I really love working with my research students. In 2025 I have
and a new PhD student who is currently being finalised.
I am also working with Dr Kate Margetson as my postdoc (2 days/week)
They all do such great work - it is a pleasure to work with them all.
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| Holly, Sharynne and Suzanne |
Dr Kate Margetson and I have a grant through the Rural Health Research Institute to develop the Speech Assessment of Children’s Home Languages (SACHL, Margetson & McLeod, 2025) https://www.csu.edu.au/research/multilingual-speech/speech-assessments/sachl and to ensure it is relevant to all speech pathologists including in rural and remote settings.
This morning we
We have already been productive in our first week back from holidays!
Naming authors on research papers and presentations ensures that appropriate people get credit and are accountable for the reported research.
The International Committee of Medical Journal Editors (ICMJE) recommendations comprise four criteria, all of which are required to claim authorship:
The CRediT Taxonomy provides the opportunity to describe each person’s specific contribution to the scholarly output. The 14 roles listed in the CRediT Taxonomy are: "Conceptualization, Data curation, Formal analysis, Funding acquisition, Investigation, Methodology, Project administration, Resources, Software, Supervision, Validation, Visualization, Writing – original draft, Writing – review & editing"
This week A/Prof Sarah Verdon, Dr Nicola Ivory, A/Prof Kate Crowe and I are working on the ethics, and finalisation of the Catholic Education Tasmania - Prevalence and screening pathway project. It is a privilege to work on this to set up a robust screening pathway for Tasmania.
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| Monday - Sarah, Nicola and Sharynne at CSU |
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| Monday evening-Kate C (in Iceland) and Sharynne |
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| Tuesday - Sarah, Nicola and Sharynne at CSU |
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| Tuesday afternoon - Lisa, Felicity at CET, Sharynne, Sarah, Nicola at CSU |
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| Thursday afternoon - Felicity, Lisa, Sharyne, Nicola, Udari |
Today was my first day back at work after the summer holidays. It is so exciting to officially begin my role as the Director of the Children's Voices Centre. I am so excited about including children in all we do and to undertaking research with children, for children and about children.
I'm excited to be working with
and look forward to employing two new staff very soon.
Today I met with with Lilium Burrow, Audience Engagement Officer, Bathurst Regional Art Gallery to discuss the Children's Voices Centre's new research with the World Health Organization to listen to children about health, health equity and health access. She was enthusiastic about collaborating - and identified these connections:
A BRAG X Cementa initiative, The NSW Young Regional Creators Network is a network of established and emerging organisations and programs dedicated to delivering creative and social skills and confidence building outcomes for young people in Regional NSW through arts, new technology, and cultural expression. This program will connect organisations across Central and Western NSW to share resources, ideas, methodologies and talent in a format designed to distribute access across the distances that isolate young people in the regional context. This program directly addresses the difficulty of delivering meaningful cultural outcomes for young people in regional NSW by connecting organisations in a network that will allow resource sharing and program integration that can be delivered to young people across the region. For example, Cementa can supply up to 20 artists a year to conduct workshops, BRAG can provide access to a celebrated regional gallery, artistic program, and professional development, while Arts Out West and Charles Sturt University can provide state of the art facilities for young people that participate in these programs and those of Headspace, Social Futures Clubhouse and BRAG Youth Advocates. This program also offers the potential for youth from across regional NSW to meet and collaborate on common projects and events.
This morning I met with Elsie (11), Zach (9) and Chloe (8) who were Australian advisors for the Children Draw Talking Project that now appears on the United Nations (UN) website:
https://www.ohchr.org/sites/default/files/documents/issues/youth/hr75/submissions/subm-views-youth-led-cso-early-childhood-interdisciplinary-resear.pdf
The World Health Organization in Geneva Switzerland saw our submission on the UN website – and want us to do something like this again – but this time about children’s insights into health, being healthy, and accessing healthcare services (hospital, doctor, dentist, nurse, vaccinations, optometry, audiology, speech pathology, physiotherapy, psychology, social work, occupational therapy, etc.). The WHO especially want to learn about the insights of children who have a disability.
This morning Zach, Elsie, and Chloe gave me advice about how to approach our new research project with the World Health Organization. They are going to brainstorm with their friends and family about "what makes you healthy". Here are some of their initial ideas: a carrot, exercise, sport, netball, medicine, bikes. We also talked about accessing healthcare. I will chat with them and more of my Australian advisors during January to prepare documentation for WHO in February.
Thanks Chloe, Zach and Elsie!
