Two kinds of help sit behind the same search. Work on reading and spelling themselves, or a tutor for another subject who understands dyslexia. Learnmate covers both.
Tutors state which learning differences they have experience with on their profiles.
Dyslexia affects decoding and spelling, not intelligence or effort.
Some work on reading itself, others teach maths or science and understand how dyslexia impacts your thinking.
Learnmate is a marketplace, not a clinic, and does not assess or diagnose.
Reading tutors on Learnmate cover the same ground without the diagnosis.
Two quite different needs bring families here. One is a need to work on reading and spelling directly, often while an assessment is still pending or a school program runs in a group at a fixed pace. The other is a tutor for maths, science or another subject who will not treat slow reading as not trying. Profiles state which learning differences each tutor has experience with, and which subjects they teach.
Which you need changes what to look for. For reading work, look for structured, explicit approaches and expect explicit, structured work rather than general reading practice. For subject tutoring, the qualification matters as much as the dyslexia experience, so check both. Most tutors give a first lesson free, there are no lock-in contracts, and payment is processed automatically after each lesson.
Learnmate is Australia's leading online tutoring marketplace. Tutors list the learning differences they have experience with, and families choose from those profiles directly rather than being matched by an agency.
Nobody screens you before you can see who is available, and nothing is committed for a term. Most tutors offer a free first lesson, and the platform settles payment after each session rather than in advance. Learnmate does not assess, diagnose or deliver a clinical programme, and no tutor here should offer to.
Some families need work on the reading itself. Others need a maths or science tutor who understands why a capable student reads a question three times. Profiles state which learning differences a tutor has experience with and which subjects they teach, so both are answered before you make contact.
Progress with dyslexia is measured over terms, not weeks, and starting again with someone new costs more here than in other subjects. On Learnmate a family books a person and keeps them for as long as it is working.
The first lesson is usually free and nothing is paid up front for a term. That matters most here, because the fit between a tutor and a child is doing more of the work than it would in another subject.
Tutors listing special needs experience on Learnmate include a doctorate in applied mathematics from the University of Adelaide, a marine biology and genetics doctoral candidate, and a registered teacher of nearly thirty years holding a graduate diploma in special education covering autism and intellectual impairment. A paediatric speech pathologist, a Master of Education and engineering masters also appear.
Between them they teach mathematics to HSC Extension level, physics, biology, chemistry, English, the humanities and more. Profiles state experience with autism, ADHD and neurodivergent learners, and a smaller number name dyslexia specifically. Learnmate lists what each tutor states rather than verifying it clinically, so read the profile and ask what their experience actually is. For reading work without a diagnosis, the reading tutors page covers the same ground.
Jimena is a very patient tutor who also has a vast knowledge on the English subject. She effectively analyses and explains language techniques in a way that is understandable. Overall would recommend.
Jaye is a really helpful tutor who helps identify your weaknesses and strengths as a student and guides you efficiently towards improving them!
Professional, kind, organised and patient. Am so grateful to find Nanditha. Such a great resource and help during our year 12 studies. Can’t recommend her any more highly. Has been a seamless experience and I know it will continue to be. Very reliable.
Tania has a lovely way of teaching. She is calm, patient and succinct without ‘over teaching’. She was able to very quickly identify what worked with our year 12 son and gain his trust and respect. She has helped him grow in confidence in his English analysis, text and article responses - and his enjoyment of English. He also draws on these skills in assessing media reports! We have had such a fabulous experience with Tania and would come back to her in a heartbeat for any future tutoring needs. Thank you so much, Tania!
Sophie is a reliable and organised tutor. She is responsive and has assisted our son in various subjects, including Science, History and English. We highly recommend Sophie as a tutor.
I think Atifa is really helpful and understanding. I have been doing alright with English and tutoring with Atifa has helped me improved. Through my persuasive writing, there is a clear improvement and it has been more visual through my marks as well. She is friendly and kind and is a great help when revising overwork and assignments. She is honest when it is needed and provides constructive feedback. She is a great tutor and to be her student is an honour.
What the work involves, and where to start without an assessment
The first is work on reading and spelling themselves. It teaches sound and letter patterns explicitly, in a set order, revisiting them until secure rather than moving on once covered. The second is ordinary subject tutoring delivered by someone who understands dyslexia: a maths tutor who reads the question aloud, allows processing time, and does not treat a slow reader as a weak student. Most families need one or the other, and a few need both.
Most students arrive already receiving something at school, usually a small group programme on a fixed timetable. A tutor is not a replacement for it and the two work best pointed in the same direction. Tell the tutor what the school is using so the approaches do not conflict, since a child being taught two different systems at once will make slower progress than one taught either alone.
Assessment waiting lists are long and tutoring does not need to wait for one. A tutor cannot diagnose and should not try, but the reading and spelling difficulties in front of them can be worked on regardless of whether a report eventually arrives. If no assessment is in progress and you are not sure dyslexia is what you are dealing with, reading tutors cover the same ground without the label.
Filter tutors by the learning differences they have worked with, then book a free first lesson.
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