Trans and Gender Diverse Voice Services
The Trans and Gender Diverse (TAGD) Voice Clinic provides an individualised program of voice and communication training for people wishing to explore the different ways they can use their voice and communication to express their gender.
We work with anyone over the age of 16 years, at any stage of transition, regardless of gender identity and gender presentation goals. Our goal is to help you explore what you can do with your voice and communication and to help you use these skills to achieve a voice that you feel represents you.
You may find that your goals change as you work through the training program and we will work with you to target these changes as they come about.
We do not offer voice surgery at La Trobe Communication clinic, but we can work with you pre and/or post-surgery. It is important to recognise that having surgery does not automatically mean you will achieve the voice that you are targeting. You should take your time to search out all the relevant information and to talk to professionals who provide this service. We can support you to access information or service providers if you wish to choose this route.
What will the program look like
You will standardly be offered 1 initial assessment, 8 - 12 individual training sessions and 1 final assessment session at the completion of training. Each program is individualised depending on your needs and may include the following:
Voice assessment using specialised computer software
Assessment is completed before starting training at the Clinic. It is important that your voice is thoroughly evaluated so that we can ‘get to know your voice’ and help you set your goals for voice therapy. We will ask you about your voice use, we will listen to your voice as you speak and complete an audio recording of your voice to be analysed by computer software. After the assessment, we will talk with you about whether voice training will be helpful.
Voice and communication training
We will offer a block of training sessions providing education and support with (but not limited to) vocal health, stretching/relaxation, efficient breathing for voice change and specific exercises to increase the range, flexibility, efficiency and stamina of your voice. You will then work on specific voice and communication techniques including pitch and resonance change exercises. Other aspects of verbal and non-verbal communication may also be addressed.
Home practice
You will be provided with a regular (daily) practice regime of voice training tasks to be completed at home. The ability to complete these exercises in a safe space and regularly is key to achieving your voice and communication outcomes.
Top-up/cancellation List:
While most people find that 8 - 12 voice training sessions is enough to meet their goals, some do need more sessions. We may be able to offer ‘top up’ sessions on an individual basis. We will primarily offer ‘top up’ sessions when we have cancellations so there may be a wait for additional sessions, and you may work with a different Voice Clinic speech pathologist.
Review day or Discharge
At the end of your voice sessions you will be offered the choice to move to our Review Day contact list or be discharged from our service. Review days provide you with the opportunity to return to the clinic following the completion of your voice training should you wish to ‘brush up’ on any of your techniques. Review days are optional and are held 2-4 times a year. During review days you will receive individual attention plus the opportunity to practice with others who have completed voice training
Application forms
Please complete and return the following applications forms. These forms must be completed before your referral is processed.
If you need any assistance, please call clinic reception on (03) 9479 1921 or email communication.clinic@latrobe.edu.au
Request for services: consumer information [PDF 181.6 KB]
Consent form [PDF 491 KB]
Fees - Trans and Gender Diverse Voice Clinic
Fees apply for the majority of our Trans and Gender Diverse Clinic voice services. Our fees are not refundable through Medicare or private health insurance. Concession is available on the presentation of a Health Care Card. Our fees remain low due to the generosity of an anonymous donor. Fees may be altered according to income and individual circumstances.
Monash Gender Clinic continues to generously provide funds in support of our Trans and Gender Diverse Voice Clinic. As a result, there are no fees for assessment or training sessions for clients referred by Monash Gender Clinic. If you wish to access this service, you will need to contact Monash Gender Clinic to seek a referral for voice modification.
Find out more about our fees
Other important information
Voice, communication and your identity
We would like you to consider the following information before you start your clinic sessions. Yes, we are a voice clinic and want to support you in your voice goals, but as Speech Pathologists we work on all aspects of communication. This means that as well as specific voice qualities, we can work with you on elements of speech and non-verbal communication if you have goals around these aspects of communication too.
Verbal & non-verbal communication.
- Verbal: communication or expression of thoughts using spoken words
- Non-verbal: communication or expression of thoughts without using spoken words
But why is it important?
- 7% of any message is conveyed using words
- 38% of any message is conveyed using elements of speech and voice e.g. tone of voice and intonation to express sarcasm, upset, agreement or interest.
- 55% of any message is conveyed using non-verbal communicatione.g. gestures, eye contact, posture
What we do work on: verbal communication
We target key aspects around pitch (source) and resonance (filter) in training. We can also work on intonation (the rise and fall of your voice when talking), articulation (speech sounds) and your coughing, sneezing and other non-speech sounds.
