Rachael McInerney

Director & Senior Speech Pathologist

Qualifications:

• Bachelor of Applied Science – Speech Pathology (Flinders University)
• Member of Speech Pathology Australia (Certified Practising Speech Pathologist)

Our Director Rachael McInerney has worked as a Paediatric Speech Pathologist for 23 years. Rachael specialises in paediatric feeding difficulties, Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) and early speech/language development. Rachael has worked in clinic and community settings across South Australia and Broken Hill.

Rachael’s experience includes extensive work within interdisciplinary, transdisciplinary, and multi-disciplinary teams focusing on child development, rehabilitation, and disability services from infancy to adolescence. Rachael has experience working with children with disabilities, medical and learning diagnoses including Cerebral Palsy, Autism Spectrum Disorder, developmental delay, Down Syndrome, G-tubes, Gastroesophageal Reflux, Oro-motor delays, low muscle tone and sensory difficulties. Rachael also has experience working with adults with communication and feeding difficulties.

Rachael held a position as a Research Officer for 3 years and published papers on the ‘Participation Profiles of Children with Complex Communication Needs’ (nee Rachael Virgo) under the leadership of Associate Professor Dr Parimala Raghavendra.

Rachael has presented at conferences nationally including AGOSCI and the Australasian Academy of Cerebral Palsy and Developmental Medicine (AusACPDM). She has provided extensive support and training to children, family, childcare and education staff in the areas of feeding (e.g., SOS, Oral Eating & Drinking Support), communication (e.g., (e.g., Key Word Sign, PODD, Proloquo2go, communication strategies), and speech/language (e.g., Hanen ITTT2, Hanen More Than Words).

Rachael travelled to America in May 2017 to undertake intensive work shadowing at Seattle Children’s Hospital and the STAR Institute in Denver. Rachael work shadowed internationally recognised Paediatric Feeding Experts Karen Quinn-Shea (co-developed the Tube Weaning Program at Seattle Children’s Hospital), Robin Glass (Author “Feeding & Swallowing Disorders in Infancy”) & Dr Kay Toomey (Founder SOS Approach to Feeding). In 2024, she completed the SOS Mentorship Course over 12 weeks with Susan Kniffen and Deborah Lagerborg.

Rachael completed the Nuffield Dyspraxia Programme with Dr Pam Williams to assist children diagnosed with Childhood Apraxia of Speech (CAS) and severe speech disorders. In 2024, Rachael completed DIRFloortime Training to learn more about how each person individually perceives and interacts with the world differently. Rachael has continuously sought additional training to improve the support she can provide to families/children as detailed below:

