CSU CVC researchers featured on SPA website and communications

Speech Pathology Australia has featured us on their website! https://www.speechpathologyaustralia.org.au/

 

Economic Value of Speech Pathology Services focus group

This morning I was invited to participate in a Speech Pathology Australia focus group with Nous Group to discuss an analytical framework to consider speech pathology services for early childhood. Their brief is to consider "Economic Value of Speech Pathology Services" Many of our population and intervention studies were relevant to the conversation. This provocation provides a summary of lots of the topics we discussed this morning:

https://provocations.csu.edu.au/communication-is-a-human-right-but-not-everyone-can-communicate-effectively/

 

Speech Pathology Australia National Conference

This week I am co-presenting the following papers at the Speech Pathology Australia National Conference on the Gold Coast https://www.speechpathologyaustralia.org.au/Public/Public/CPD-events/SPA-conference/2026/Home.aspx

1. Marie Ireland and Sharynne McLeod: School speech pathologists’ navigation of nine tensions regarding evaluation and eligibility in USA 
2. Kate Margetson and Sharynne McLeod: Assessing children’s speech in unfamiliar languages: Acceptability of the Speech Assessment of Children’s Home Language(s) (SACHL) 
3. Sharynne McLeod and Helen L. Blake: Resources in 131 languages and dialects: Multilingual minds have unlocked global knowledge about children’s speech 
4. Sarah Bartlett, Sharynne McLeod: Implications of caregiver-implemented intervention for three underserved communities

CSU speech pathologists at SPA2026: Sarah Bartlett, A/Prof Suzanne Hopf, Prof Sarah Verdon, D/Prof Sharynne  McLeod, Dr Marie Ireland

Keynote speaker Dr Anita Heiss with CSU delegates at the SPA2026 conference

Sarah B and Sharynne  having a PhD meeting at SPA2026

Marie Ireland presenting her research 

 

Speech Pathology Australia National Conference submission outcomes for 2026

We have just learned the outcome of our Speech Pathology Australia National Conference submissions for 2026. In the letter they wrote

"This year we received 326 submissions, reflecting a 22% increase on last year. With limited presentation space available, only around one-third could be included in the final program"

While some of our papers were not accepted for presentation - the following papers were accepted:

• Assessing children’s speech in unfamiliar languages: Acceptability of the Speech Assessment of Children’s Home Language(s) (SACHL)
• Resources in 131 languages and dialects: Multilingual minds have unlocked global knowledge about children’s speech
•  Implications of caregiver-implemented intervention for three underserved communities
•  School speech pathologists’ navigation of nine tensions regarding evaluation and eligibility in USA

I am glad that two of my PhD students' papers were accepted.  

Sustainable Development Goals - Speech Pathology Australia podcast

Sustainable Development Goals - Speech Pathology Australia podcast

The Speech Pathology Australia Sustainable Development Goals podcast has been released: https://soundcloud.com/speechpathologyaustralia/rebroadcast-un-sustainable-development-goals-s7e19?si=cee835ba2d994b928d6381f9823712b8&utm_source=clipboard&utm_medium=text&utm_campaign=social_sharing 

Resources:

• IJSLP Issue on Communication, Swallowing, and the Sustainable Development Goals (Open-Access): https://www.tandfonline.com/toc/iasl20/25/1  
• SPA introduction to the special issue of the IJSLP: https://www.speechpathologyaustralia.org.au/SPAweb/whats_on/Speak_Up_for_Communication_Rights/Special_edition__Communication_Swallowing/SPAweb/What_s_On/Speak_Up_for_Communication_Rights/Table_of_contents_Swallowing.aspx?hkey=4159a312-eca2-4070-88cc-ec4fc98e2f4e  
• United Nations Sustainable Development Goals: https://sdgs.un.org/goals  

Sustainable Development Goals - Speech Pathology Australia podcast

Today Julie Marshall and I received an email from Nadia Marussinszky, Professional Education Senior Officer and Speak Up Podcast producer at Speech Pathology Australia. She wrote:

"From time to time Speech Pathology Australia will re-broadcast an episode, and to add a different angle to this we ask speech pathologists to select a previous episode to re-run, and then to share a brief, introductory reflection. I wanted to let you know that one of the members of our conference planning committee for 2025 has chosen the episode you recorded about the UN Sustainable Development Goals, and recorded a reflection to introduce the episode. We will rebroadcast this in June this year...Once the episode has been re-broadcast we will send over a copy of the social media image SPA are using to promote the episode and link to the episode...

I also thought you might like to know that the episode has been streamed 3,946 times since publication! The information and guidance you shared has reached a lot of people, thank you for sharing it!"

