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About us

We help youngsters thrive in their communication journey

Welcome to Reach for Mars
Speech Pathology

Our passion drives our commitment to making a positive impact in the community we grew up in and call home.

Our commitment to evidence-based practice and delivering high-quality services ensures that each individual receives the best care possible. We take great pride in empowering families, offering the tools and support they need to thrive in their communication journey.

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OUR MISSION

Inclusivity is not just a goal
but a cornerstone of our practice

Everyone, regardless of their unique background or needs, is warmly welcomed and supported.

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Our Backgrounds

A Culturally Attuned Multilingual Team

With a team proficient in multiple languages, including Arabic, Hindi, Somali, Turkish, and Urdu, and boasting years of collective experience, we are dedicated to bridging linguistic and cultural gaps to provide truly personalised and holistic care. Our team stands ready to make a meaningful impact in your life and the lives of your loved ones. 

Embark on this cosmic adventure with us, as we launch into a universe of possibilities and reach for new heights together.

Our Mission

Dedicated

Create an impact with our abilities, enthusiasm, and dedicated efforts empowering children and their families with the skills they need to thrive in their world.

Growth

Foster mutual growth through coaching, support, collaboration, communication, and shared celebrations of achievements.

Education

Appreciate learning by dedicating resources to one-on-one, small group, and team training sessions that emphasise growth in clinical, professional, and personal aspects.

Positivity

We engage by seizing chances, taking initiative, and embracing a positive outlook.

Meet the Team

Kamelia Dennaoui

DIRECTOR & SPEECH PATHOLOGIST

Houda Mourad

CLINIC COORDINATOR

Dilara Cokmez

SPEECH PATHOLOGIST

Essraa Yassine

SPEECH PATHOLOGIST

Hanaa Nahlawi

SPEECH PATHOLOGIST

Kadija Acheampong

SPEECH PATHOLOGIST

Naeema Abdulaziz

SPEECH THERAPIST

Nimo Atosh

SPEECH PATHOLOGIST

Rheme El-Hussein

SPEECH PATHOLOGIST

dallas hume speech pathology

Rukaya Taleb

SPEECH THERAPIST

Sana Mahkri

SPEECH PATHOLOGIST

Samiha Harba

SPEECH PATHOLOGIST

Sueda Kayikci

SPEECH PATHOLOGIST

Zaina Mohamed 

SPEECH PATHOLOGIST

JOIN THE TEAM

Interested in a career at Reach For Mars?

Looking to join the Reach for Mars Speech Therapy Team?

When you embark on your journey with Reach for Mars, you're not only becoming a part of a team that's vibrant, dedicated, and nurturing, but you also have the opportunity to positively transform people's lives!

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Kamelia Dennaoui

FOUNDER & DIRECTOR

Kamelia obtained her Master of Speech Pathology degree at The University of Melbourne in 2013. She is the director and founder of Reach for Mars Speech Pathology.

Kamelia works with a broad and diverse caseload of children of all ages and abilities and has an interest in working with children and adolescents with literacy difficulties, speech sound disorders, early communication and language needs. She also has a strong passion in working with the Autistic community.

Kamelia speaks Arabic and is particularly interested in children who have additional languages. She completed a research project which was published with the help of her university supervisors in the International Journal of Speech-Language Pathology titled: ‘The English proficiency and academic language skills of Australian bilingual children during the primary school years’ (2015). This research was also presented at the 2014 Speech Pathology Australia National Conference.

Kamelia is committed to ongoing learning and professional development not only for herself but for all the staff at Reach for Mars. She has a warm, energetic, playful and empathetic approach when working with children and their families. She strives to empower and advocate for families and ensure they are supported and included in the community.

In her free time, Kamelia enjoys being with her husband and two children, watching movies, café hopping, and immersing herself in the world of fashion and design.

Working days: Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday

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Houda Mourad

Admin assistant

Houda is the dedicated Administrative Assistant at Reach for Mars, playing an essential role in keeping the practice running smoothly. She manages the waitlist, oversees accounts, handles client enquiries, and supports the day-to-day operations of the practice.

