Company Description
Hi Thrive is a mobile paediatric allied health service based in Melbourne. We bring neurodiversity-affirming speech pathology and occupational therapy to children in the places they feel most comfortable. Our mission is simple: support children to thrive, and support therapists to thrive while doing it.
The Role
We’re seeking a speech pathologist to join our team to work in either the inner or outer west of Melbourne. You’ll conduct assessments and deliver therapy in children’s natural environments, with complete freedom to shape a caseload that reflects your strengths, interests and values. Unlike many paediatric roles, you’ll have full autonomy over your hours, your clients, and your clinical focus areas.
This role suits someone who doesn't need to be told what to do next -- and who wouldn't want to be. If you do your best work when you have genuine independence, you'll fit in here.
Your Clients
At Hi Thrive, you choose:
• Your clients
• Your hours
• Your preferred number of clients per day
• The presentations you feel confident and energised supporting
No KPIs. No pressure to “fill up”. No obligation to take on clients outside your competency or interest areas.
If CAS or stuttering isn’t your thing, that’s absolutely fine. We want you working in your zone of genius, because that’s when children benefit most.
Pay
We created Hi Thrive because we were watching brilliant therapists burn out under systems that didn’t value their time, energy or expertise. So we chose to do things differently.
You will be paid per client-facing hour, with complete flexibility to choose as many or as few clients as you’d like.
Rates:
$116–$135 per hour (superannuation included).
To give you a sense of what this means in real life:
• To earn approximately $80,000 per year, you’d only need to see around 11 clients per week.
• This assumes 48 weeks of work per year (allowing for leave or downtime).
• That’s less than three days of work per week, with super on top.
This model allows you to earn well, work sustainably, and maintain boundaries that support your wellbeing.
Perks (Yes, there's more 🙃)
• Admin support for billing, so your focus stays on therapy, not invoice chasing
• Access to a warm, multidisciplinary community of OTs and speech pathologists
• A genuinely neurodiversity-affirming workplace that respects your brain, your boundaries and your downtime
• Flexibility to structure your week around your life
• No KPIs, ever
• No mandatory minimum caseload
What We're Looking For
- Bachelor/Masters in speech pathology
- Minimum of two years' experience as a paediatric speech pathologist
- Availability to work in the inner or outer western suburbs of Melbourne
- Current membership with Speech Pathology Australia
- WWCC
- Driver’s licence and car
- A passion for paediatrics, play-based therapy, and supporting neurodivergent kids
- Demonstrated ability to work independently
- Bonus: lived experience of neurodivergence. We deeply value this insight.
- Double bonus: Experience working with Level 3 Autism and Complex Disability.
About the Director
Hi, I’m Cristina, the founder and director of Hi Thrive. I’m a neurodivergent speech pathologist who started this practice after burning out in traditional private practice settings. I loved the work, but the pressure, the rigidity, and the lack of balance were unsustainable. I created Hi Thrive because I wanted a workplace where therapists could actually enjoy their lives, feel supported, and do brilliant clinical work without sacrificing their wellbeing.
Hi Thrive began as a tiny one-woman mobile practice, built on a simple belief: therapists thrive when they are trusted, respected, and given the freedom to work in ways that suit their brains and their lives. That’s still the heart of this business today.
What To Do
There’s no need for a cover letter. Simply send your CV as an expression of interest. If we think you'd be a good fit, we'll send through a video explaining a little more about how Hi Thrive works. After you've watched that, if you're keen to chat further, we’ll organise a relaxed, no-pressure conversation about the role, your preferences, and whether Hi Thrive feels like the right fit for you.
****PLEASE NOTE: We are not interested in working with recruiters. If you are a recruiter, please do not contact us. ****
