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ABOUT ME
DR. RACHAEL UNICOMB
Dr Rachael Unicomb is a certified practicing speech pathologist who provides mobile (and telehealth) services to people with communication disorders in their own homes across the Newcastle and Lake Macquarie areas. Telehealth services are offered Australia-wide.
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Providing client-centred, evidence-based assessment and treatment of communication disorders, Rachael works with people who stutter (of all ages), and with children who have difficulties with speech sounds and/or language skills.​​
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With a particular interest in stuttering, Rachael has experience working with people who stutter across the lifespan: preschool-aged children, school-aged children, adolescents and adults. She has had specific training and/or experience across a variety of treatment approaches for all age-groups (including the Lidcombe Program, RESTART-DCM, Westmead Program, Camperdown Program, Oakville program, and LaTrobe Smooth Speech). Further, Rachael provides lectures and practice education specific to the area of stuttering across the lifespan to students at the University of Newcastle and is an invited guest lecturer at other universities worldwide.
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Rachael has also provided training and mentoring for speech pathologists and undergraduate students in Australia in the area of stuttering.
Rachael completed her PhD in 2015 with her research focusing on the treatment of children who have co-occurring stuttering and speech sound disorder. Rachael has published and presented at an international level on this (and other areas).
Rachael has also had experience working with children with speech sound disorders (including childhood apraxia of speech; ranging from mild to severe) and language disorders. Rachael aims to provide individualised treatment for communication disorders and believes in collaborative goal setting with both the client and their family (where appropriate). Rachael has experience across a wide range of intervention approaches for speech and/or language disorders, and careful consideration of the client’s presentation, the research evidence, and the clients’/families’ goals and preferences are all taken into consideration when considering the most appropriate approach.
Qualifications/Certifications
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PhD, Speech Pathology
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Bachelor of Speech Pathology (Hons, Class I)
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Member, Speech Pathology Australia (SPA)
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Certified Practising Speech Pathologist (SPA)
Additional Qualifications, Training and Experience
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Lidcombe Program
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RESTART-DCM
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Hanen - It Takes Two to Talk®
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Hanen - More Than Words®
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Key Word Sign (Australia)
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Picture Exchange Communication System (PECS)®
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DIR/Floortime®
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Member, NSW Speech Pathology Evidence-based practice (NSW-EBP) network
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Mental Health First Aid (accredited mental health first aider)
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Speech Sound Disorders – Spoiled for choice and sound reasoning (SPA)
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Speech Sound Disorders – Evidence based assessment and intervention (SPA)
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Cued Articulation
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