At Partners in Communication (PIC), we believe that people do well if they can. This guiding philosophy is just one part of the overall mission at PIC. Additionally, we subscribe to neurodiversity-affirming beliefs and follow the Universal Design for Learning principles.
The team at PIC provide a variety of communication-based services for all ages and neurotypes.
The practice was originally started in 2009 by Sharon Gill and has grown steadily to be the strong team of leaders it is today. Sharon, speech pathologist and director of PIC, has an extensive 30 years of experience across a variety of sectors. Trained in a wide range of therapeutic interventions, her special interest now is working in the Social Cognitive Communication space. Building on Sharon’s foundation, PIC continues to offer individual sessions and small group programs in clinic and in schools. We also work with schools to educate teachers and parents and provide in class support where needed.
The PIC team is a passionate group of therapists, educated assistants, and administrative staff alike! Should you contact us, our highly skilled Manager, Stacey, will be your first point of contact.
We work as a team behind the scenes for all clients, frequently evaluating efficacy of intervention and consulting with our clients and their families to ensure we are meeting their needs across domains.
Our mantra is to support our clients to thrive in their individual context, extend their boundaries and develop the confidence to become the person they aspire to be.
PIC values evidenced-based methodologies and engages in regular practical professional development. We are active participants and learners in the many online communities which raise awareness of the strengths, perspectives, challenges and needs of our diverse client base.
We subscribe to the belief that all people deserve the opportunity to be validly heard and respected – neurodivergent or neurotypical. We are keenly aware of the neurodiversity movement and actively reflect and evaluate our practices to ensure we are neuro-affirming and trauma-informed.
We are part of many professional networks and maintain close relationships with our referring partners. It would be our pleasure to speak with you about your needs.
Partners In Communication is committed to providing a safe and inclusive environment for all children and young people and as such has a zero-tolerance approach to child abuse.
Meet Our Team
Clinical Director & Speech-Language Pathologist
Svetlana Usatov
About Svetlana
Svetlana Usatov is a Certified Practising Speech Pathologist, who is particularly passionate about social communication, emotional regulation and holistic care. Svetlana loves working with families to develop effective communication dynamics, support executive functioning and find ways through complex challenges. She is very familiar with autism, ADHD and PDA, providing support from a professional and lived-experience lens. Svetlana practises from a trauma-informed, neuro-affirming framework and actively mentors the PIC team in bringing that same depth of care to their clients and families.
Having first started at PIC in 2016, Svetlana has supported many of her clients through primary school, high school and now into their tertiary education. She is a strong advocate for accessible education, communication and workplaces, and participates in school/team meetings to help achieve respectful and collaborative care for all her clients.
Svetlana has completed numerous professional development programs, including the following:
Tuning into Teens - Emotionally Intelligent Parenting (Christiane E. Kehoe, Mindful Centre)
Tracking Better (R) Regulation Workshop (Deeta Kimber, Mindful Centre)
Anxiety and ASD (Fiona Zandt, Mindful Centre)
Social Thinking Training, Nancy Clements (Social Thinking)
Alert Program Facilitator Training (Sue Williams & Sherry Shellenberger)
More Than Words, Talkability (Hanen)
Understanding and Responding to Child Abuse and Exploitation (Cacet Global)
Secret Agent Society Facilitator Training (Social Skills Training Institute)
Outside of her professional life, Svetlana is an active volunteer with Southern Cross Kids’ Camps Australia (for children from complex trauma backgrounds). She loves to sew, spend time with her two dogs, tend to her garden and do all kinds of craft.
At the moment, Svetlana and her husband are preparing to welcome a baby into the family in July 2026!
speech-language pathologist
Vincent Nguyen
About VINCENT
Vincent is a registered member of Speech Pathology Australia and a Certified Practising Speech Pathologist. He completed a Bachelor of Applied Science and Master of Speech Pathology at La Trobe University. He is a highly motivated clinician with experience in a broad scope of speech pathology practice.
