Bathurst speech pathologists' dinner

 It is always such fun to meet with my local Bathurst speech pathologists. Last night we met for dinner at a local restaurant.

 

It was lovely to 

• meet new graduate speech pathologists who have moved to Bathurst from studying at Australian Catholic University
• reconnect with members of the Waiting for Speech Pathology NSW Translational Research Grant team: Emily Davis, Sally Thornton (Dubbo) and Angela Roberts
• meet new babies
• say hello to many friends and hear about what they are doing. 

Waiting for Speech Pathology team: Sharynne, Emily Davis, Sally Thornton, Angela Roberts 

Here are some of the things we created as part of the Waiting for Speech Pathology NSW Translational Research Grant:

Website: https://www.nsw.gov.au/departments-and-agencies/wnswlhd/services/speech-pathology

McLeod, S., Davis, E., Rohr, K., McGill, N., Miller, K., Roberts, A., Thornton, S., Ahio, N., & Ivory, N. (2020). Waiting for speech-language pathology services: A randomised controlled trial comparing therapy, advice and device. International Journal of Speech-Language Pathology, 22(3), 372–386. https://doi.org/10.1080/17549507.2020.1731600 

Sharynne  and Emily Davis

Bathurst speech pathologists (verbal permission was given to include everyone including babies on my blog)

 

CSU Townhall and morning tea

 Today at the CSU Townhall the senior executive provided positive news and clear direction for 2026.

 

Sharynne, A/Prof Tamara Cumming, Andrew (4th year dentistry student) and Vice Chancellor Renee Leon at the staff morning tea

CSU welcomes people from across Australia and across the world

I was very honoured to show a new CSU student around the university today - and to watch her proudly add a sticker to the world map indicating where she was born. I added a sticker to where I was born as well.

Welcome to The Treehouse Holly and Merlin

It was lovely to welcome my PhD student Holly McAlister and her dog Merlin to The Treehouse (CSU Bathurst) this week. While visiting, she and Wiebke Freese (visiting PhD scholar from University of Lubeck, Germany) spent time together looking through some of the speech tests I have gathered from across the globe).

Sharynne  McLeod, Holly McAlister, Wiebke Freese, Shukla Sikder

 

Welcome Wiebke Freese, visiting CVC from Germany

Welcome to Wiebke Freese who is a PhD student at the University of Lubeck (Universität zu Lübeck), Germany who is visiting the Children's Voices Centre and The Treehouse on the Bathurst campus of Charles Sturt University. It is a joy to host her. 

Wiebke's supervisor is Prof Annette Fox-Boyer - a long-term colleague who has taught me a lot about German children's speech. Interestingly, Dr Sarah Masso, my previous PhD student undertook her postdoctoral scholarship with Annette a few years ago. Last time I saw Wiebke and Annette was at the ICPLA conference in Patras Greece.

 

A/Prof Tamara Cumming, Wiebke Freese and Prof Sharynne McLeod at the Children's Voices Centre

 

Weibke has been welcomed by CSU kangaroos, beautiful skies, and friendly colleagues.

Welcome Wiebke

Kangaroos on CSU's Bathurst campus

Sunset on Wiebke's first night in Bathurst

Bathurst's Machattie Park

Wiebke in The Beehive at The Treehouse

Wiebke's bee-inspired gifts for The Treehouse

Back to work for 2026

Today is my first day back at work for 2026. I had a productive and restful holiday spending time with family and friends. It was great to see Lorraine and Tamara - and to plan for our retreat tomorrow.

Tamara, Lorraine (and Sharynne in the background on the screen)

Emeritus Professor Jo Reid

Coffee with Emeritus Professor Jo Reid was an unexpected pleasure this morning. Jo was at CSU to provide mentoring to a colleague. 

She also mentioned a new book:

Turner, M. & Green, B. (Eds.). (2026). Multilingualism as opportunity: An integrated perspective on English and languages education in Australia. Routledge. https://www.routledge.com/Multilingualism-as-Opportunity-An-Integrated-Perspective-on-English-and-Languages-Education-in-Australia/Turner-Green/p/book/9781032767079

CSU end of year morning tea

What a lovely time of celebration at the end of year morning tea for Charles Sturt University. We appreciated the shout out to the Children's Voices Centre from the Vice Chancellor during the speeches.  I enjoyed catching up with Bruce Andrews (CSU media), Joanne Blatch (CSU Student Success Manager), Dr Nicola Ivory (Psychology).

Joanne Blatch visited the CVC after the morning tea

Dr Nicola Ivory and Prof Sharynne  McLeod wearing Christmas colours

The VC speaking at the CSU morning tea at Bathurst

CSU cupcakes in Christmas colours

 

CSU communications precinct and TV studio

We are so fortunate to have an amazing communication precinct and TV studio at CSU in Bathurst:

https://arts-ed.csu.edu.au/schools/information-communication-studies/communication-precinct

CVC features in this video (at the end):  

https://media-studio.csu.edu.au/w/roej6wGkA9R?key=bab6dec7e6a9559990657cbf70b47c0a

Bathurst Regional Art Gallery Exhibition - Children Draw Health

Our Children Draw Health global online gallery is now an exhibit at the Bathurst Regional Art Gallery

https://bathurstart.com.au/exhibitions-events/cvc-children-draw-health/

A/Prof Tamara Cumming spoke about our artwork at the BRAG launch last night

Here is the information from BRAG about the exhibition

BRAG presents Children Draw Health by the Children's Voices Centre on the OUT THERE Digital Platforms | Forecourt Projector.

