Danielle Ryan, founder of Little Language, knew she wanted to become a speech-language pathologist in high school. As her appreciation and empathy for people facing communication challenges grew through her own experiences living, working and going to school in various non-English speaking countries, including a rewarding six months volunteering in South America, she knew it was the perfect choice. Danielle has almost 20 years experience as a private practitioner with a particular interest in working with children with speech, language, literacy and orofacial myofunctional difficulties, and continues to be passionate and excited about helping these children reach their communication potential. After earning her Bachelor of Arts in Psychology, Danielle went on to complete a Masters in Speech Pathology Studies. Her group research paper was published in Disability and Rehabilitation. Danielle engages in continual professional development, has enjoyed roles as a sessional staff member and clinical educator for Master of Speech Pathology students at Griffith University, and has additional certification in: * It Takes Two to Talk - The Hanen Program® for Parents of Children with Language Delays * Visualizing and Verbalizing for Language Comprehension and Thinking® (V/V®) - Lindamood-Bell * The Writing Road to Reading© (The Spalding Method) - Spalding Education International * Learn to Play - A practical program to develop a child’s imaginative play - Karen Stagnitti * Orofacial Myofunctional Disorders * Sounds~Write - A very highly structured, multi-sensory, sythetic phonics programme * Talk4Writing - An oral language to reading to writing literacy method * Key Word Sign - The use of manual signs and natural gesture to support communication * The Lidcombe Program - A behavioural treatment for children who stutter

After graduating from the University of Queensland in 2015, Yvonne worked as a mobile speech pathologist across the Gold Coast, Brisbane and Lockyer Valley regions. Yvonne joined Little Language in March 2017, then in July 2021 teamed up with SLP Danielle Ryan to become joint Director and create Little Language Pty Ltd. Yvonne is a highly passionate speech-language pathologist who has a keen interest in working with children who have speech, language and literacy difficulties. She enjoys all aspect of the profession and finds it incredibly rewarding to be able to support those who struggle with their communication. Yvonne is dedicated to providing holistic evidence-based intervention plans, in collaboration with the client and their families, to help children reach their full communication potential. Growing up in a multilingual society, Yvonne is fluent in speaking English and Cantonese. She particularly enjoys working with children from non-English speaking backgrounds, and aims to provide holistic care to improve communication in both English and their native language. Outside of speech pathology, Yvonne enjoys baking, trying new foods and spending time with her young family. Yvonne still enjoys continuing her professional learning and development and has additional certification in: * Voicecraft - For assessment and direct treatment of voice disorders * The Writing Road to Reading© (The Spalding Method) - Spalding Education International * Key Word Sign - The use of manual signs and natural gesture to support communication * DIR 101 - DIR and DIRFloortime - A pathway to promote healthy development that builds connections, communication, and engagement

With over 30 years of experience, Leticia is a dedicated and passionate clinician. She graduated in 1994 as both a Speech Pathologist and Audiologist. In 2002, she moved to the Gold Coast with her husband and quickly fell in love with the Australian way of life. In 2008, she gained Australian citizenship and became the first Brazilian-trained Speech Therapist to have her overseas qualifications recognised by Speech Pathology Australia. Since then, Leticia has worked with individuals across the lifespan — from newborns to older adults — across hospitals, schools, disability services, multidisciplinary clinics, and private practice. She brings a gentle, skilled, and family-centred approach to her sessions and is particularly passionate about orofacial myology, speech, pronunciation in bilingual speakers, dysphagia and breastfeeding support. Leticia is bilingual (Portuguese/English) and enjoys supporting clients in both languages. Outside of her professional life, she is a proud wife and mum of two, and brings warmth, care, and dedication to everything she does. Leticia believes that everyone is born with a purpose, and hers is to support others through the art and science of speech pathology. Leticia still enjoys continuing her professional learning and development and has additional certification in: * Functional Kinesio tape * Cervical auscultation * Deep orofacial manipulation therapy * Oro-motor sensory stimulation for newborns * Pre-term neonatal feeding & ASD feeding * Paediatric feeding management * Oral motor therapy & tube-feeding decision making * PECS (Picture Exchange Communication System)