Houda has a background in healthcare, having completed a Bachelor of Nursing in 2006, working in the operating theatre and endoscopy. She has also completed a Certificate III in Business (Office Administration).

Driven by a genuine passion for helping others, Houda brings both professional expertise and personal experience to her role. As a parent of a child with a disability, she understands firsthand the challenges families face in accessing services and is committed to making the process as supportive and stress-free as possible.

When she’s not at work, Houda enjoys spending quality time with her family, planning future trips, or exploring new places through travel.

Working days: Tuesday and Thursday

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Dilara Cokmez

SPEECH THERAPIST

Dilara completed her bachelor of Health Sciences (majoring in Anatomy and Physiology) and Master’s degree in Speech Pathology at La Trobe University. Dilara is a dedicated speech pathologist who enjoys working with children aged Newborn to 18 years old. Her drive and passion lies in making a positive impact on her clients’ lives and their families, which makes her career in speech pathology highly rewarding.

Dilara is proficient in both Turkish and English, which allows her to work with a diverse group of pediatric clients. She is especially interested in breastfeeding issues, tongue ties, and myofunctional therapy. Dilara is a qualified feeding therapist, trained in Sounds Write Phonics program and has recently completed advanced training of orofacial myofunctional therapy, enhancing her interest in helping children with breastfeeding, transitioning to solids, picking eating, and speech difficulties. Her career has taught her to respect people’s deep, complex and meaningful stories and appreciate the impact of positive changes and effective communication despite barriers.

When she isn’t working, she enjoys being outdoors and exploring nature. When her social battery is low, she finds comfort in being at home where she can relax on the couch with her ginger cats and enjoy a cup of hot chocolate while watching true crime series.

Working days: 

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Essraa Yassine

SPEECH THERAPIST

Essraa completed her Masters in Speech Pathology in 2017 at La Trobe University. She has worked with children aged 0 to 16 years supporting the development of their language, phonology, literacy, play and social communication skills. Essraa also brings valuable experience from working in a special school which involved supporting students with intellectual disabilities and/or other diagnoses.

Essraa is a passionate and dedicated speech pathologist with an incredible flair for making every child feel at ease and excited about their journey to better communication. With her warm and welcoming demeanour, Essraa creates a fun and nurturing environment for young children and their families.

Essraa’s areas of interest include working with the autistic community, children with developmental delays, literacy and early communication. Essraa speaks Arabic and ensures that families feel understood, valued, and fully involved in their child’s progress. As part of her commitment to continuous improvement, Essraa recently completed training in DIR Floortime, enhancing her expertise in helping children with communication and social-emotional challenges.

When she is not at work, Essraa enjoys spending her time with her husband and two beautiful girls, playing soccer and immersing herself in food and socialisation.

Working days: Tuesday &  Thursday

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Hanaa Nahlawi

SPEECH THERAPIST
Hanaa completed her Bachelor of Speech Pathology with Industry Honours at La Trobe University. She has a strong interest in working with children who have speech sound disorders, as well as language and literacy difficulties.
 
Hanaa is a warm speech pathologist who is passionate about creating a safe, supportive environment where children feel comfortable engaging in therapy. She strives to make therapy fun and meaningful while building genuine relationships with the families she works with. She is committed to providing person-centred and neuroaffirming care to support individuals to achieve their goals and participate in everyday life.
 
Hanaa values strong, collaborative relationships with families, allied health professionals, and educators to ensure holistic and effective care. Hanaa is bilingual, fluent in English and with intermediate proficiency in Arabic, allowing her to work with diverse families.
 
Outside of work, Hanaa enjoys spending time with her friends and family, café hopping, and immersing herself in nature. She also enjoys fashion and a good TV show.
 
Working days: Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday
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Kadija Acheampong

Speech Therapist

Kadija completed her Bachelor of Speech Pathology at Curtin University in 2020. She has worked with children aged 2 to 17 years, supporting the development of their speech, language, fluency, social communication, and literacy skills.

