Vocality Speech-language Services

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Vocality Speech-language Services

Vocality offers specialist assessment and therapy for communication and swallowing disorders.

Directed by Sam, a registered member of the New Zealand Speech-language Therapy Association and Senior Speech-Language Therapist with 10+ years’ experience.

10/09/2026

In the wise words of Brené Brown — "Vulnerability is the birthplace of courage."

Something you might not know about me: as a child and teen, I was into musical theatre and choir, and I played piano and violin. An ode to my Dad's side of the family — all very musical beings. In adulthood, these passions fell by the wayside, and I'm recently finding my way back to it... and I'm loving every wobbly note and nerve-wracking step.

The other day I had a vocal tune-up with the wonderful Anna Van Reil — the perfect warm-up before an even bigger step: my first open mic. "Feel the fear and do it anyway" has never felt more true.

Hats off to all the brave people who step up and showcase their talents week on week — it's a real pleasure to hear you 🎶

Thank yous to:
Anna — for being a great teacher.
Greg — for your accompaniment, your encouragement, and for fast becoming my biggest cheerleader.
And to my parents, for their unwavering encouragement and support, and for surviving years of screeching violin practice and weekly lesson runs — true troopers.

📸 Nook Road Productions

07/09/2026

Progress grows one step at a time 🌱

Speech-language therapists (SLTs) work alongside individuals and their support networks to create opportunities for participation, confidence, and connection 🤝💬

06/08/2026

What a day! I had the honour of being invited to speak at HiNZ Southern Connections last week on how we're using telehealth as a service delivery model in SLT services across the motu.

🎙️ For anyone who knows me, you'll know I'm always happy to get on my telehealth soap box — it's a proven, effective way to deliver appointments to patients virtually via video calling (and phone). This enables them to be seen in the comfort of their own homes and workplaces whilst getting the care they need.

💡 The gist: telehealth isn't new, but it remains an underutilised way of working. I shared how we've made it work at Te Whatu Ora Southern and for Vocality.

📊 The results speak for themselves:
✅ Reduction in wait times
✅ Cost and time savings
✅ 100% of patients said they'd choose a video consult again

💬 Beyond the numbers, it's about what it means for people — rurally based patients no longer facing a 2.5hr round trip for an appointment, appointments that might otherwise be cancelled if a support person can't get them to hospital, and patients accessing specialist care no matter their postcode. Even our most hesitant patients have come around — my favourite comment was from one of my lovely patients, who decided if the late Queen could manage a Zoom call, so could she.

🙌 Huge thanks to the HiNZ team for having me — a great day of talking shop with fellow digital health nerds, exactly the kind of energy that keeps this mahi moving forward.

17/07/2026

I am delighted to have been asked to present at Southern Connections: The Future of Digital Health, hosted by HiNZ (Health Informatics New Zealand)!

I'll be speaking on "Telehealth – Bridging the Gap", sharing insights from my experience building telehealth services here at Vocality and across Te Whatu Ora Southern.

Looking forward to connecting with others passionate about digital health.

📅 29 July 2026
📍 Dunedin Town Hall
🕗 9am–4pm event

See you there!

30/06/2026

🍽️ June is Dysphagia Awareness Month.

Dysphagia is the medical term for swallowing difficulties. It can affect people of all ages and may occur as a result of stroke, neurological conditions, head and neck cancer, developmental conditions, ageing, and other health conditions.

Eating and drinking are important parts of daily life, supporting not only nutrition and hydration, but also connection, culture, identity, and participation in community life.

Speech-language therapists play a key role in assessing and managing dysphagia, working alongside individuals, whānau, and multidisciplinary teams to support safe swallowing and quality of life.

This Dysphagia Awareness Month, NZSTA acknowledges the experiences of people living with dysphagia and the clinicians, carers, whānau, and advocates who support them.

Together, we can raise awareness of swallowing difficulties and the importance of timely assessment, intervention, and communication-centred care.

08/06/2026

Before you employ, refer or fund speech-language therapy, ask whether the SLT is NZSTA-registered. Speech-language therapy is not regulated under the Health Practitioners Competence Assurance Act in Aotearoa New Zealand. Instead, the profession is self-regulated through the New Zealand Speech-language Therapists’ Association.

NZSTA registration provides an important layer of public protection. Registered speech-language therapists must meet qualification and professional standards, complete ongoing professional development, make annual declarations about their practice, and follow NZSTA’s Code of Ethics and Conduct.

Employing a registered speech-language therapist helps ensure the person you engage is qualified, current, accountable and committed to safe, ethical and culturally responsive practice.

30/05/2026

May is National Stroke Awareness Month 🧠

Stroke can affect communication, swallowing and quality of life — changing the way people connect with others and navigate everyday life. For many people and whānau, the impacts of stroke continue long after the initial event.

We recognise the experiences of people living with stroke, acknowledge the support of whānau and care partners, and celebrate the professionals working alongside them in recovery.

Speech-language therapists play an important role in supporting communication and swallowing after stroke, helping people reconnect with the people and activities that matter most. Timely access to support can make a meaningful difference.

National Stroke Awareness Month is also a reminder to know the signs of stroke and act FAST, because early action can save lives and improve outcomes.

This May, let’s raise awareness, share knowledge, and highlight the importance of timely rehabilitation and ongoing support after stroke.

💙 To everyone affected by stroke — survivors, whānau, and clinicians — we stand with you.

23/05/2026

🎙️ What a weekend in Te Whanganui-a-Tara!

I had the pleasure of attending and co-organising The Whys, Whats and Wows of Voice Therapy with the brilliant Dr Debbie Phyland — an incredible opportunity to deepen my knowledge in voice and connect with fellow speech-language therapists who share the same passion for this work.

The day came together beautifully — there's real satisfaction in the behind-the-scenes work paying off! 🙌 I was fortunate enough to make some time for another passion too - a sunrise run upto Mt Vic (keeping the worklife balance in check!).

From the clinical reasoning behind voice therapy to the practical tools we bring to our clients — it was a full and inspiring weekend.

The SLT community in Aotearoa is something special. Energised, inspired, and ready to bring it back to our clients at Vocality. 💚
If you or someone you know is experiencing voice difficulties, we'd love to help.

📩 [email protected]

22/05/2026

🎤 Wellington-bound and absolutely buzzing! I've been lucky enough to help organise this one, and now I get to sit back and soak it all up — learning from Dr Debbie Phyland, one of the best in the business when it comes to voice. The Whys, Whats & Wows of Voice Therapy is going to be a cracker of a day. Can't wait to connect with other SLTs working in this space! 🙌✨

07/05/2026

💧 Did you know nebulising with saline solution is a great way to take care of your vocal health?

Unlike drinking water, which hydrates your vocal folds from the inside out, nebulising delivers tiny aerosolised particles of 0.9% isotonic saline directly to the surface of the vocal folds — getting hydration exactly where it needs to be. 🌿

Here's what the research tells us:

✅ Reduces phonation threshold pressure — meaning less effort needed to produce voice
✅ Improves acoustic voice quality
✅ Reduces perceived vocal effort and fatigue

Whether you're a professional voice user, a teacher, a singer, or someone managing a voice disorder — nebulising is a simple, evidence-based tool worth knowing about.

Reach out to Vocality Speech Language Therapy to find out more.

Address

80j Ardmore Street
Wanaka

Website

http://www.vocality.co.nz/

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