Vincent has experience with service delivery in the clinic, home, and school settings, as well as through telehealth. He has knowledge in providing assessment and treatment to clients of all ages in the areas of speech sound skills (phonology and articulation), oral language, fluency, literacy, pragmatic language and social skills.
He is experienced in providing intervention using THRASS, Hanen (It Takes Two To Talk, More Than Words), Lidcombe and Smooth Speech, and more recently, Social Cognitive interventions such as Social Thinking®.
Vincent is a passionate sportsman, competing at a National level in badminton and is also proficient in Vietnamese.
Speech-Language Pathologist
Tina Bryson
About TINA
Tina graduated with a Masters in Speech Pathology from Latrobe University in 2013.
Tina also holds a Bachelor of Arts Degree (co-majoring in Psychology and Psychophysiology) and is a qualified Adult ESL (English as a Second-Language) teacher. Prior to entering the field of Speech Pathology, Tina worked extensively in Adult Education – including Teacher-Training Workshops and Business English training with students from China, Vietnam, Thailand and Colombia. Tina’s passion for language, education and psychology led her to pursue Speech Pathology – a career that has taken her to Far-North Queensland working with remote indigenous communities and returning to Melbourne to work across the Education, Private Practice and Community Health settings.
Tina is certified in Hanen’s ‘It Takes Two to Talk’ parent-training program for late talkers, the Lidcombe Program for early stuttering therapy. Tina is also well-versed in the More Than Words program for parents of Autistic children.
Tina’s dedication to ongoing professional development has seen her visit Croatia for the 2017 Stuttering Symposium, as well as complete regular online workshops endorsed by Speech Pathology Australia in areas including Diagnosis and Treatment of Developmental Language Disorder and Childhood Apraxia of Speech.
Since starting at PIC, Tina has embraced new concepts and learnings, enjoying the fresh approach to supporting her clients to reach their goals. Tina’s passion for learning has enabled her to quickly pick up methodologies such as Social Thinking, while also being mindful of neurodiversity-affirming practices.
Tina is committed to family/client-centred care and delivery of Evidence-Based intervention. She describes her common-sense approach and ability to connect with a broad range of clients from all walks of life as key to her success as a therapist. Outside of her professional interests, Tina loves to keep fit by running with her miniature Schnauzer and playing tennis whilst she also enjoys dancing and live music.
Speech-Language Pathologist
Maya Vu
Maya is a Certified Practicing Speech Pathologist, who graduated from the University of Melbourne with a Master of Speech Pathology. Her expertise is particularly with planning and providing treatment in the areas of speech sounds, oral and written communication, and pragmatic language skills. Maya is familiar with a variety of evidence-based intervention approaches, including Colourful Semantics, Hanen (It Takes Two To Talk, More Than Words), Lidcombe, the Westmead Program, Nuffield Dyspraxia Programme, and the Social Thinking methodology.
Maya strongly believes in a client-centered approach, where the client and/or their guardians collaborate with the clinician to set goals and discuss treatment approaches. She priorities the trust and connection between the client and the clinician as the most important foundation for delivering and receiving therapy. Maya believes that all individuals, given the right supports and accommodations, will be able to live a satisfying and fulfilling life.
Returning to work for PIC as a qualified clinician was a deliberate and satisfying move for Maya as she had previously worked as an assistant in all of the PIC social communication groups whilst studying. She strongly identified with our ethos and professionalism and now contributes and up-holds these aspirations as one of our highly valued staff.
Outside of her professional life, Maya enjoys watching musicals, crocheting, walks in nature, and journaling.
speech-language pathologist
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Administration
Manager
Stacey Smith
ABOUT Stacey Smith
Stacey joined Partners in Communication in 2020 as a full-time Practice Manager. She is responsible for managing the PIC team as well as the day to day running of the business.
Stacey brings with her over 20 years in business and sales management in the technical arena. She made the move to Allied Health, driven by her passion to invoke meaningful and long-lasting change within the community. Her unique set of skills ensures that Partners in Communication can deliver the best possible service to all our valued clients.
