Speech pathology app to help with 4 year wait in Australia

A first-of-its-kind digital solution is transforming how Australian families access critical speech pathology services. Yarn Speech, founded by Oxford-educated speech pathologist Rebecca Keeley, launches at a crucial time when families face wait times of up to four years for essential speech therapy (Speech Pathology Australia, 2023).

"Speech pathology should be accessible no matter where you live," says Rebecca. "Yet in rural and remote parts of Australia, families face significant barriers to access support, despite the best efforts of our hard-working speech pathologists across Australia."

New speech pathology app to help with 4 year wait in Australia

This innovative intervention app bridges the critical gap between referral and treatment, offering evidence-based daily activities designed by speech pathologists for children aged 0 to 3 years.

With the growing waitlists, Australia is seeing increased practitioner burnout, resulting in critical skills shortages in allied health nationwide (Australian Department of Jobs and Skills, 2025). Yarn supports the workforce and the patients they service by equipping families with the tools they need while they wait.

The subscription-based platform is the only early language app developed by qualified speech pathologists. Its rotating daily activities help parents guide their children toward their first words, ensuring no vital developmental time is lost while waiting for in-person services.

Yarn Speech is currently available on the iOS App Store, and an Android version will soon be available on Google Play.

Key features:

• Evidence-based activities developed by qualified speech pathologists
• Daily activities to support children aged 0-3 years
• Accessible solution for rural and remote families
• Immediate intervention while awaiting in-person services