Pitch is measured in hertz and has typically been suggested across the following frequencies:
- More masculine pitch range 80 – 160 Hertz
- More feminine pitch range 160 - 260 Hertz
- Gender ambiguous/neutral overlap 145 – 165 Hertz
A feminine voice typically has higher pitch due to smaller and lighter vocal folds allowing the folds to vibrate at a higher frequency.
Resonance is a key part of your voice and how this can be modified. We can work on shifting the filter of your voice. Voices have often been perceived as more masculine if they are produced using a chesty/low resonance and perceived as more feminine if they are produced using head/forward resonance.
Remember
- Non-verbal communication is an important tool too and we can work with you to target your goals around non-verbal communication.
- Next time you are out observe how other people communicate, is it verbal, non-verbal, both? We encourage you to think about how you communicate.
- Other people have their own perceptions of gender specific verbal and non-verbal communication and behaviours, and we may not alter the perceptions of others, but we want to know what works for YOU and what YOUR voice and communication goals are.
Public and private clinicians who provide voice modification services
Private Speech Pathologists Providing Voice Modification
Clinician In Alphabetical Order by last name | Clinic Website Information & Contact Details | Location | Additional Information |
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Sally Armstrong | Armstrong Speech Tel: 0488 393 277 Web: https://www.armstrongspeech.com/ Email: sally@armstrongspeech.com | Lancefield Vic | In clinic and via telehealth Children, adolescent & adult |
Emma Ball | H&S Speech Pathology Tel: 0403 263 890 Web: http://hsspeechpathology.com Email: HSspeechpathology@yahoo.com.au | West Melbourne Vic | In clinic and via telehealth Children, adolescent & adult * CDM accepted |
Alessandra (Alex) Giannini | Voice and breathing with Children and Adolescents Tel: 0402 321 627 | Parkville Vic | In clinic and via telehealth Children and Adolescents * CDM accepted |
Melbourne Allergy Centre and Children’s Specialists Medical Group Tel: (03) 9345 6888 | Vic |
Vanessa Murray | Vanessa Murray Speech Pathology Tel: (03) 9499 1651 Web: http://www.vmspeechpathology.com.au Email: info@vmspeechpathology.com.au | Ivanhoe Vic | In clinic and via telehealth Children, adolescent & adult |
Northside Clinic Tel: (03) 9485 7700 Web: http://www.northsideclinic.net.au Email: enquiries@northside.net.au | Fitzroy North Vic |
Tracy Olivier Abby Richards Shellee Zavarella | Central Gippsland Speech Pathology Tel: (03) 5174 7585 Email: hello@cgsp.com.au | Traralgon Vic | In clinic and via telehealth |
Dr Debbie Phyland Dr Jenni Oates Nicole Free Alex Giannini | Melbourne Voice Analysis Centre Tel: (03) 9416 0633 Web: http://www.mvac.com.au Email: mvac@unite.com.au | Fitzroy Vic | In clinic and via telehealth Children, adolescent & adult |
For any changes to this list please the contact communication.clinic@latrobe.edu.au
NB: Many of these Speech Pathologists are not associated with the La Trobe Communication Clinic, however they have indicated that they have the necessary skills and experience to provide voice services
* CDM: Medicare has a service called The Chronic Disease Management (formerly Enhanced Primary Care or EPC) plan. This allows ‘A person who has a chronic or terminal medical condition’ to attend 5 sessions with an allied health professional per calendar year. This is the only Medicare rebate option available for speech pathology for voice modification. This rebate is not available for Skype or online based training. Your GP is the best person to talk to about accessing a CDM. Some doctors may not realise that a CDM can be used for TGDNB voice training, however this is a feasible and permissible option.
Public Speech Pathology Services Providing Voice Modification
For a more comprehensive list, or to search for Speech Pathologists who offer voice support by post code go to:
https://speechpathologyaustralia.org.au/SPAweb/Resources_for_the_Public/Find_a_Speech_Pathologist/SPAweb/Resources_for_the_Public/Find_a_Speech_Pathologist/All_Searches.aspx?hkey=0b04c883-80b2-43e7-9298-7e5db5c75197].
This does not indicate that they can provide voice modification training, but we are happy for them to contact our clinic for support in providing more specialised services in their clinic if this supports you accessing services closer to home.