Here are some of the resources that Speech Pathology Australia will share with the podcast: 

• IJSLP Issue on Communication, Swallowing, and the Sustainable Development Goals: https://www.tandfonline.com/toc/iasl20/25/1  
• SPA introduction to the special issue of the IJSLP: https://www.speechpathologyaustralia.org.au/Members/News-and-publications/Publications/Speak-Out-Articles/Latest/Communication-swallowing-S-D-G.aspx 
• United Nations Sustainable Development Goals: https://sdgs.un.org/goals 

Early childhood education and care: Productivity Commission Report

The Early childhood education and care: Productivity Commission Report has been tabled https://www.pc.gov.au/inquiries/completed/childhood/report

From the website:

"This report outlines what a universal ECEC system would look like, and the significant reforms necessary to achieve it. These reforms tackle issues that affect ECEC availability, inclusion, affordability, quality and equity. The report's recommendations aim to remove barriers to ECEC access and support better outcomes for children and families." 

The review included consultation with children:

• Children’s Perspectives of Early Childhood Education and Care (PDF 3.8 MB)
• Making the Invisible Visible: Consulting with Children (PDF 5.0 MB)

I am so glad that Jane Delaney was able to represent speech pathologists' perspectives at the April 2024 Joint Roundtable with Academy of Social Sciences (volume 3, p. 20) since I was overseas at the time. Her input enhanced the submission made by Speech Pathology Australia. https://www.pc.gov.au/inquiries/completed/childhood/report/childhood-volume3-appendices.pdf

Friends and colleagues (old and new) at the Speech Pathology Australia National Conference

The Speech Pathology Australia National Conference was a great time of connecting in person with my team (since we all live in different cities), as well as with friends and colleagues (old and new). I particularly enjoyed meeting current and past students and hearing about how they have been using our research and books in their work. I had many rich conversations and learned a lot.

Some of the attendees at the IALP session

The SLM team at the end of the conference:
Sharynne McLeod, Emily-Jane Woodhead, Sarah Bartlett, Kate Margetson, Sarah Faulks

Kate Margetson, Emily-Jane Woodhead, Beth Armstrong, Mitchell Walley, Sarah Bartlett, Megan McAllister, Sharynne McLeod

Sharynne and Louise Brown with Hana Richmond an enthusiastic student volunteer

Prof Natalie Munro sharing wisdom with Sharynne and Sarah Bartlett

Sharynne and Alice Lans from Noah's Inclusion Services

Sharynne and Caroline Tiong

Sharynne with Dr Mary Claessen

Sharynne with our CSU student

Prof Bronwyn Hemsley and Sharynne
with Laura and Hana - student volunteers from WA

Sharynne with Dr Sarah Masso

Sharynne with A/Prof Elise Baker

Sharynne with helpful student volunteer Emily Candy

Prof Anne Whitworth, Prof Andrew Whitehouse, Prof Sharynne McLeod

SPA Life and Fellow Members recognition

During the Speech Pathology Australia (SPA) conference I was delighted to celebrate with other Life and Fellow Members.

Speech Pathology Australia recognises the enormous contribution made to the profession by Life and Fellow Members of the Association. Accordingly, I wish to invite you to join us for lunch during the Speech Pathology Australia 2024 Conference in Boorloo | Perth. The event will also allow an opportunity to welcome new Life and Fellow members and to network with your peers. We would be delighted if you would join us.

Sharynne with Prof Deborah Hersh

I really enjoy this annual lunch. I had a rich conversation with colleagues, including Prof Deborah Hersh, about PPI - public patient involvement(aka CCI consumer community involvement in Australia).

Speech Pathology Australia National Conference

Our team is in Perth this week for the Speech Pathology Australia National Conference. Here are our presentations:

1. How can I assess children’s speech in a language I do not speak? Insights from VietSpeech research - Kate Margetson and Sharynne McLeod
2. Assessing the language skills of multilingual Vietnamese-Australian children - Sarah Faulks, Sarah Verdon and Sharynne McLeod
3. Caregivers’ insights into supporting late talkers using Target Word™ Hanen Program® for parents  - Sarah Bartlett and Sharynne McLeod
4. Supporting 2-yearold’s communication: Collaborations between rural health professionals and early childhood education services - Cathie Matthews, Sharynne McLeod, et al.
5. Children Draw Talking: Insights from 200 children from 24 countries - Sharynne McLeod, Carolyn Gregoric, Jessamy Davies, Lysa Dealtry, Laura Delli-Pizzi, Belinda Downey, Sheena Elwick, Suzanne C. Hopf, Nicola Ivory, Holly McAlister, Elizabeth Murray, Azizur Rahman, Shukla Sikder, Van H. Tran, Cherie Zischke, Julian Grant
6. International Association of Communication Sciences and Disorders (IALP): Making global and professional connections - Brian B. Shulman, Sharynne McLeod and Emily Hunt
   

