Spelfabet

The Speech Pathologists at the Spelfabet clinic in North Fitzroy work with school-aged children, teenagers and adults with language-based learning difficulties. Many of our clients have other difficulties, disabilities or differences as well. We aren’t registered with the NDIS, but can work with self or agency-managed NDIS clients.

Most clients have individual sessions, but we run intensive school holiday groups for young children (in Foundation to Year 2), with a maximum ratio of up four children per Speech Pathologist.

At our first, 75 minute appointment, we usually assess phonological processing, word-level reading and spelling with standardised tests, provide feedback and answer questions. A further session may be needed to assess oral language or other communication skills. We write a brief summary report on test outcomes, and can write more detailed, formal reports with recommendations if required.

We have a large range of phonemic awareness, reading and spelling intervention resources, and generally tackle decoding/spelling difficulties using a linguistic/synthetic phonics approach plus some work on morphology. Intervention is tailored to individual clients.

Our therapy sessions are usually 45 minutes to an hour long, depending on the age and attention skills of the client. This includes a few minutes to write our session notes. Parents/carers are asked to usually attend sessions, so they can support regular (10-20 minutes 4 or 5 times a week) therapy practice at home. We lend a range of books to clients, to make home practice easier and more affordable for parents/carers, and interesting for kids.

Appointments with us must be booked in advance. Please contact reception on admin@spelfabet.com.au, or ring (03) 8528 0138 or ring or text 0434 902 249 between 10am and 6pm Monday to Thursday, to request an appointment. We have a waiting list for out of school hours appointments, but can usually see new clients fairly promptly during school hours.

You don’t need a doctor’s referral to work with us, but GP team care (EPC/CDM) referrals and Paediatricians’ Complex Neurodevelopmental disorders and eligible disabilities referrals attract a limited number of Medicare rebates for individual (but not group) sessions. Private health insurance rebates may also be available, depending on type/level of cover.

Address: Suite 3, 430 Rae St, North Fitzroy, 3068, Victoria, Australia.

Rae St runs parallel to and between Brunswick St/St Georges Rd and Nicholson Sts. Our office is between Scotchmer and Park Sts, not far from North Fitzroy Village/Piedimonte’s supermarket. Our building is large and terracotta/pink in colour, and we’re in the left rear office if arriving from the building front.

Opening hours: Our reception is usually staffed 10.00am to 6.00pm Monday to Thursday (with a lunch break about 1.00pm) but therapists offer appointments between 8.00am and 7.00pm weekdays and 9.00am and 5.00pm on fortnightly Saturdays (Saturdays are usually booked out well in advance).

Accessibility: Our office is on the ground floor with no steps. There is a wheelchair-accessible toilet in the building.

Transport: One hour parking is usually available in Rae St. during the day.

Our office is 300m or 4 minutes’ walk from the number 96 tram line (Nicholson St), and 400m or 6 minutes’ walk from the number 11 tram line (St Georges Rd). It is 1.3km or 16 minutes’ walk from Rushall railway station.

The 504 Clifton Hill to Moonee Ponds bus stops 300m or 5 minutes’ walk to the south, and the 250 CBD to La Trobe University and 251 CBD to Northland SC buses both stop 550m or 7 minutes’ walk to the north-east.

The building is also 200m south of the Capital City Trail, which makes it highly accessible by bike. We have installed three bike hoops at the Rae St entrance of our building.

ABN 35 651 652 229