• The SOS (Sequential Oral Sensory) Mentorship Course (Susan Kniffen and Deborah Lagerborg)
• The SOS (Sequential Oral Sensory) Approach to Feeding: When Children Won’t Eat: Picky Eaters vs Problem Feeders (Dr Kay Toomey)
• Food Scientist Adaptation of the SOS Approach to Feeding (Dr Kay Toomey)
• Tools in Your Pantry: Effectively Using the New Oral Motor Steps to Eating
• Feeding the Child on the Autism Spectrum (Dr Kay Toomey)
• Helping Children Transition off Supplemental Tube Feedings (Dr Kay Toomey)
• Managing Paediatric Feeding Difficulties (Dr Pamela Dodrill and Dr Jeanne Marshall),
• Feeding Relationship & Eating Competence (Ellyn Satter)
• Feeding the Child on the Autism Spectrum (Dr Kay Toomey)
• Food Tolerance Decision Making (Dr Kay Toomey)
• The Traffic Jam in My Brain: A Sensory Processing Approach to Challenges Associated with Autism, ADHD, ADD, Learning and Behavioural Differences (Gen Jereb)
• A series of topical issues in paediatric dysphagia: Fussy eating; chewing strategies; baby led weaning and medication administration (Dr. Julie Cichero)
• Paediatric Videofluoroscopy Workshop: Conducting and Interpreting Videofluoroscopy Swallow Studies in Children (Kelly Weir)
• Cervical Auscultation in Dysphagia Management: A practical workshop for speech pathologists working with adult and paediatric dysphagia (Dr Julie Cichero)
• Dysphagia Disorder Survey/Dysphagia Management Staging Scale (Dr Justine Joan Sheppard)
• Choking Risk Assessment (CRA) and Pneumonia Risk Assessment (PRA) (Dr Justine Joan Sheppard)
• Oral Eating and Drinking Support (OEDS) Trainer for childcare/education staff
• Food Tolerance Decision Making (Dr Kay Toomey)
• Key Word Sign Australia (KWS) Certified Trainer
• Pragmatically Organised Dynamic Display (PODD) 2-day introductory workshop
• Hanen It Takes Two To Talk(for children 5 years or younger)
• Hanen More Than Words(for parents of children 5 years or younger on the autism spectrum and with other social communication difficulties)
• Prompts for Restructuring Oral Muscular Phonetic Targets (PROMPT) (Ainsley Poulis)
• Nuffield Dyspraxia Programme Modules 1 and 2 (Dr Pam Williams)
• Nuffield Dyspraxia Programme Modules 3 and 4 (Dr Pam Williams).
• DIR 101: An Introduction to DIR and DIRFloortime (Dr Colette Ryan)

Rachael’s passion for assisting children with feeding difficulties led to the development of a specialised feeding clinic in Adelaide to support children and families with eating/drinking, feeding and mealtimes.

Caitlin

Speech Pathologist

Qualifications:

• Bachelor of Speech Pathology (Flinders University)
• Member of Speech Pathology Australia (Certified Practising Speech Pathologist)

Caitlin completed her Bachelor of Speech Pathology at Flinders University in 2023. As part of her university placements, Caitlin has experience working with children with speech and language delays, feeding difficulties, dysphagia, and literacy problems. Caitlin has experiences working with children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), Global Developmental Delay, Childhood Apraxia of Speech, and attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Caitlin has supported the use of Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) including Key Word Sign (KWS), PODD Communication Books and high-tech devices (e.g., TouchChat, LAMP).

Prior to becoming a Speech Pathologist, Caitlin worked as a Disability Support Woker with individuals aged between 4-24 years in the community. She gained valuable experience assisting non-verbal children, built strong relationships with families/children, and supported clients to meet their NDIS and personal goals.

Caitlin has engaged in additional training to strengthen her skills. This has included:

• The SOS (Sequential Oral Sensory) Approach to Feeding: When Children Won’t Eat: Picky Eaters vs Problem Feeders (Dr Kay Toomey)
• Food Scientist Adaptation of the SOS Approach to Feeding (Dr Kay Toomey)
• Key Word Sign Australia (KWS) Basic Workshop
• Professional training for the Test of Integrated Language and Literacy Skills (TILLS)
• Liberator Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) Training: ACCESS

Holly

Speech Pathologist

Qualifications:

• Bachelor of Speech Pathology (Flinders University)
• Member of Speech Pathology Australia (Certified Practising Speech Pathologist)

Holly joined Eatability Feeding Services in 2023 as an Allied Health Assistant, where she worked under the guidance of Director, Rachael McInerney, to provide speech pathology services within the community. Holly values the strong therapeutic relationships she has developed with her clients and their families and has continued her journey with the Eatability Team since this time.

Holly completed her Bachelor of Speech Pathology Degree at Flinders University in 2024. During her university placements, Holly worked within multi-disciplinary and interprofessional teams to provide assessment and therapy for paediatric and adult clients. Holly has gained experience in the areas of speech and language delays/disorders, fluency disorders, voice disorders, swallowing difficulties, literacy, and Augmentative and Alternative Communication (ACC). Holly has had the privilege of supporting the needs of children with Rett Syndrome, Cerebral Palsy, Autism Spectrum Disorder, Global Developmental Delay, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), Intellectual Disability, and Childhood Apraxia of Speech (CAS). Holly has supported the use of Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) including Key Word Sign (KWS), PODD Communication Books and high-tech devices (e.g., TouchChat, LAMP, eye gaze systems).

