Celebrating an important manuscript submission

Typically on this blog I celebrate manuscripts that are accepted for publication. I rarely talk about the long process of planning, gaining ethics approval, data collection, analysis, writing, submission, revisions, final acceptance, and page proofing that sometimes lasts years. Today Ben Pham submitted the main paper from her research in Vietnam. It has been a 3+ year process to get to this point - and we were very excited to submit it this afternoon. Congratulations Ben.

Congratulations Ben

Impact: Speech sound disorders in preschool and school-age children

The American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA) have just launched a journal self-study course for their members titled "Speech Sound Disorders in Preschool and School-Age Children (WEB3250)". It contains learning based around four journal articles, and two of the four were written by our team, with a third being written by our colleagues Yvonne Wren and Sue Roulstone from the UK. It is very exciting to have had our work selected by ASHA and will increase the impact of our work across the US and the world. The selected papers in the self-study course are:

1. Stimulus Characteristics of Single-Word Tests of Children's Speech Sound Production - Toby Macrae 
2. Cluster-Randomized Controlled Trial Evaluating the Effectiveness of Computer-Assisted Intervention Delivered by Educators for Children With Speech Sound Disorders - Sharynne McLeod, Elise Baker, Jane McCormack, Yvonne Wren, Sue Roulstone, Kathryn Crowe, Sarah Masso, Paul White, and Charlotte Howland 
3. Polysyllable Speech Accuracy and Predictors of Later Literacy Development in Preschool Children With Speech Sound Disorders - Sarah Masso, Elise Baker, Sharynne McLeod, and Cen Wang 
4. Prevalence and Predictors of Persistent Speech Sound Disorder at Eight Years Old: Findings From a Population Cohort Study - Yvonne Wren, Laura L. Miller, Tim J. Peters, Alan Emond, and Sue Roulstone 

Here is the summary of the course from the ASHA website:

Children with speech sound disorders make up a large part of the caseload for many SLPs who work with preschool and school-age children. Speech sound disorders not only affect a child’s ability to communicate at a young age but also may lead to later speech and literacy difficulties. This journal self-study explores issues related to managing speech sound disorders, including assessment and treatment options. It also includes articles that identify predictors of future speech and literacy problems. Clinicians can use this information to help identify appropriate assessment tools and potential treatment options, as well as counsel parents and teachers of children who may be at risk for continuing speech and academic difficulties.

Visiting Broken Hill University Department of Rural Health

Today I spent time at the Broken Hill University Department of Rural Health. I had lunch with the La Trobe University speech pathology students who are on their final year placement working in schools throughout the region (thanks for organising lunch Sarah and Alisha). I enjoyed meeting this enthusiastic group of students and discussing their placements, rural practice, and international research. I also had the opportunity to meet with Claire Brunero (Speech Pathology Academic), Dr Debra Jones (Director or Primary Health Care) and Professor David Lyle (Head of Department of Rural Health). It was great to hear their passion and advocacy for rural health.

La Trobe University speech pathology students

Prof David Lyle, Dr Debra Jones, Prof Sharynne McLeod

Visiting outback New South Wales

I am on leave this week and am visiting outback New South Wales. While on leave I am learning more about rural and distance education in our very large state and had a chance to visit Broken Hill School of the Air.

Outback Australia is very sparsely populated

Kylie Green (Principal) and David McLeod at Broken Hill School of the Air
speaking with remote parents via satellite

"Waiting for speech pathology" grant meeting in Dubbo

Today our NSW Translational Research Grant team continued work on our Waiting for speech pathology grant with a face-to-face meeting at Dubbo Community Health. We worked on standardizing the research processes across the three research sites regarding assessment, transcription,  and the advice and therapy sessions. Thank you to Sally and Kate for hosting the meeting, providing delicious treats, and an inspiring book collection.

L-R: Kate Miller, Sharynne, Angela Roberts, Nicole McGill (videoconference),
Sally Thornton, Emily Davis, Katrina Rohr

Global efforts towards quality education for all

Today Professor Vinayagum Chinapah visited CSU from the Institute of International Education (IIE), Department of Education, Stockholm University, Sweden. Australia was the 158th country that he has visited, and it has been a lifelong dream to come. While at CSU he presented a lecture titled: Global efforts towards quality education for all: Evidence and reflections from international and comparative perspectives to address achievements and challenges

Here is the abstract

 In the process of constructing post-2015 development global frameworks, education is increasingly seen globally to be a powerful tool for preparing students to enter the labor market as well as to create a peaceful and sustainable society. International and comparative educational research conducted on the achievement of the EFA goals has clearly revealed that despite important efforts accomplished in many countries, there are still serious challenges in terms of the quality of education that is offered. The paper examines the extent to which a minimum Quality of Education For All (QEFA) can be reached through effective use and application of evidence-based international and comparative educational research. Global efforts to attain QEFA are examined by investigating major international surveys of learning outcomes. The case of Arab states demonstrates diverse socio economic and political contexts of each country and should be reflected in regional strategies to achieve QEFA. Evidence from data on national, regional and international assessments indicates that low achievement is globally widespread and stronger government intervention will be needed. This research demonstrates that the diversity of learning conditions and environment across and within countries should be carefully reflected into quality assurance by enhancing each individual´s learning potentials. 

Ben Pham, Sally Lamping, Vinay Chinapah, Shukla Sikder, Sharynne McLeod

Here is his biography

Vinayagum Chinapah (Sweden and Mauritius) is Professor, Chair Holder and Head of the Institute of International Education (IIE), Department of Education, Stockholm University, Sweden since 2009. Professor Chinapah has been the Director of the Joint UNESCO-UNICEF International Program on Monitoring the Quality of Education and Learning Achievement which covered some 80 countries world-wide during the period (1992-2006). He also served for one year as UNESCO Regional Educational Adviser for the Arab States, UNESCO Regional Office, Beirut, Lebanon (2007-2008) before returning back to lead IIE in January 2009. Professor Chinapah is member of various research associations and research councils and author and co-author of some 70 books, chapters in books, scientific journal articles as well as some 160 reports, conference papers, training manuals and prototypes for capacity building workshops world-wide. He has done research, training, and consultancies for several UN agencies (UNESCO, UNICEF. UNDP, FAO); International agencies (The World Bank, OECD); bilateral agencies (SIDA, Finnish CIMO, CIDA, Commonwealth Secretariat) and several national governments and institutions in some 140 countries world-wide over the past 35 years.

Prof. Vinay Chinapah receiving a CSU boomerang

Kangaroos in Bathurst

Prof Chinapah saw 20+ kangaroos near the university

Joeys in their mothers' pouches

Magdalena Janus' visit to CSU

We have been honoured to have A/Prof Magdalena Janus visiting Charles Sturt University this week from Canada. She has been instrumental in the development of the Early Development Instrument (EDI) used widely in Canada, Australia, USA, Sweden, Brazil, Peru, and Jordan. She is currently developing the Infant and Young Child Development (IYCD) assessment in conjunction with the World Health Organization.

Ben Phạm and Magdalena Janus discussing the Vietnamese EDI

Magdalena Janus, Sharynne and Linda Harrison