Kadija has experience working in private practice as well as within primary schools, where she has provided both individual and whole-class support. Her extensive experience implementing whole-school literacy and language approaches has strengthened her ability to make a meaningful impact across diverse learning environments.

Kadija is a warm, dedicated, and compassionate speech pathologist who is passionate about helping every child reach their communication potential. She values building strong relationships with families, educators, and all her clients to ensure therapy is engaging, collaborative, and effective. Kadija’s areas of interest include literacy development, language and speech intervention. 

Outside of work, Kadija enjoys watching new tv series, exploring new restaurants, going on road trips, and spending quality time with her family and friends.

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Naeema Abdulaziz

SPEECH THERAPIST

Naeema completed a bachelor’s degree in Health Science and a Master’s in Speech and Language Therapy Practice at the University of Auckland. During her studies at the University of Auckland, she received several scholarships including the Jane and Rebecca Hulst Scholarship and Ministry of Education Scholarship.

Naeema’s journey in speech pathology is not only professional but deeply rooted in passion. Her warmth and compassion create a safe space for clients, fostering an atmosphere of trust and encouragement. Her commitment to continuous learning ensures that she stays up-to-date with the latest research and innovative therapeutic techniques.

Naeema’s current caseload of clients is diverse and consists of individuals who present with speech, language, fluency and social communication difficulties. She also supports individuals who require augmentative alternative communication systems. With fluency in both English and Somali, she effortlessly connects with diverse communities and helps bridge language gaps.

When Naeema is not working, she enjoys going on road trips where she can explore the beauty of nature.

Working days: Monday

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Nimo Atosh

Speech Therapist

Nimo is a compassionate and dedicated Speech Pathologist who graduated from La Trobe University in 2021. She is passionate about helping children and families develop strong communication skills that build confidence, connection, and success in everyday life.

She works with clients across a range of areas, including speech, language, fluency, and social communication, and supports individuals who use augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) systems. Nimo values close collaboration with families to ensure each goal is meaningful and tailored to a child’s unique strengths.

Fluent in both English and Somali, Nimo embraces cultural diversity and inclusion, creating a warm, supportive environment where families feel understood, respected, and empowered throughout their therapy journey.

Outside of work, Nimo enjoys spending time with her family, travelling, and volunteering with community interfaith groups, where she contributes to fostering connection and understanding across diverse communities. 

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Rheme El-Hussein

SPEECH THERAPIST

Rheme completed a Bachelor’s degree of Health Sciences and a Masters of Speech Pathology at La Trobe University. Rheme initially worked in a school setting, providing speech pathology services to children from Foundation to year 12. Since having her two daughters, Rheme moved to private practice, where she now works closely with paediatric clients and their families.

Passionate about making a positive impact, Rheme firmly believes in the unique potential of each child. Witnessing her clients thrive and excel brings her immense contentment and fulfillment, driving her work with love and passion.

Rheme’s areas of interest include working with the Autistic community as well as children with language delays, intellectual disabilities, social emotional challenges and stuttering. Being bilingual in Arabic and English enables her to connect with and support a diverse range of clients.

In her free time, Rheme enjoys spending time with her husband and daughters, engaging in community and interfaith work through volunteering at events. She is also a soccer enthusiast and a devoted fan of the Melbourne Victory football club.

Working days: Thursday

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Rukaya Taleb

SPEECH THERAPIST

Rukaya completed her Bachelor of Science, majoring in Neuroscience, at the University of Melbourne, followed by a Graduate Diploma in Psychology and Children’s Development. Although initially on the path to becoming a psychologist, she discovered her true calling in speech therapy and went on to complete her Bachelor’s degree in Speech Pathology at Australian Catholic University.

With a heart dedicated to her community, Rukaya brings a sense of joy and enthusiasm to her profession, cherishing the opportunity to witness the growth and development of young minds. Rukaya has a particular interest in early childhood language and supporting children with hearing loss and she is deeply committed to empowering them to communicate effectively and confidently.

