Stuttering Speech Therapy Sydney
Stuttering speech therapy in Sydney for children aged 0 to 16. Kids and Cubs Clinic helps your child speak smoothly and confidently with caring, evidence-based support from our Speech Pathologist.
What Is Stuttering?
Stuttering, also called stammering, is a speech condition that interrupts the natural flow of talking. It usually appears in children under 5 as their language skills are growing faster than their motor speech system can keep up with.
Some children grow out of it without any help. The problem is that no one, not a teacher, not even a speech pathologist, can predict with certainty which children will resolve on their own.
That is why the current best-practice recommendation in Australian paediatric speech pathology is to begin stuttering treatment as early as possible. Waiting and watching can work, but it also costs time during the window when therapy is most effective.
Samantha Malfitano
Director and Principal Speech Pathologist
Samantha is the Director and Principal Speech Pathologist at Kids and Cubs Clinic, founded in 2022. Samantha completed her Bachelor of Applied Sciences: Speech Pathology at the University of Sydney (2016) and is a registered member of Speech Pathology Australia (SPA).
She is an experienced paediatric clinician, having developed a range of skills in her roles at Liverpool Hospital NSW (2017-2022) for the assessment and treatment of children with communication, feeding and developmental difficulties.
She has provided services for Culturally and Linguistically Diverse clients and families, ex-premature babies, and has worked extensively and collaboratively within multidisciplinary teams alongside Occupational Therapists, Physiotherapists, Paediatricians, Neonatologists and teachers.
Lucy Smith
Speech Pathologist
Lucy joined the Kids and Cubs Team at the beginning of 2024. She completed her Bachelor of Speech Pathology at Australian Catholic University in Brisbane; Queensland and she is a registered member of Speech Pathology Australia (SPA).
Lucy has experience as a paediatric clinician from her time working in private practice.
She has experience working collaboratively within a multidisciplinary team including Occupational Therapists, Physiotherapists and Psychologists as well as education professionals such as Teachers and Learning support staff. She is trained in the Sounds-Write Program, Infant Feeding Foundations (Babble & Munch) and oro-facial myology. She engages in regular professional development across the areas of play, stuttering, and language development.
Natalie Catubig
Speech Pathologist
Natalie joined the Kids and Cubs Clinic team in 2026. She completed her Bachelor of Applied Sciences (Speech Pathology) at the University of Sydney in 2025 and is a registered member of Speech Pathology Australia (SPA).
Natalie has experience working with children across a range of settings, including school and clinic environments. She has supported students with speech, language, and literacy needs, and has worked collaboratively with teachers and families to enhance children’s participation in everyday activities.
Natalie is committed to evidence-based and family-centred practice and engages in ongoing professional development to support her clinical growth.
Funding
NDIS
- Self-managed funding
- Plan-managed funding
Private Health Insurance
- Please consult your private health provider to determine eligibility and rebate amounts.
Medicare
- Chronic Disease Management plan (previously known as Enhanced Primary Care plan)
- Please discuss Medicare funding options with your GP
Common Signs of stuttering in children
- Repetitions- repeating sounds, syllables or whole words ("b-b-b-ball", "Can I… can I… can I…?")
- Prolongations - stretching out a single sound within a word ("ssssssnake")
- Blocks - pausing or stopping mid-word, sometimes with no sound coming out at all
- Physical struggle - rapid eye blinking, lip trembling, facial grimacing, head movements
- Avoidance - your child going quiet, switching words mid-sentence, or refusing to speak in certain situations
Why Early Stuttering Therapy Matters
- A higher likelihood of full fluency recovery before school age
- Less risk of your child developing speech-related anxiety or low confidence
- Stronger parent-led skills that keep working long after therapy finishes
- Smoother transitions into preschool, kindergarten and primary school
- Fewer secondary behaviours like avoidance, fear of speaking, or social withdrawal
Stuttering Therapy Programs We Offer in Sydney
Lidcombe Program (for children under 6)
Developed in Sydney and the world’s most researched preschool stuttering treatment. Parent-delivered at home with our weekly training and support, it helps most young children reach normal or near-normal fluency.
Westmead and Oakville Programs (syllable-timed speech)
When Lidcombe is not the right fit, these Australian-developed programs teach children to speak in a steady, rhythmic pattern that smooths out stuttering. Suited to preschool and early primary school children.
Camperdown Program (for teenagers)
A speech restructuring program for older children and teens. They learn to control stuttering by slowing speech, then rebuilding to a natural rate delivered with respect, no patronising activities.
How Your Journey Will Be
Initial Assessment
Your first session is a detailed stuttering assessment. We listen to your child speak, observe their stuttering patterns, ask about family history, and answer every question you have walked in with.
A Clear Therapy Plan
After the assessment, you receive a written summary, our diagnostic impression, and a recommended program, so you know exactly how many sessions, what we are aiming for, and your role.
Weekly Therapy
Most children start with weekly 45-minute sessions, supported by short, realistic home practice built into play, school runs or bath time. We review progress regularly and adjust the program as your child grows.
Why Sydney Parents Choose Kids and Cubs Clinic
Funding Options
We support NDIS, Medicare, and private health rebates to make accessing child speech therapy easier for families in Balmain and nearby Inner West suburbs. Our team helps guide you through the process so your child can begin therapy without unnecessary delays.
Experienced Paediatric Speech Pathologists
Our clinic focuses entirely on helping children develop strong communication skills. Our paediatric speech pathologists work closely with kids of all ages, providing personalised therapy for speech, language, and communication challenges.
Evidence-Based Speech Therapy
Every therapy program we provide is built on modern research and proven speech pathology methods. This ensures children receive effective support that improves speech clarity, language development, and confidence over time.
Specialist Support for Childhood Apraxia of Speech
Our clinic provides specialised therapy for Childhood Apraxia of Speech (CAS). We use structured techniques that help children learn how to plan and coordinate speech sounds more effectively.
Get The Right Speech Support for Your Child’s Development
What Parents Says
Frequently Asked Questions
At what age can my child start stuttering therapy?
There is no minimum age. If your child is talking and stuttering, we can assess them, even from two years old.
Will my child grow out of stuttering on their own?
Some children do, but research shows around 25% of children who start stuttering will continue to stutter into adulthood without treatment.
Do you offer telehealth stuttering therapy for kids in Sydney?
Yes. The Lidcombe, Westmead, Oakville and Camperdown programs all translate well to telehealth, and we have many Sydney families who do their entire program online. You will need a quiet space, a reliable internet connection, and a parent present for younger children.
Will stuttering therapy make my child more self-conscious about their speech?
A common worry, and a fair one. The programs we use are designed specifically for young children and do not draw negative attention to stuttering. The Lidcombe Program, for example, focuses heavily on positive reinforcement for fluent speech, not on criticising stuttering. Children typically respond well and often enjoy the sessions.
Will stuttering therapy make my child more self-conscious about their speech?
A common worry, and a fair one. The programs we use are designed specifically for young children and do not draw negative attention to stuttering. The Lidcombe Program, for example, focuses heavily on positive reinforcement for fluent speech, not on criticising stuttering. Children typically respond well and often enjoy the sessions.
What if my child also has other speech or language difficulties?
Many children who stutter also have articulation, language or literacy needs. As a full-service paediatric speech pathology clinic, we can address multiple areas, we will work with you to decide priority order so therapy stays focused and effective.