Meet the Team

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Mary Hughes

Mary is a speech pathologist with over 40 years of clinical experience having worked within a complex and varied range of speech pathology settings across Australia providing services across the lifespan: infants to the aged care sector. Mary has provided speech pathology supports and her knowledge within the settings of health, education, early intervention, disability, private practice and the tertiary education sector.

Mary has a passion to share her over 40 years of speech pathology knowledge in the mentoring and tutoring of early career allied health professionals and supporting the University and TAFE sectors in the education of Allied Health students, to ensure that best practices in speech pathology are provided to all clients.

Mary created and established MHSP in 2001 to provide Private Speech Pathology services in a welcoming, safe, collaborative practice, that is inclusive of all. For over 25 years, Mary has built the strong connections with the Gold Coast Community and our network and referring partners to deliver the highest quality of service to our clients.

Mary is a patient, generous leader dedicated to supporting, guiding and mentoring her team to learn, share and work to the highest standards of performance and excellence in their practices, ensuring that everyone is having fun at the same time.

Mary leads her team by the examples of compassion, care and commitment. Mary enjoys time relaxing in nature, walking her dogs, swimming, gardening and reading.

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Michael Forster

Michael has a background in High School Education and completed his Masters of Speech Pathology at Griffith University on the Gold Coast. He joined MHSP as a graduate clinician and, as a Senior Speech Pathologist, he is a valued member of the team.

Michael follows a family-centred approach to therapy and tailors his therapy to suit the functional needs of both the client and family.

Michael provides speech pathology supports to clients across the lifespan. He has an interest in Voice, Acquired Motor Speech Disorders, Dementia, Aphasia and Swallowing Disorders and providing support to adult clients to achieve their goals through personalised therapy that is meaningful to them.

As a lifelong learner, Michael is interested in reading the latest speech pathology research.

When not supporting his clients or reading, Michael loves travelling and camping, and when not working you’ll find him beachside living in his 1979 Kombi.

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Olivia Moore

Olivia joined the MHSP Team in 2021 as an AHA and then as a Graduate Speech Pathologist in 2022, after completing her Masters of Speech Pathology at Griffith University. She is a gentle, warm and friendly speech pathologist, who connects well with all clients and families. Olivia supports the needs of the infant to young adult populations in the areas of AAC, speech sound disorders, Developmental Language Disorders and social interaction skills.

Olivia provides services in a diversity of settings (clinic, kindergartens, schools and homes) to support the needs of her clients with complex communication, social and learning needs and those who have experienced trauma. Olivia supports her clients using a strengths-based approach and shares her knowledge as she partners with clients, their families and support teams coaching through workshops and family meetings.

As an active learner, Olivia continues to develop her knowledge in her areas of passion, supporting the early intervention with young children with disabilities, augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) and motor speech disorders.

Olivia balances her work with her passions for travel, exploring, exercising and relaxing.

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Louise van Dijk

Louise joined MHSP in 2021 after nearly 30 years working in a variety of schools and health care settings in Australia and the United Kingdom, including Community Health services, Acute Hospital settings and the Neonatal Intensive Care unit. Louise has extensive experience working within multidisciplinary team settings. Louise uses a family centred approach to empower parents to support their children in their communication or feeding journey. She understands that children have complex needs and that communication and feeding development should be viewed within the context of the whole child and family and with the help of a supportive team.

Louise has experience working with children with a range of communication difficulties including Developmental Language Disorders and Stuttering. She has special interests in the area of Paediatric Feeding and Speech Sound Disorders. Louise supports clients using a neurodiversity affirming lens, to individualise therapy and meet the needs of all clients and families. This includes assisting clients to become multi-modal communicators through explorations of Alternative and Augmentative Communication and to use a strength-based approach to build a positive identity. Louise believes that lifelong learning is integral to delivering optimal services to families and she seeks out professional development to enhance her delivery of evidence-based therapy.

Outside of work hours Louise enjoys gardening and hopes one day to have a sustainable vegetable patch. She also enjoys time with her family, a good book and connecting with nature.

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Ivy Hu

Ivy is the MHSP Telehealth Specialist, delivering most of her sessions via Telehealth supports to students in a number of states within Australia, and has developed a passion for coaching families and clients via Telehealth.

Ivy is an English and Mandarin bilingual speech pathologist with a passion for supporting clients across the lifespan—from early intervention to adults with recovery needs post-stroke.

Ivy is passionate about helping people communicate, connect, and thrive. She works with clients across the lifespan, from young children to older adults, with a special interest in early intervention, motor speech disorders, augmentative and alternative communication (AAC), and voice.

Whether you’re navigating a new diagnosis, exploring AAC, working on reading and writing skills, or seeking support for a voice concern, Ivy is here to work alongside you and your family.

When she is not working, you’ll find Ivy picking up new chords on the guitar or enjoying long walks outdoors.

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Dina Ustovic

Dina completed her Master of Speech Pathology at Griffith University in 2025. During her studies, she gained valuable clinical experience across a range of settings and developed a passion for supporting children, adolescents and adults to reach their communication potential. Dina takes an evidence-based, client- and family-centred approach to therapy and follows the belief that learning occurs in a place where everyone feels safe, connected, comfortable and supported.

Dina is passionate about creating therapy that is meaningful to each client and tailored to their individual strengths, interests and communication style. She values working collaboratively with families and support networks to help everyone develop skills that can be used confidently in their everyday lives, achieving independence and improving everyday functioning.

Dina is a gentle, considerate and supportive member of the MHSP team who brings new ideas and enthusiasm into the clinic.

Outside of the clinic, Dina enjoys swimming and bouldering, bringing the same enthusiasm, creativity and love of learning into her practice.

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Joanne Smith

Jo has over 22 years of experience working in administration and accounts. She has been a member of the MHSP Team since 2018, as a parent of a child receiving supports from MHSP. Jo takes her lived experiences to guide and support families with the administration of disability supports.

As a kind, caring and understanding Client Services Manager, Jo takes time to ensure that all clients and families are listened to. Jo is a highly valued member of the MHSP Team, and has talents in identifying solutions to all queries and enjoys learning alongside the MHSP Team.

Jo is a colourful and vibrant personality at our front desk. Her favourite colour is purple. Jo collects action figures and loves Sci-Fi, action and horror movies.

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Terin Conway

Terin joined MHSP as an Allied Health Assistant and is a delightful and enthusiastic team member. Terin holds a Certificate IV in Allied Health Assistance (Speech Pathology) and looks forward to studying her Bachelor of Speech Pathology in the future. As a parent of young children, Terin brings these skills to the supports she provides to clients, under the supervision of the MHSP clinicians.

Terin provides most of her supports in early childhood centres, preschools and schools. She is welcomed with enthusiasm into all these settings and builds strong connections between the community and MHSP. Terin’s favourite areas of speech pathology are early intervention supports to children with speech-sound disorders and complex language needs and offering play based therapy supports as her primary tools for therapy and building connections.

Terin is creative and a life-long learner and uses her creativity to support the MHSP Team in sessions and in the preparation of therapy materials. Terin shines in the MHSP clinic, like the yellow sunflowers that are her favourite. When not assisting the MHSP Team, Terin enjoys weekends out in the sunshine exploring our beautiful beaches and parks with her family.

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Mentoring and Coaching

Mary Hughes has provided mentorship and coaching in private practice business processes to students, new graduates and experienced speech pathologists for many years.

Many clinicians now own and run successful private speech pathology practices due to Mary’s tuition.

In addition, Mary’s clinical knowledge in speech pathology supports across the lifespan is vast. Contact Mary to support and coach you, too.