Our Story
How did two Speech Pathologists get here?
Eating is a skill that develops over time and Speech Pathologists (Speech Therapists) study how we develop this skill using the anatomy of our mouth and throat to chew and swallow safely. As with learning any new skill there are many factors (e.g. opportunity for learning, adaptions, wellbeing) that support this skill to develop. Speech Pathologists teach others how to eat safely and with enough nutritional variety to ensure optimal health and wellbeing.
Having both worked in the area of paediatric feeding for almost 20 years, Rachel and Nicole carry deep knowledge and understanding of children's feeding development and what can lead to some of those "fussy" mealtimes behaviours you may be experiencing. They have collectively helped 100s, possibly 1000s of families, have happier and more successful mealtimes with their children.
Rachel and Nicole use a responsive feeding therapy approach that is flexible, prioritises the feeding relationship, and respects and develops autonomy.
Learn more about our ApproachThe creation of Learn to Eat. Love to Eat.
Nicole and Rachel often found themselves fielding questions from their mum friends on how to navigate mealtimes. It became clear that there was a need for more practical and accessible information on the subject- this led to the birth of Learn to Eat. Love to Eat. - a comprehensive and easy-to-understand set of workshops and resources on feeding infants and children.
Rachel Smith
Speech Pathologist and Co-founder
Rachel has over a decade of experience in paediatric feeding supporting families with children with feeding disorders or developmental delays. She's collaborated with various healthcare professionals and seen the multiple factors affecting a child's feeding skills. Her personal growth as a parent involved the complexities of breastfeeding, introducing solids, and managing a toddler's food-throwing habits.
Rachel is eager to share tips for creating fun and stress-free mealtimes with other parents, carers and professionals to help them feel confident about their child's healthy eating journey.
She currently works as a senior Paediatric Speech Pathologist in a metropolitan hospital, providing valued input for paediatric inpatients with feeding difficulties, multidisciplinary outpatient feeding clinics, and comprehensive supervision and mentoring to speech pathology team members and students.
"I love making the ongoing task of feeding children easier for families. Feeding your child doesn’t have to be stressful. With the right information, mealtimes can be a place where families can build positive connections and support mental health and wellbeing."
Rachel
Nicole Wu
Speech Pathologist and Co-founder
With almost two decades of experience as a Paediatric Speech Pathologist, Nicole thought she was ready for the challenges of motherhood. However, she soon realised there was nothing quite like the real thing! Despite the ups and downs, motherhood has been a journey full of insights, learning it’s not just about finding information, but finding the right information to trust and put into action. When she isn’t focused on being a mum, Nicole helps children with complex communication and feeding difficulties, especially fussy eaters in her busy private practice.
Passionate about educating parents and caregivers, she has helped many families transform mealtimes into positive experiences by understanding the sensory, emotional and physical reasons behind mealtime challenges.
She loves nothing more than sharing a meal with her family - and wants others to experience the same joy around the table.
Nicole is also available for 1:1 consultation and therapy support for more complex cases. Visit NW Speech for more information.
"I'm driven to make mealtime a less stressful experience for families. Learning to eat can be complex, and I want to help remove the shame and guilt that often arise when feeding doesn't go as expected."
Nicole
Frequently Asked Questions
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