Keep the words and questions while you wait.

You can save a word your child said, something that helped or a question you want to ask from the day the referral goes in. Nothing you save needs a diagnosis or a stage behind it. Write down what you noticed, in your own words.

Illustrative example: “Thursday, at the shops: said ‘all done, let’s go’ when we got to the checkout. Question for the first appointment: is it useful to write these down?”

This is an example of a parent’s note, not an interpretation of a child’s communication.

Save the exact word or phrase your child used, add what was happening and why you wanted to remember it, and keep the date with it, instead of trying to describe it from memory later.

Save the lovely moments, the hard ones and the things you want to ask about. You do not need to keep a perfect diary.

Add the speech pathologist or clinic you are waiting for and mark it as a waiting list, so the details are there when the appointment is booked. Keep saving your questions and observations in the meantime.

With Prepare, you can prepare an introduction for a new speech pathologist from the notes you select, then read and edit it before you share it. It is a summary in your words, not a clinical report.

The free Starter plan lets you export the notes you select without AI rewriting. Compare plans and prices in Australian dollars.

Some practices have shorter waits than others, and many offer online appointments. Our directory lists speech pathologists by state and by online availability. Practitioners write their own listings. Gestalts approves each one before it appears, and a listing is not an endorsement or a referral.

Find a speech pathologist.

Ask about cancellation lists, hearing checks and what your GP can arrange while you wait. Our resource library has guides for families. This is general information, not advice about your child.

Browse the resource library or start free through the Gestalts web portal.