This work will be part of our new Children’s Voices Centre https://www.csu.edu.au/research/childrens-voices-centre/home
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| Zach, Chloe and Elsie chatting via Zoom |
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| Elsie, Chloe, Zach, Sharynne |
Here are some of the things that Elsie, Zach and Chloe's advice (+ others in their family) have helped us with in the past:
Congratulations to Sarah Bartlett on her published paper from her Graduate Certificate that set the stage for her PhD research
Bartlett, S., & McLeod, S. (2025). Caregivers’ insights into supporting their late talkers using a Hanen® parent program. International Journal of Speech-Language Pathology, Advance online publication. https://doi.org/10.1080/17549507.2024.2438103
Here is the abstract
Purpose
To explore caregivers’ experiences and engagement during the 16-week Target Word™ Hanen® program for parents designed to support late talkers.
Method
Qualitative interpretative description methodology was used to understand the experience of five caregivers who had completed Target Word™ to support their children (aged 18-36 months). Caregivers attended a focus group to share their perspectives. Transcripts of these focus groups were analysed using reflexive thematic analysis.
Result
Two themes were identified regarding caregiver engagement during Target Word™ intervention. Firstly, caregivers described explicit support roles for speech-language pathologists: (a) Beginning phase (clarify expectations), (b) middle phase (enable caregiver to link changes in their behaviour to positive child outcomes), and (c) final phase (empowered caregivers). Secondly, caregiver engagement is influenced by: (a) Individual needs and expectations, (b) active engagement during key learning moments, and (c) influence of the broader environment.
Conclusion
Each caregiver participating in Target Word™ experienced unique engagement journeys over the course of the program. Speech-language pathologists can explicitly facilitate engagement at each phase of Target Word™ to promote active engagement for learning and ultimately caregiver empowerment to support their children’s language growth.
Our new Children's Voices Centre is important. Here is a new paper that has just been published in the US journal - Pediatrics. The author cited our communication rights paper (McLeod, 2018). Thank you Jace for speaking up!
Listen Up: Autistic Youth Need to Be Heard
Pediatrics Perspectives| December 17 2024
Jace E. Pooley
Address correspondence to: Jace Pooley, c/o Andrew F. Beck, MD, MPH, Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center, 3333 Burnet Ave, MLC 7035, Cincinnati, OH 45229. jacepooley@icloud.com
Pediatrics (2025) 155 (1): e2024069175.
https://doi.org/10.1542/peds.2024-069175
Subjects:Autism/ASD, Developmental/Behavioral Health, Interpersonal & Communication Skills
Topics:autistic disorderAutistic youth need to be heard. Many have a difficult time speaking and are informally called “nonspeakers.” Too often, nonspeakers like me don’t get to share our thoughts even though we have lots to say. We aren’t broken or puzzles to unravel. We are, however, thoughtful and smart. We may not communicate like others do, but we have voices that deserve to be heard. I’d like to use my voice to share what being a nonspeaker means to me.
I’m a nonspeaker. I can say a few things, but not consistently and not always in the way that I intend. That’s part of the reason that I was diagnosed with autism. I hated that diagnosis until recently, because I felt the label suggested that I wasn’t smart. I have long struggled with the way autism is presented: a disease or problem to be solved. But I see autism as having...
Welcome to the Children's Voices Centre's new staff members:
We had a wonderful meeting to plan and dream today.
Part of our 3-year focus is for the world to "include children"and grow capacity at The Treehouse.
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| Carolyn, Tamara and Sharynne |
The ECV2024 certificates are going out to presenters at the moment. Here is the accompanying email:
Dear Sharynne,
Thank you for presenting at the Early Childhood Voices Conference (ECV2024). This virtual and asynchronous event brought together 1,338 researchers and professionals from 54 countries.
Over four days, ECV2024 showcased the work of the four keynote presentations, 147 oral presentations, and 200+ children’s drawings across three streams - early childhood voices: international interdisciplinary research, multilingual children's speech development and children draw playing global online gallery. Participants also engaged in six yarning circle discussions and a workshop on understanding different communications methods presented by Shirley Wong, who has lived experience of augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) devices.
The conference website can be viewed here https://earlychildhoodresearch.csu.domains/early-childhood-voices-conference-2024/
Previous conferences are also available online
· ECV2020 https://earlychildhoodresearch.csu.domains/early-childhood-voices-conference-2020/
· ECV2022 https://earlychildhoodresearch.csu.domains/early-childhood-voices-conference-2022/
Thank you for your contribution to ECV2024
See you in 2026.
Dr Kelly Tribolet and Dr Belinda Downey
Early Childhood Voices 2024 Professional Recognition Committee
Charles Sturt University Early Childhood Interdisciplinary Research Group
Distinguished Professor Sharynne McLeod and Dr Belinda Downey
Charles Sturt University Early Childhood Voices 2024 Conference Chairs
Dr Carolyn Gregoric
Charles Sturt University Early Childhood Voices 2024 Conference Secretary
I have found a few places where I am on YouTube
I have been invited to present a CSU masterclass in the series "Seeing like a researcher"
My topic that has been postponed until 2025 is: "Professional skills: Editing a book: From beginning to end"
I am honoured to be amongst my distinguished colleagues from CSU within this series: https://staff.csu.edu.au/researchers/research-support/seeing-like-a-researcher-masterclass-series
Here is what is written on the website:
“Seeing like a researcher” is a masterclass series that draws on the experience, skills, wisdom and advice of Charles Sturt’s research leaders. The series includes sessions on both research innovation themes and professional skills for research.