As an advocate for all children, Rukaya values the unique potential within each of her clients. Her nurturing approach and unwavering commitment create a safe and supportive space for children to flourish in their communication skills. Rukaya speaks English and Arabic, which allows her to effectively connect with diverse communities.

Beyond her professional life, Rukaya is a self-proclaimed foodie, always eager to explore diverse cuisines during her travels around the world. She finds solace in the pages of a good book, unwinding and enriching her mind during her downtime.

Working days: Tuesday

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Sana Mahkri

SPEECH THERAPIST

Sana is a Certified Practising Speech Pathologist who completed her tertiary education at La Trobe University in 2009. She is passionate about working with children and their families to achieve the best outcomes possible. 

Sana has a special interest in  language delay/ disorders, speech-sound disorders, fluency (stuttering) & social skills. Over the course of her career, Sana has worked at multiple schools and private clinics across Melbourne. She also worked as a clinical supervisor offering support to students completing their speech pathology qualifications. Sana can speak Hindi & Urdu fluently. 

As a mother, Sana has personal experience in dealing with children of varying ages. Sana strongly believes in continuously updating her skills & knowledge to reflect the current research and regularly seeks out professional development opportunities. 

When she’s not at work, you’ll catch Sana at the soccer field, cheering her kids on with a cappuccino in her hand. If it’s not soccer season, she will probably be at the beach, watching the sunset with her loved ones. 

Working days: Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday

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Samiha Harba

Speech Therapist

Samiha completed her Bachelor of Applied Science and Master of Speech Pathology at La Trobe University in 2023. She is a passionate speech pathologist who enjoys working primarily with children in their early intervention years (0–5 years), while also supporting children up to 12 years of age. Samiha is driven by her desire to make a positive impact in the lives of children and their families by helping them achieve their communication goals.

Samiha is proficient in English and can also understand and speak some Arabic, which allows her to engage with a diverse range of families. Her professional interests include early intervention and speech sound disorders.

Working as a speech pathologist has taught Samiha the importance of patience, collaboration, and celebrating small yet meaningful milestones in every child’s journey. She is committed to ongoing learning and professional development to ensure she provides the highest quality of care to her clients. Known for her energetic, warm, and compassionate nature, Samiha strives to create a supportive and engaging environment for every child she works with.

Outside of work, Samiha enjoys spending quality time with her husband and young son, exploring the outdoors, and relaxing with a good movie. She also loves visiting local cafés and sharing a coffee with her family.

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Sueda Kayikci

Speech Therapist

Sueda completed her Masters in Speech Pathology at Victoria University. She has a special interest in early intervention, speech sound disorders, social communication and Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC).

She is passionate about creating a safe and neuroaffirming space where everyone feels supported and valued in their communication journey.

Sueda is bilingual and can speak both Turkish and English fluently. She enjoys working with children and teenagers from diverse backgrounds. Sueda loves making therapy fun and engaging. Seeing individuals reach their goals brings her so much joy!

In her downtime, Sueda enjoys visiting her favourite place—the beach—as it gives her a sense of calm and peace. When she’s not at work, she is most likely trying different cuisines, café hunting, catching up with friends, or spending time with her family.

Working days: Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday

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Zaina Mohamed 

Speech Therapist

Zaina completed her Bachelor of Applied Science and Master of Speech Pathology at La Trobe University. She has experience working with children aged 2 to 15 years, supporting the development of their language, speech, literacy, play, and social communication skills. Zaina began her career in a primary school setting and has a particular interest in supporting children with language and literacy difficulties. She has worked with children with autism, ADHD, specific learning disorders (in reading and written expression), developmental language disorder (DLD), and those from multilingual backgrounds or with experiences of trauma.

Zaina is passionate about creating a safe, supportive environment where strong relationships can be built to help clients achieve their communication goals. Zaina is committed to ongoing professional development and reflective practice. She finds great meaning in being part of each client’s communication journey and finds it incredibly rewarding to witness their progress.

Outside of work, Zaina enjoys baking, traveling, and spending time with her family, friends, and her cat.

Working days: Wednesday and Friday

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