginia. I am an Allied Health Assistant at TSSMP. I have 20 years of experience working in a kindergarten as well as a school setting. I am very passionate in teaching children to self-regulate and thrive in their own unique way. I started as a kindergarten assistant and over the years have gained my Diploma in Children’s Services and part of my Bachelor of Early Childhood Education, which I am now completing.
Throughout my time at kindergarten my interest in Autism has grown and the need to learn more about the amazing abilities our children are blessed with led me to seek employment in a School for Autism. I have learned so much over the years and I believe wholeheartedly that early intervention is key. I am extremely passionate about tapping into how each child learns and thrives.
I am looking forward to working with your child and family and promise I will do everything I can to help your child shine bright.
I love love love four-wheel driving and camping so feel free to tell me about your adventures. I’m not too bad on the tools too. When I’m not camping I’m renovating the house. See you all soon!
Melissa Georgiou
Melissa holds a bachelor of Health Sciences and Masters in Occupational Therapy Practice and is passionate about supporting children and their families to achieve their goals. Since graduating in 2014 she has worked in community health, early childhood intervention and specialist school settings.
Melissa has experience supporting children and their families to meet their goals in a variety of areas including fine and gross motor skills, sensory regulation, emotional regulation, managing routines, and self-care. Melissa utilises a collaborative family-centred and strengths based approach, and believes that every child can succeed.
Melissa has a particular passion for supporting children with sensory and emotional regulation challenges. She has completed training in administering and interpreting the Sensory Profile 2 assessment, as well as implementing the Alert Program and Zones of Regulation.
Melissa has experience running therapy programs for groups and individuals and believes that a fun approach to therapy for both children and their carers is key to success.
Melissa Raine
As an occupational Therapist, Melissa is committed to supporting children to thrive. She is a consultant with The Mehrit Centre, and has trained extensively in their groundbreaking self regulation framework. Identifying and addressing stress effectively is crucial for growth and resilience. Melissa works to strengthen children’s sensory, motor, emotion and social developmental capacities, and engages with parents to produce strategies tailored to their child’s unique profile and environment.
Melissa combines this focus with a DIR Floortime approach. In this developmental framework, children are guided towards developmental milestones through attuned interactions. Social, emotional and physical development are integrated in this naturalistic approach, which promotes children actively experiencing and learning about themselves and their worlds through targeted support. Empowering parents to support their child’s developmental needs is a crucial part of this process.
Melissa is in the process of receiving accreditation in the SpIRit Model (Sensory Processing/Integration Reasoning Interactive Tool). This is a comprehensive clinical reasoning framework for paediatric occupational therapists that draws together neuroscience, developmental theory, sensory integration principles, relationship-based practice and occupational therapy theory. It supports clinicians to identify and understand the impact of sensory, affective and motor challenges on participation, development and relationships, while guiding intervention planning through an interpersonal neurobiological lens.