MEET THE TEAM

“Aura: A supposed emanation surrounding the body of a living creature and regarded as an essential part of the individual.”

Meeting the team at Aura ensures that you are in capable hands. Our team is composed of dedicated professionals, including admin staff, allied health assistants, and speech pathologists, who have undergone training and education to assist individuals with orofacial myology, feeding, voice, early language, and speech disorders. With a commitment to delivering comprehensive and evidence-based assessment and treatment, our therapists cater to both children and adults with a diverse range of presentations. Drawing from their broad experience, our team members possess a genuine passion for helping individuals achieve their goals. We take great pride in creating a warm and inviting environment where clients feel at ease and fully supported throughout their therapy journey.

THERESA ELLIOTT

Speech Pathologist & Orofacial Myologist

Theresa is a speech pathologist and the proud founder of Aura Speech Pathology on the Sunshine Coast - and someone who genuinely can't stop thinking about why.

Why a child is struggling to eat. Why speech sounds aren't clicking. Why breathing patterns matter more than we think. That curiosity is at the heart of everything Aura does. With a clinical focus spanning feeding, speech sound disorders, and orofacial myology, Theresa built Aura around a root cause philosophy - one that prioritises meaningful, empowering support for the whole family.
Because she believes that when families feel empowered, not just informed, that's when things actually change.

Her vision from the start has been clear: a team of highly trained Sunshine Coast clinicians, consistent in their approach, working together to make a real and lasting difference.

When she's not in the clinic, you'll find Theresa with her hands in clay, nose in a book, or planning her next food adventure somewhere around the world. Most days though, life looks a little more like soaking up every moment with her three babies - two fluffy ones and one brand new human.

Theresa is currently on Maternity Leave and will return to Aura late 2026

Theresa’s “Aura“: Blue – Authentically blue aura people are loving and healing people. They feel the need to give and connect to spirit this way. They are empaths, which means they feel others feelings and pain strongly and are compelled to fix it.

THERESA HAS COMPLETED TRAINING INCLUDING:

Orofacial Myofunctional Therapy
PROMPT
The Assessment and Treatment of the Jaw
Key Word Sign
LAMP – AAC Training
ReST – Apraxia Therapy
SoundsWrite
Buteyko Educator Level 1
Hanen It Takes Two
Myo-Munchee Certified
Play Based Speech Pathology Certified
Level II Oro-facial Myology
SPEAK OUT! & The LOUD Crowd!
Face Fit!
Infant Feeding Foundations Workshop – Babble & Munch
Your Feeding Toolkit – Melanie Potock

Annalee Dwyer

Speech Pathologist & Orofacial Myologist

ANNALEE HAS COMPLETED TRAINING INCLUDING:

Annalee completed her bachelor of Speech Pathology in Townsville at JCU in 2019. Since then she has worked with individuals across the lifespan, although she thoroughly enjoys working with young children.

Annalee has experience working with individuals with a range of diagnoses and developmental delays. She is passionate about children and adults finding their voice and being able to communicate more independently. She utilises a fun, play play-based and child-led approach for younger clients and works on building confidence and autonomy, particularly enjoying the use of AAC for adults clients.

Outside of work hours Annalee loves spending time with family and friends, relaxing at the beach or travelling.

Annalee's “Aura“: Blue – Authentically blue aura people are loving and healing people. They feel the need to give and connect to spirit this way. They are empaths, which means they feel others feelings and pain strongly and are compelled to fix it.

Hanen - It Takes Two to Talk
PROMPT
Sounds-Write
Sequential Oral Sensory (SOS) Feeding Approach
Shape Coding
Learn To Play – Karen Stagnetti
An introduction to DIR and DIR Floortime
Sense Up
Sensory motor and motor planning difficulties – Kerry Evetts
Neurodiversity Affirming Practice – Adina Levy
Orofacial Myofunctional Therapy
DTTC for Childhood Apraxia of Speech
ReST for Childhood Apraxia of Speech
Feeding - Assessment and Intervention via The Brisbane Feeding Clinic

MADDY CLARK

Speech Pathologist & Orofacial Myologist

Maddy is a Speech Pathologist who graduated with Honours from the University of Queensland, and she's brought that same enthusiasm and rigour into everything she does at Aura.

Through her studies, Maddy gained experience working with people across the lifespan — but it's children who have her whole heart. She has since found her clinical home in feeding and orofacial myofunctional therapy, bringing a warm, curious approach to every session.

Maddy has also recently stepped into a role beyond the clinic walls, delivering professional development talks to local Sunshine Coast kindergartens - sharing her knowledge with educators and helping build stronger foundations for the little ones in our community.
When she's not in clinic or planning her next PD talk, you'll find Maddy catching waves, strumming her guitar, or hanging out with her cat — all while probably thinking about speech pathology.

Maddy’s “Aura“: Indigo – The indigo Aura is one of the more rare Auras that individuals can find themselves gifted with. They are fiercely confident, independent, and brimming with an energy that invigorates those they interact with.

MADDY HAS COMPLETED TRAINING INCLUDING:

Orofacial Myofunctional Therapy
Heggerty
Key Word Sign
Early Language – Emily Mackie
SPEAK OUT!
DTTC for Childhood Apraxia of Speech
ReST for Childhood Apraxia of Speech
Feeding - Assessment and Intervention via The Brisbane Feeding Clinic

Sara Van Hooydonk

Speech Pathologist & Orofacial Myologist

SARA HAS COMPLETED TRAINING INCLUDING:

Sara is a speech pathologist who values creating a supportive and respectful environment where children feel comfortable to explore and develop their communication skills. She places importance on building strong relationships with children and their families, recognising that trust and connection are key to effective and meaningful therapy.

Her approach is collaborative and flexible, combining evidence-based assessment and intervention with the individual needs, goals, and preferences of each child and their support network. Sara values working closely with parents, carers, and other professionals, offering practical strategies that can be integrated into daily routines to support communication development beyond the therapy room.

Outside of work, Sara enjoys yoga, hiking and spending time by the beach.

Sara’s "Aura": White - People with white auras are known for their calm presence, honesty, empathy, and intuitive nature, making them natural healers and trusted companions. Their lives are guided by a sense of purpose, inner balance, and a desire to uplift others.

LAMP
More Than Words
DTTC for Childhood Apraxia of Speech
ReST for Childhood Apraxia of Speech
Feeding - Assessment and Intervention via The Brisbane Feeding Clinic
Orofacial Myofunctional Therapy

SHARNIE MENEELY

Allied Health Assistant & Client Care Coordinator

Sharnie brings a rich background in working with children across various settings. Having worked in support roles, childcare, and as a teacher aide, she has developed a deep understanding of the needs of children at different stages of growth. Her love lies in creating supportive environments where children can thrive, feel safe and have fun, whilst fostering positive communication skills so that every child she works with feels empowered and confident in their abilities. In her spare time, Sharnie loves spending quality moments with her three young boys, reading a good book, and getting creative with craft projects.

Sharnie’s “Aura”: Violet – Individuals with violet in their auras are dynamic, charismatic, and have powerful personalities. Their task or mission in life is to lead and inspire humankind and to guide us into a new age of prosperity, happiness, and wholeness. They have an inner and driving urge to do something important with their life.

SHARNIE HAS COMPLETED TRAINING INCLUDING:

Early Language – Emily Mackie