Planning 2026 data collection in Tasmania

This morning our research team planned our 2026 data collection in Tasmania. We have wonderful preliminary data from 2025, and at the end of this month Sarah Verdon will interview people involved in the research during 2025. Our 2026 data collection will involve every 4- to 5-year-old child across the school population to determine speech screening pathways to be used into the future. We are excited to be working with Felicity Laurence who will undertake her PhD with us next year, and Lisa Johnson from CET.

Integrated early years Aboriginal family support: A strengths based approach

Thank you to Nikki Simone for presenting her PhD research to the CVC team today. It was inspiring to hear of her important work titled "Integrated early years Aboriginal family support: A strengths based approach". We also looked fabulous in our Melbourne Cup attire!

LSHSS Clinical Forum: Children’s communication and the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC)

Dr Helen L. Blake, A/Prof Kathy Cologon and I are working on the LSHSS Clinical Forum: Children’s communication and the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC). We are delighted by the large number of submissions from across the world - and are now inviting reviewers.

 

Academy of the Social Sciences in Australia (ASSA) Panel D

Today I attended the Academy of the Social Sciences in Australia (ASSA) Panel D annual meeting.

"The Academy of the Social Sciences in Australia represents almost 700 leading social science researchers. The Academy exists to recognise and champion excellence in the social sciences and to provide evidence-based advice on a range of social policy issues."

 

Melbourne Cup lunch

Today we introduced our visitors from Norway to the strange tradition of talking about horses and having lunch while wearing fancy hats on the second Tuesday in November.

Community Recognition Statement in the NSW State Parliament

Thank you to Paul Toole MP who sent me a letter to say that he had read a Community Recognition Statement in the NSW State Parliament recently. I received a letter and copy of the statement in the mail. I am very honoured that our work has been recognised in this way.

https://www.parliament.nsw.gov.au/Hansard/Pages/HansardResult.aspx#/docid/HANSARD-1323879322-158940 

Legislative Assembly Hansard – 22 October 2025 

Sharynne McLeod 

Mr PAUL TOOLE (Bathurst)—The contribution that Sharynne McLeod has made to research science cannot be underestimated. In fact, the former student at Bathurst West Public School is among the top two per cent of scientists in the world. Sharynne is known and renowned for research to enhance equitable participation for children with speech, language, and communication needs. And now the distinguished Professor has taken on the role of director of a world-first research centre located on campus at Charles Sturt University in Bathurst ‑ The Children's Voices Centre. Its focus is on research with children for children and about children. Adding merit to the initiative is the fact the World Health Organisation has invited Sharynne and her team to create a research project to listen to children across the world about their perspectives, and to remind the world that there are not only children in the world, but they are not only the future of our society, but they are also the present. Congratulations Professor McLeod, your cutting-edge research, based right here in Bathurst, is something you and our entire community should be proud of.

 

Congratulations Tamara - Australian Children's Education and Care Quality Authority National Workforce Forum

Congratulations to A/Prof Tamara Cumming who is an invited member of panel discussion on Culture, Educator Wellbeing and Children's Outcomes at the two-day National Workforce Forum hosted by the Australian Children's Education and Care Quality Authority.

https://www.acecqa.gov.au/sites/default/files/2021-10/ShapingOurFutureChildrensEducationandCareNationalWorkforceStrategy-September2021.pdf