Katherine Lidster

Kath is a Speech Pathologist who graduated from Southern Cross University in 2020. She has experience working across a variety of settings, including aged care, early childhood, school-aged populations, and within the complex disabilities space. During her university studies, Kath worked in residential disability support, giving her valuable insight into the day-to-day realities of living with communication and swallowing challenges beyond the therapy room.

Kath is passionate about engaging with clients and their families, and is dedicated to developing meaningful, functional goals that support the practicalities of everyday life. She has experience supporting both children and adults across a broad range of practice areas, including speech, language, voice, augmentative and alternative communication (AAC), stuttering, and swallowing difficulties.

Her clinical experience includes working with individuals with complex and comorbid conditions, such as motor neuron disease and other neurological conditions, chromosomal abnormalities, motor speech disorders, and communication and cognitive changes following stroke. She also supports individuals with developmental delay and neurodivergent communication styles, including those who are non-speaking.

Kath enjoys working with people across the lifespan, with a particular interest in supporting adolescents and adults with their communication and adapting to changes in swallowing. She enjoys thinking outside the box and using a person’s own interests to motivate them. She thrives on the ‘Aha!’ lightbulb moment when a person ‘gets it’. 

Kath is a certified Speak Out! provider, supporting individuals living with Parkinson’s disease to maintain their communication and swallowing abilities.

Outside of work, Kath enjoys travelling, attending live music events, and spending time with her family and dog at the beach.