Sinead’s CPA Journey: Helping Clients Find Their Voice

This collaborative approach is one of the things Sinead values most about working at CPA. “It is really beneficial for the client because we’re all there in the room,” she explains. “It’s amazing to see that research-based intervention works and the joy that progress brings to clients and families.” 

CPA has also enabled Sinead to pursue her passion for high-tech augmentative and alternative communication (AAC), building her expertise alongside a highly skilled speech pathology team. In 2024, she further expanded her experience through a year-long secondment to CPA’s Alstonville site, supporting regional families while continuing to grow as a clinician. 

Helping clients achieve goals that matter to them is at the heart of Sinead’s work. Whether it’s supporting a child to develop a new speech sound or helping someone access communication in a different way, she finds great joy in celebrating every step of progress along the way. “I love helping our clients to meet their goals,” she says. 

One experience that stands out involved a teenager who used an eye-gaze communication device but was becoming fatigued using it throughout the day. Her goal was to participate in school and complete her homework, just like many other teenagers. 

Working closely with the client’s occupational therapist, Sinead helped introduce a switch device that made communication and computer access easier. By combining eye gaze with the switch, the teenager was able to navigate tasks more efficiently and complete activities such as her maths homework. 

Reflecting on the experience, Sinead says, “Moments like this are why I love being a speechie.” 

While some achievements are life-changing, Sinead says it is often the smaller milestones that bring the greatest joy. “It can be as small as making the ‘L’ sound,” she says. “Then they say a word, like ‘light’ or ‘like’, and they get it. Seeing their joy is a pretty cool thing.” 

For speech pathologists considering a career at CPA, Sinead believes the organisation offers exceptional opportunities for learning and growth. “There’s so much to learn,” she says. “The resources we have, the training we have, as well as the team we have, are pretty incredible.” 

With access to specialised training, extensive resources and a highly skilled team, Sinead sees CPA as a place where clinicians can continue to develop their expertise while making a meaningful difference in the lives of clients and their families.