Research innovation sessions encompass advanced pathbreaking tools of analysis and are designed to showcase new discoveries in research and update Charles Sturt researchers on new ways of doing research.
Professional skills sessions provide advice on research challenges such as developing a high quality ARC/NHMRC application, building long term partnerships nationally and internationally, delivering high impact research, working with First Nations communities etc.
The “Seeing like a researcher” masterclass series will be an invaluable mechanism for building research culture by inspiring experienced academics looking to re-energise their research programs, and next generation researchers hungry for learning and career advice.
To end the year, CSU has published two news stories about our work and impact:
I was interviewed on the local 2BS breakfast radio show this morning. It's always great to champion children's communication and everyone's right to communicate.
With the announcement of the Children's Voices Centre (https://news.csu.edu.au/latest-news/new-research-centre-champions-childrens-communication-rights), signing the research agreement with the World Health Organization, and learning that we currently do not have funds for refurbishment of The Treehouse - we have come up with a solution to enable us to have access to begin The Treehouse for the work of the Children's Voices Centre. Brandon Schranzer, Operations Coordinator Bathurst Campus Facilities Management has blocked off the stairs (since they are not compliant for children's safety) so we are now able to use the building. We look forward to moving in - and to trying to secure funding so that we can fully use the building.
I have been having a wonderful time working with Holly Weal and Rebecca Dwyer from Division of People and Culture to prepare the following jobs for our new Children's Voices Centre
Here is an email I sent today to the Assumption Catholic Primary School Band
Dear students and teachers
We are writing to officially thank you for your outstanding contribution to the Early Childhood Voices 2024 (ECV2024) Conference Launch on Monday 25th November 2024 at Charles Sturt University.
Over the week of the conference 1338 people registered from 54 countries:
Afghanistan, Australia, Bangladesh, Benin, Brazil, Bulgaria, Burundi, Canada, China, Colombia, Denmark, Ethiopia, Fiji, Finland, France, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Hong Kong (SAR China), Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Iran, Ireland, Israel, Jordan, Kosovo, Kuwait, Malaysia, Malta, Morocco, Namibia, Nepal, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nigeria, Norway, Pakistan, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, Slovenia, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, Uganda, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom, USA, Zambia.
Many more people continue to access the free online content: 4 keynote presentations, 147 oral presentations, and 200+ children’s drawings.
In fact, you may enjoy viewing the Children Draw Playing Global Online Gallery: https://earlychildhoodresearch.csu.domains/early-childhood-voices-conference-2024/children-draw-playing/
It would be wonderful if you, or some other students from Assumption Catholic Primary School may be interested in collaborating with us during 2025. This week, we launched the Children’s Voices Centre https://www.csu.edu.au/research/childrens-voices-centre/home.
Here is the media release: https://news.csu.edu.au/latest-news/new-research-centre-champions-childrens-communication-rights
The Children’s Voices Centre has signed an agreement with the World Health Organization undertake research to listen to children’s perspectives about health.
Thank you again and best wishes for Christmas and the holidays.
Sharynne
Distinguished Professor Sharynne McLeod
Charles Sturt University
I was invited to be a guest on the "What’s Got Us Talking: The UTS Speech Pathology Podcast"
Discover the latest research and insights in Speech Pathology from the University of Technology Sydney. Join Professor Bronwyn Hemsley, Head of Speech Pathology at UTS, as she starts the conversations shaping the field. A must-listen for speechies, students, and their curious friends.
https://omny.fm/shows/whats-got-us-talking-the-uts-speech-pathology-pod
Here are the shownotes:
Understanding each other: Multilingual speech pathology practice
Description
As multilingual speech pathology is an emerging field of research and practice, we explore how and why speech pathologists support multilingual clients, and several new developments. it.
Resources:
Multilingual Children’s Speech YouTube channel https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLRXcSAl_dA7arRMrE0qdxLuzGChY1LgY2
Multilingual Children’s Speech website: https://www.csu.edu.au/research/multilingual-speech
Key paper:
McLeod, S., & Crowe, K. (2018). Children’s consonant acquisition in 27 languages: A cross-linguistic review. American Journal of Speech-Language Pathology, 27(4), 1546–1571. https://doi.org/10.1044/2018_AJSLP-17-0100
Free posters: https://www.csu.edu.au/research/multilingual-speech/speech-acquisition/learning-english-consonants
Host: Prof Bronwyn Hemsley
Guests: Dr Denise Ng, Prof Sharynne McLeod, Emily Chan, and Lily.
Produced by Laura Corrigan, thanks to 2SER