Holly prioritises a strength-based and neurodiversity-affirming approach to foster a safe and enjoyable therapy experience for both clients and their families. Holly is passionate about holistic care within speech pathology, ensuring that all therapy is tailored and individualised to the client’s current needs.

Holly has engaged in additional training to strengthen her skills. This has included:

• The SOS (Sequential Oral Sensory) Approach to Feeding: When Children Won’t Eat: Picky Eaters vs Problem Feeders (Dr Kay Toomey)
• Food Scientist Adaptation of the SOS Approach to Feeding (Dr Kay Toomey)
• Childhood Apraxia of Speech (CAS) Online Learning Course with Dr Edythe Strand
• Key Word Sign Australia (KWS) Basic Workshop
• Professional training for the Test of Integrated Language and Literacy Skills (TILLS)
• Liberator Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) Training: ACCESS

Zara

Speech Pathologist

Qualifications:

• Bachelor of Speech Pathology (Flinders University)
• Member of Speech Pathology Australia (Certified Practicing Speech Pathologist)

Zara completed her Bachelor of Speech Pathology at Flinders University in 2025. Throughout her placements Zara experienced working with a range of children and their families to support them with their speech, language, fluency, feeding, and dysphagia (swallowing) difficulties. Zara has experience working within interprofessional teams where she advocates to ensure her clients receive the best holistic care. She has both personal and professional experience with supporting children who have Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) and Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). She has also worked with a range of children and their families in both regional and metro settings who have a variety of learning, medical, and disability diagnoses.

Zara has engaged in additional training to strengthen her skills. This has included:

• The SOS (Sequential Oral Sensory) Approach to Feeding: When Children Won’t Eat: Picky Eaters vs Problem Feeders (Dr Kay Toomey).
• Key Word Sign Australia (KWS) Basic Workshop
• Professional training for the Test of Integrated Language and Literacy Skills (TILLS)
• Childhood Apraxia of Speech (CAS) Online Learning Course with Dr Edythe Strand
• Liberator Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) Training: ACCESS

Alana

Speech Pathologist

Qualifications:

• Bachelor of Speech Pathology (Honours) University of South Australia
• Member of Speech Pathology Australia (Certified Practising Speech Pathologist)

Alana completed her Bachelor of Speech Pathology at the University of South Australia in 2025. Alana worked as an Allied Health Assistant (AHA) for three years during university to provide paediatric speech pathology services as part of a broader clinical team.

Alana has experience working within multidisciplinary teams to support children with their speech, language, fluency, literacy and feeding. Alana has experience supporting the needs of children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), Global Developmental Delay (GDD), Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), Intellectual Disability, and Childhood Apraxia of Speech (CAS).

Alana is passionate about empowering individuals to communicate confidently, express themselves, and build meaningful connections with others. She recognises the important role that communication and swallowing play in everyday life. Alana prioritises client-centred care and enjoys tailoring therapy to each individual’s unique needs, goals, and interests. Outside of work, Alana runs aerobics classes with children at a local school.

Alana will travel to Brisbane at the start of 2027 to complete the SOS (Sequential Oral Sensory) Approach to Feeding 4-day training program. She has also completed the following:

• Circles to Feeding Approach through Babble and Munch
• The Lidcombe Program, an evidence-based treatment for young children who stutter
• Childhood Apraxia of Speech (CAS) Online Learning Course with Dr Edythe Strand
• Liberator Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) Training: ACCESS

Join Our Team

If you would like to be contacted for future available positions, you are welcome to forward to your CV to:

hello@eatabilityfeedingservices.com.au