Administration Assistant
Andrea Morris
Administration Assistant
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About andrea morris
Andrea is supporting reception with administrative tasks and phone calls. Andrea enjoys cooking and the fantasy genre!
Consultants
SPEECH-LANGUAGE PATHOLOGIST
Sharon Gill
Clinical Psychologist
Monica Korpershoek
About Sharon Gill
Sharon is the founder and former director of Partners in Communication, as of 2026. Having started the practice almost two decades ago, Sharon has made significant waves in the professional community, and is well known for her expertise, vast experience and commitment to quality practice. She is a speech-language pathologist who is passionate about all areas of communication, especially within family dynamics, having developed a new focus on family therapy.
She has extensive experience in early intervention, in both primary and secondary schools and has worked for over 25 years across a variety of sectors including Community Health, the Education Department and in private practice.
In keeping with her strong commitment to a multidisciplinary approach, she works together with her clients’ support team (family, educational, medical, emotional well-being, etc.) to ensure intervention is communicated and coordinated.
Sharon has a passion for the social cognitive communication domain. Working in this space with teenagers and adults has become her primary focus in recent years.
A strong commitment to ongoing professional development and evidence-based interventions has seen Sharon complete a number of certifications including:
Post-grad diploma in Learning Disabilities
Hanen – It Takes Two to Talk, More Than Words and Talkability trained.
PROMPT – 3 day Introduction workshop.
PODD – Introductory workshop.
Social Thinking® - Clinical Training Program, Level 1A, San Jose, USA.
Secret Agent Society (SAS) 2nd Ed. social skills program – certified facilitator.
Tuning in to Teens™ Program - certified facilitator.
Presenter at the 2018 Social Thinking® Provider Conference San Francisco
Post-graduate diploma in Family Therapy 2021
Certification in ‘Single Session Thinking’, The Bouverie Centre, 2022
An interest in the therapeutic benefits of animals and the natural environment will see completion of the Animal- Assisted Therapy Certification in the next year
About Monica Korpershoek
As a consultant, Monica provides excellence in clinical and professional supervision and training. She is a resilient and skilled Clinical Psychologist with over 23 years experience working in a range of settings including paediatric, child and adolescent mental health, community, inpatient, and private practice. Approved by the Psychology Board of Australia to act as a supervisor, Monica has years of experience working with some of the most highly regarded facilities internationally. She has specialised in child and adolescent mental health, psychodynamic psychotherapy, working within complex systems and evidence based psychological therapies.
Educational, Developmental and Health Psychologist
Margaret Charlton
ABOUT MArgaret charlton
Margaret has practiced as an Educational, Developmental and Health Psychologist for over thirty years. She is a psychologist at the Royal Children’s Hospital and at Monash Children’s Hospital.
Margaret conducts a private psychology practice located at Partners in Communication in Caulfield North. Her private practice focus is on diagnostic assessment and support of preschool and school aged children in relation to cognitive development, learning difficulties, autism spectrum disorder, behaviour and emotional difficulties. Margaret has a strong interest in supporting and counselling parents who have concerns about their children, and who want to help their children to become their ‘best selves’.
Margaret’s professional experience includes University lecturing on psychological assessment, training psychologists in the practice of autism spectrum disorder for the Australian Psychological Society, and researching the development of children who have experienced neonatal intensive care. Margaret is endorsed as a Psychologist Supervisor by the Psychology Board of Australia.
Margaret can be contacted directly at: margaretcharlton1@bigpond.com
Assistants
William “Bill” Jordaan
Eden Johnston
Ben Nash
This could be you!
If you are studying Speech Pathology, Psychology, Occupational Therapy, Teaching or other relevant disciplines, and are interested in expanding your knowledge of how to support children and teens in group settings effectively, get in touch! At PIC, we value the opportunity to teach and train new professionals, and we welcome you to come and be supported as part of the team. It’s a fun, low-pressure position, full of incredible insights and learning moments.