The Children’s Voices Centre is a Charles Sturt University Research Centre that conducts world-leading, transformative interdisciplinary research with, for and about children. It creates opportunities for all children to express their perspectives, share their knowledge, and be listened to with respect and action.

The Children Draw Health project invited children from across the world to draw or create a picture of their perspectives about health and healthcare, then answer a few quick questions to describe their creation. 126 drawings by children from 18 countries (Australia, Botswana, Canada, Croatia, Denmark, Faroe Islands, Hungary, Iceland, India, Iran, Kenya, Malta, Netherlands, Rwanda, Thailand, Uganda, United Kingdom, United States) were received in response to the prompts: What makes you healthy? Who helps you be healthy? Where do you go to get healthier? What would your ideal hospital or health service look like?

In 2025 the Children’s Voices Centre presented this research at the 76th Session of the World Health Organization Regional Committee for the Western Pacific (RCM76) in Nadi, Fiji.

At BRAG, Children Draw Health will be visible after dark in the Gallery/Library Forecourt, showcasing the incredible drawings and responses by children from Bathurst and the world until 25 January 2026. 

 

Bathurst Regional Art Gallery and World Children's Day

Today A/Prof Tamara Cumming, Dr Carolyn Gregoric and I met with Lilium Burrow and team from the Bathurst Regional Art Gallery

Here are the plans so far:

BRAG Forecourt Summer Exhibition - Presentation of the Children Draw Health Global Online Galleries.

• Exhibition Dates: 22 November – 25 January
• Opening Night Event: Friday 21 November
• Commence Projection 17 November so it is available for World Children's Day on 20th November. 

CVC launch in the Western Advocate

Western Advocate article – “'Unique to the world:' Bathurst's newest facility making waves at UN, WHO” “The world-leading research happening right here”

https://www.westernadvocate.com.au/story/9082754/bathursts-sharynne-mcleod-leads-global-child-health-research/

 

 

The news story was syndicated across the Australian Community Media network in the wider NSW Central West, including The Oberon Review: (Oberon), The Central Western Daily (Orange), The Lithgow Mercury (Lithgow), and The Daily Liberal (Dubbo). One interview, five newspaper stories!

Welcome to The Treehouse Dr Carolyn Gregoric

Dr Carolyn Gregoric, the Research Manager at the Children's Voices Centre typically works off campus. We are delighted to welcome her to The Treehouse for our CVC launch week. It was lovely to show her around our renovated building - and to see her wearing her CSU and bee-inspired outfit! Welcome Carolyn!

Catching up with Dr Audrey Wang

Dr Audrey (Cen) Wang has been a valued colleague and friend for many years. We have undertaken numerous research projects together and have written many papers together. She now works as a psychologist - so it is wonderful to catch up during our birthday month. 

Enjoying Spring and the Fossil and Mineral Museum in Bathurst

It is always fun to host visitors in Bathurst. This weekend some of the things we did to introduce Prof Lynn Williams, Camilla Porsanger and their families to Bathurst included enjoying the spring blossoms and visiting the Fossil and Mineral Museum in Bathurst https://museumsbathurst.com.au/afmm/

Chatting with the Deputy Mayor and CSU Councillor Ben Fry

2025 ASHFoundation 5K Walk/Run

Today Prof Lynn Williams and I walked for the American Speech-Language-Hearing Foundation Annual 5K Walk/Run (https://www.ashfoundation.org/). Lynn registered us for the event - and we enjoyed sharing the walk with our husbands, friends, and over 80 kangaroos! 

2025 ASHFoundation Virtual 5K Walk/Run - 14 September 2025

Registration is now open for the ASHFoundation’s 6th Annual Virtual 5K, taking place September 12–14, 2025. Walk, run, or roll from wherever you are—and on your own schedule—to support innovation in communication sciences and disorders. Participate as an individual or form a team. Every step you take helps fund research grants, scholarships, and new breakthroughs in speech, language, and hearing. Join a movement that’s making a difference across the country and around the world. 

Wattle

Sharynne  with Prof Lynn Williams

Creative gifts for The Beehive and The Treehouse

Today we had "welcome home soup" at The Treehouse with the Children's Voices Centre staff, Prof Lynn Williams and Camilla Porsanger. Lynn had brought some special gifts from USA to decorate The Beehive, the room where she is working while visiting Charles Sturt University. Thank you Lynn we love the creativity of your friends and colleagues in the US!

Prof Lynn Williams, Prof Sharynne  McLeod, Camilla Porsanger, A/Prof Tamara Cumming, Lorraine Bennett

Sharing welcome home soup at The Treehouse