Intensive Early Language Programs
GROUPS
Stuck on a waitlist?
Want to try a different approach?
Join us for Hanen More Than Words
Starting 10th June 2025
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This is for parents/caregivers who:
✅ Want to help their child, with support from a Speech Pathologist
✅ Have been on waitlists for months and want to make progress now
✅ Want to better connect with and communicate with your child
✅ Want to follow an internationally-recognised, evidence-based program that has been completed by 10,000's of parents around the world
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How does it compare to 1:1 therapy?
Why choose us for your Hanen More Than Words program:
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- we are experienced speechies who have have helped 100's of children who are autistic or late talkers
- we each have over 9 years of experience working professionally with families just like yours
- we genuinely care about you and your child
- you can attend from your couch while the kids are in bed
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Presented by Davine Speech Pathology and Swinnerton Speech Pathology
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Tuesdays at 7pm
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More Than Words is for children aged 0- 6 with language delays, social skills delays or are autistic. Children who are not yet talking, are speaking in single words or are starting to have back and forth conversations are eligible.
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What's included?
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The Hanen Program takes place once a week over 13 weeks.
The program includes:
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A pre-program consultation with the speech therapist which includes an assessment of your child and setting communication goals
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8 X 2.5 hour sessions for a small group of parents, led by two Hanen-certified speech pathologists
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Three individual video feedback sessions – you and your child are supported while playing and using the strategies. Then you and the speech pathologist discuss what’s working and how you can modify your use of the strategies to better support your child.
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Support resources including personalised plan for your child, email support, weekly check-ins, reading materials and handouts
When will it run?
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The parent sessions will be on Tuesdays at 7pm via Zoom. The sessions with yuor child will be at a time during the day that suits you, your child and the speech therapist.
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Frequently Asked Questions
WHAT IS HANEN MORE THAN WORDS? Hanen Programs are an evidence-based program that is designed to help you learn practical, research-based strategies to support your child's communication, engagement and play skills. The thirteen week program is led by two Hanen-certified speech pathologists. The program is developed by The Hanen Centre and is offered worldwide. You will learn practical strategies that you can implement in your daily interactions with your child. Parents of autistic children or parents of children with other social / language difficulties, aged 6 years and under. The group is best suited for children who are either: non-verbal; using single words or short phrases; or, beginning to have short back and forth conversations. No specific diagnosis is needed. Parents of autistic children or parents of children with other social / language difficulties, aged 6 years and under. The group is best suited for children who are either: non-verbal; using single words or short phrases; or, beginning to have short back and forth conversations. No specific diagnosis is needed.
WHAT CAN I EXPECT? You will be guided every step of the way by the speech pathologist who will provide support and feedback specific to your child through four individual sessions with you and your child. By learning in a small group of parents, you will also get support from peers who understand what you are going through.
WHERE IS IT LOCATED? As the program is on Zoom, families across Australia are able to participate. One of our goals is to make speech therapy accessible to all children regardless of where they live! Clients local to our Hallam, Endeavour Hills or Warragul clinics have the option for 1:1 sessions to be offered in person.
CAN I STILL DO 1:1 THERAPY? This program can be attended alongside your regular 1:1 speech therapy sessions or while you are on waitlists for local therapy services. Hanen programs compliments individual therapy so that you have more understanding of your child and the strategies that your therapist is working on with your child and the homework they are prescribing. ​
HOW CAN I FIND OUT MORE? Read about the international Hanen Program on their website www.Hanen.org and the Australian government websites Raising Children Network and Dept of Education
​I wanted to be able to communicate effectively with my child. Originally we were having meltdowns because he couldn’t communicate what he wanted, when he wanted. There would be a lot of frustration both ways because he couldn’t express himself and communicate.
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One of my favourite activities we did, was him jumping on the bed, and he was laughing and giggling and having fun.
It is an unbelievable program.
Sometimes I was tired after work to jump on and it has been really beneficial.
I can’t thank you enough.
It was good having other parents in the program, nice to see I wasn't alone. That other parents are also going through it.
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- Hanen Parent, 2024​
When we first started, my goal was for him to say words. I didn't know what to do because he got distracted all the time. I didn't have patience, I wanted results immediately. Now I know to follow his lead.
Hanen has given me a foundation & confidence. We can now see growth and a path forward to help him continuously.
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- Hanen Parent, 2024
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So when I came into this, I thought, 'how on earth is this going to help me?'.
With the Hanen program, its not only just for the child, it also helps the parent. You learn more about yourself and more about your child. You learn there are more than words for communication.
It helps both parent and child, you become closer because you have to engage so much more
I would recommend it to anyone that needs to do it.
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- Hanen Parent, 2024
Our child had the ability but she wouldn’t use her words. We have a lot of the skills but having them pointed out and reinforced all the time, and reminding us that this was going to get all the results was really helpful. Coming every week to remind ourselves and to practice was really helpful.
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- Hanen Parents, 2024
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The best thing I got out of it is the video feedback sessions. So you can see what you are doing is actually helping.
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- Hanen Parent, 2024
