Helping kids — and grown-ups — find the words.
I'm Sim Dhaliwal. For more than 30 years I've helped people make sense of talking, reading, spelling and writing. If something's not clicking, let's work out the way forward together.
A speech pathologist who's also a teacher
Most speech pathologists know the therapy. Most teachers know the classroom. I've spent over 30 years doing both — so I understand not only how language develops, but how it shows up in the spelling test, the reading group and the homework battles at the kitchen table.
That means we don't just work on sounds in a quiet room. We work on the things that are actually getting in your child's way — at school and at home — and I'll show you how to help between our sessions, too.
Sound familiar? You're in the right place.
Every person is different, but these are the things families most often come to me about — in plain language, here's where I can help.
Talking & listening
Finding the right words, being understood, and following what's said.
Reading
Sounding out words, reading smoothly, and understanding what they've read.
Spelling
Making sense of how words are built, so spelling finally starts to stick.
Writing
Getting ideas onto the page with the grammar and structure to back them up.
Confidence with friends
Joining in, taking turns and feeling at ease around other kids.
Helping you help them
Simple strategies for home, plus support talking things through with school.
Working with primary and high-school students, and adults too — in person in Adelaide, or online by telehealth.
Reaching out is the hardest part. Here's how simple it is.
We have a chat
No pressure, no jargon. You tell me what's worrying you, and I'll be honest about whether I'm the right person to help.
We take a proper look
A friendly assessment to understand exactly what's going on — and where the real gaps are.
We make a plan, together
A clear way forward in plain language, with practical things you can do at home between sessions.
Experience you can feel from the first conversation
A few warm words from a parent will sit here once we add your real testimonials — in their own voice, with their permission.
Placeholder — to be replaced with a real, consented testimonial
Ready when you are.
You don't need the right words to get started — that's my job. Send a message and we'll take it gently from there.
Book a friendly chatLet's have a chat
Not sure if I'm the right person? That's exactly what a first conversation is for. Reach out and we'll take it from there — no pressure at all.