Jessica helps kids deliver words of love
JESSICA Young has stood side- by- side with families as their five- year- olds say “I love you Mum” for the first time.
Her Townsville practice, which is rebranding to become Young Allied Health, started out as a speech pathology firm but because of Jessica’s previous work in autism intervention, the business has been overwhelmingly helping families deal with that condition.
“After my four- year degree I got a job with the autism early intervention outcome unit,” she said.
“It lit the fire for my interest in working with kids with autism and I was there for two years before things fell into place for me to go private.
“I worked by myself with just one client to start. That was four years ago.
“But because of my experience some families followed me and then they tell their friends and that’s the area mostly work with.”
Jessica – who is Townsville born and bred – now employs seven people and is passionate about growing her business.
“Now I have a team, it’s not just about me any more so I want to support employees and have a much broader sense of community,” she said.
“There’s a lot of responsibility that goes with that but I’m in it for the long haul.”
She and her four clinicians work with children with speech errors or disabilities. This year the practice has branched out to do occupational therapy and exercise I physiology. Apart from a year overseas on Rotary exchange in Pennsylvania, USA, Jessica has lived in Townsville.
She attended Annandale Christian College.
“When I was little I went to a speech pathologist as I had an epic lisp and maybe that set the idea in my mind, even if I didn’t realise it at the time.
“I heard about allied health and it sounded so exciting so I decided to study that instead.”
Jessica has been married to her husband Samuel for nearly five years and says that the year she spent overseas made her appreciate how good Townsville was.