Steps to Prep

Please submit enquiry details below – alternatively, make an enquiry by calling us on 03 9035 7199:

Joanna Rassias

Speech Pathologist

Joanna is dedicated Paediatric Speech Pathologist and Clinical Educator with experience providing assessment and intervention to children across a variety of settings including schools, kindergartens, the NDIS sector, private practice and community environments.

Joanna completed her Masters of Speech Pathology at La Trobe University and also holds a Bachelor of Science (Psychology) from the University of Melbourne. Joanna has a passion for working across early intervention and school readiness. She has a wealth of experience in supporting children and teens with developmental delays and other complex care needs, who experience speech, language, fluency and literacy difficulties.

Joanna believes in holistic family centred care and works closely with children and their families to establish neuro-affirming, functional goals that make a meaningful difference in a child’s life. Joanna strongly values collaborating with care teams, teachers and educators to create inclusive and accesible learning environments. She has also completed additional training in evidence-based approaches such as the Lidcombe Program, DIR Floor Time (101), and the Family Partnership Model.

Joanna strives to provide a supportive and inclusive environment so that all children are empowered to communicate and participate in their community.

Dr Olga Birchall

Clinic Director

Olga Birchall is a speech pathologist with a passion for innovation, informed decision making, and equity in healthcare service delivery. Her role as Clinic Director at MSPC is underpinned by Olga’s commitment to compassionate care, service, and life-long learning.

Olga graduated from La Trobe university with first class honours in 2000, and over the past 23 years has worked in clinical care, clinical education, and leadership across multiple healthcare settings, including acute teaching hospitals in Australia (Royal Melbourne Hospital, Western Hospital, St Vincent’s Hospital, Monash Medical Centre) and the UK (National Hospital for Neurology and Neurosurgery, Charing Cross Hospital, Royal Brompton Hospital, and others). Since 2004 she has concurrently run a successful mobile Speech Pathology practice servicing adults living in the community, residential aged care homes (RACHs), and acute hospitals. Olga has had extensive experience in leading teams through service development, delivery, and evaluation across acute, rehabilitation, palliative care, community, and outreach settings.

In 2022 Olga completed PhD research, supported by the University of Melbourne (and funded by the Australian Government Research Training Scholarship) to generate evidence about onsite mobile flexible endoscopic evaluation of swallowing (mFEES). Olga was the first provider of mobile instrumental swallowing assessment in Australia. Olga is also working to raise community, government, and professional awareness of mobile FEES by lobbying government ministers, health departments, through social media and by initiating the first international mFEES special interest group and research database. Olga has published research in international peer reviewed journals, presented at numerous conferences, and media platforms – including an award-winning online Speech Pathology media campaign, and being guest speaker on 774 ABC Melbourne.

Beyond speech pathology, Olga is grateful for her husband and two vivacious children. She enjoys hiking, pottering in her garden, Latin dancing, and getting lost in books. She is mindful of her personal journey as a consumer of healthcare services, the power of hope, and the value of striving for humility in delivering person-centred and timely healthcare.