Yasmin is a dedicated Speech Pathologist with a passion for supporting children and adolescents with a wide range of communication needs. Yasmin graduated with a Bachelor of Speech Pathology from the Australian Catholic University in 2022. Since graduation, Yasmin has spent several years living and working as a Speech Pathologist in Sydney before recently returning to sunny Queensland. Yasmin has experience working with preschool and school-aged children presenting with a variety of functional communication needs, including children with autism spectrum disorder, childhood apraxia of speech, fluency disorders, developmental language disorder, dyslexia, and global developmental delay. She has experience delivering therapy in the clinic, via telehealth, and in the education setting. Yasmin has a strong interest in the areas of speech, language, fluency and literacy, and is committed to using evidence-based approaches to support meaningful, functional outcomes for her clients. She enjoys building strong relationships with children and their families, and works collaboratively with caregivers, educators, and multidisciplinary teams to provide holistic, family-centred care. Yasmin strives to take a neuro-affirming approach to therapy and has completed additional professional development on providing trauma-informed therapy. Outside of the clinic, Yasmin enjoys reading, cooking, camping and spending time at the beach. Yasmin is committed to ongoing professional development and has completed the following formal training programs: *It Takes Two to Talk® – The Hanen Program® for Parents of Children with Language Delays. *Sounds-Write – A highly structured, multisensory synthetic phonics program. *Cracking the ABC Code – a multisensory literacy intervention program. *Dynamic Temporal and Tactile Cueing (DTTC) – A motor-based approach for children with Childhood Apraxia of Speech (CAS).

Lizzie is a compassionate new graduate speech pathologist with over seven years of experience working within the disability community. Lizzie's passion for communication grew through her work as an individual disability support worker, where she supported people with complex needs and saw firsthand the importance of access to communication and support for individuals. Lizzie completed her Bachelor of Speech Pathology at Southern Cross University in 2025 and has clinical experience across various academic placements and previous therapy assistant experience in speech, language, voice, fluency, AAC and swallowing and completed training in Language Acquisition in Motor Planning (LAMP) Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) and Moving Forward with LAMP. Lizzie is passionate about early intervention and supporting individuals to express themselves in meaningful ways, using a client-centred approach and believes that everyone has something to say sometimes we just need to find the right way to help them be heard. During her spare time, you'll find her with her two dogs Willow and Chester at the beach or doing reformer Pilates.

Melanie is originally from California and has been living in Australia for the past 11 years. She completed a Bachelor of Arts in Linguistics at the University of California, Santa Cruz, including a year of study in Art History and Italian Linguistics at the University of Bologna in 2011. She went on to complete her Master of Speech Pathology at Griffith University in 2025. Throughout her clinical placements, Melanie gained experience working across both paediatric and adult populations. She has supported children with speech sound disorders, language delays, and social communication challenges, as well as adults presenting with neurological communication conditions and motor speech disorders. Melanie has a particular interest in early language intervention. She is committed to delivering evidence-based, person-centred care and works collaboratively with clients and families to achieve meaningful, functional outcomes. She values building strong therapeutic relationships and tailoring intervention to each individual’s goals and strengths. Outside of clinical practice, Melanie enjoys hiking, climbing, spending time at the beach, and playing guitar.

Tegen made the leap from Medical Science to Speech Pathology, bringing her love of learning into every therapy session. She believes that speech therapy should be as fun as it is effective—because kids learn best when they’re having a great time! Currently completing her Bachelor of Speech Pathology at Southern Cross University, Tegen is all about creating a warm, supportive space where little voices can grow big and confident. Beyond the therapy room, she enjoys watching live music or curling up on the couch with a great book and her four-legged friend Dash!

Michelle is an Allied Health Assistant currently studying her Bachelor of Speech Pathology at Southern Cross University. She is passionate about working with children and supporting their communication development in meaningful and engaging ways. With a background as a teacher’s aide and disability support worker, Michelle brings valuable experience, patience, and understanding to her role. She loves being part of a team environment and enjoys working collaboratively with the clinic’s speech pathologists to provide high-quality, child-centred care. Michelle finds great joy in watching children grow in confidence as they reach important milestones and celebrate their progress, big and small. Outside of work, Michelle is a proud mum to two teenagers. She enjoys all things adventure, especially ocean swimming, running, and riding, and brings that same energy and enthusiasm into both her personal and professional life.

Steph is the clinic's social media guru, bringing creativity, warmth and a passion for storytelling to the practice's online presence. With a Bachelor of Communication under her belt, she loves finding meaningful ways to connect with families and showcase the wonderful work happening throughout the clinic. From creating reels and sharing stories to photographing the team and capturing everyday moments, Steph helps bring the clinic's personality to life online and keeps families connected with what's happening behind the scenes. Outside of work, you'll usually find her frolicking at the beach, planning her next adventure, and making friends with every puppy she meets.

Kaia is one of the friendly faces at our front reception! She enjoys welcoming families and helping each visit run smoothly. With a warm and approachable nature, Kaia loves being part of a supportive team environment and contributing to a positive experience for both children and their families. Currently in her third year of studying Speech Pathology at Southern Cross University, she is passionate about developing her skills and knowledge to support children’s communication and growth. Outside of the clinic, Kaia enjoys getting lost in a good book, spending time at the beach, and staying active through the Gym and Pilates.