Cathryn has over 35 years experience as a speech pathologist in both Australia and the UK having graduated with a Bachelor of Speech Therapy from the University of Qld in 1982. Cathy also holds a Masters of Healthcare Leadership (Southern Cross University – 2017). Cathy has worked in healthcare all her professional career , including 10 years at Townsville General Hospital and 14 years at Caloundra & Nambour Hospitals. Cathy has a particular interest in adult rehabilitation and neurological disorders, particularly Parkinson’s Disease. As the Senior Speech Pathologist for Rehabilitation in the Sunshine Coast Health Service from 2005-2017, Cathy was responsible for the coordination, and delivery of speech pathology treatment programs for Parkinson’s Disease sufferers. Cathy has a wealth of experience in this area and has provided educational lectures on Parkinson’s Disease to both patients and their families, as well as to professional colleagues. Cathy has undertaken certification training in a number of different speech pathology techniques for the treatment of Parkinson’s Disease.

Karen’s professional life has been over 40 years of diversity in both scope of clinical practice and across numerous states of Australia. She has worked with infants & children, the aged & palliative care management and within a variety of service delivery models in NGO, ‘not for profit’, education, healthcare and private practice settings. Karen’s experience working with people living with Parkinson’s Disease began in 1989 in Brisbane in a Day Therapy setting but has extended from that time to acute hospital admissions, inpatient rehabilitation and community home visits.

Louise’s diverse clinical career has spanned both adult and paediatric practice, in Australia and in the UK. She has a strong commitment to the Speech Pathology profession and sought out opportunities to improve access to appropriate therapy for people with communication and swallowing disorders. Louise has maintained membership with Speech Pathology Australia and is a Certified Practising Speech Pathologist. She contributed to various working parties, held a Rural Representative position within Speech Pathology Australia, and in 2010 she was successful in obtaining government funding to implement an Indigenous school readiness project.