Sharynne presenting Cathie Matthews' research

SLM team at SPA2024 - Sarah F, Kate M, Sharynne, Sarah B, Emily-Jane

Sarah Faulks presenting her honours research

Sarah Bartlett

Kate Margetson introducing the SACHL

Some attendees at the IALP session

IALP president Brian Shulman, Emily Hunt, Sharynne McLeod

Kate Margetson

Sharynne presenting about the Children Draw Talking research

RHRI Project 8 meeting and planning in Perth

Our RHRI Project 8 began earlier this year and is progressing very well. We met in Perth on the Sunday before the Speech Pathology Australia National Conference to progress our research to the next stage of data collection. 

We are presenting three papers from our research undertaken as part of this grant:

1. How can I assess children’s speech in a language I do not speak? Insights from VietSpeech research - Kate Margetson and Sharynne McLeod
2. Caregivers’ insights into supporting late talkers using Target Word™ Hanen Program® for parents  - Sarah Bartlett and Sharynne McLeod 
3. Supporting 2-yearold’s communication: Collaborations between rural health professionals and early childhood education services - Cathie Matthews, Sharynne McLeod, et al.

We have arranged a number of meetings to progress our research. Additionally, there are many papers on the conference program that are very relevant to our work - so we are learning a lot.

Emily-Jane, Sharynne and Sarah B discussing our research

Hello Perth

I have traveled from Bristol to Perth to attend the Speech Pathology Australia National Conference with my students and research team. Perth was much warmer than Bristol  - even though it is nearly summer in Bristol and nearly winter in Perth.

A huge sculpture at Elizabeth Quay

Kangaroo paws growing in the centre of the city

Black swans are symbolic of Perth

The sun setting over the ocean

Reporting Sustainable Development Goals at CSU

Today I met with the CSU team who document our engagement with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).  

Dale Curran, Ben Heard, Sharynne McLeod, Dr Emmaline Lear

I have just found the updated URL for our Speech Pathology Australia pages reporting our SDGs research: https://www.speechpathologyaustralia.org.au/Public/Public/About-Us/Advocacy/Communication-swallowing-SDG.aspx

Preparing presentations for the Speech Pathology Australia National Conference

We are very excited to have a number of abstracts accepted for the Speech Pathology Australia National Conference to be held in Perth in May. This week I have begun working with my colleagues to prepare our presentations.

Sarah Faulks and Sharynne working on our SPA presentation

Policy/advocacy discussion with Speech Pathology Australia

This afternoon I had a long discussion with Dr Nicole McGill, from Speech Pathology Australia about policy/advocacy to support children's communication and solutions for long waiting lists and fragmented services across health/education/disability/private practice. 

Here is some of the evidence that we discussed:

• 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 
• McLeod, S., Harrison, L. J., & Wang, C. (2019). A longitudinal population study of literacy and numeracy outcomes for children identified with speech, language, and communication needs in early childhood. Early Childhood Research Quarterly, 47, 507–517. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecresq.2018.07.004 
• Rvachew, S., & Rafaat, S. (2014). Report on benchmark wait times for pediatric speech sound disorders [Rapport sur les temps d’attente repères pour l’orthophonie pédiatrique]. Canadian Journal of Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology, 38, 82–96. 
• CSU Provocations Blog: https://provocations.csu.edu.au/communication-is-a-human-right-but-not-everyone-can-communicate-effectively/ 
• CSU Provocations Public Lecture: https://research.csu.edu.au/engage-with-us/provocations; https://youtu.be/pnMRyU5BSOQ?feature=shared
• McLeod, S. (2018). Communication rights: Fundamental human rights for all. International Journal of Speech-Language Pathology, 20(1), 3–11. https://doi.org/10.1080/17549507.2018.1428687 
• McLeod, S., & Marshall, J. (2023). Communication for all and the Sustainable Development Goals. International Journal of Speech-Language Pathology, 25(1), 1-8. https://doi.org/10.1080/17549507.2022.2160494

Sustainable Development Goals, Communication and Swallowing

The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs https://sdgs.un.org/goals) “provides a shared blueprint for peace and prosperity for people and the planet, now and into the future” (United Nations, 2015). Each of the 17 SDGs impacts the world’s citizens and the United Nations encourages strong commitment by all stakeholders, to achieve these goals. Communication for all is essential for the achievement of the SDGs and everyone has a role.

Professor Sharynne McLeod (CSU) and Professor Julie Marshall (Manchester Metropolitan University, UK) were the guest editors of a special issue of the International Journal of Speech-Language Pathology titled “Communication, Swallowing and the Sustainable Development Goals” (open access - https://www.tandfonline.com/toc/iasl20/25/1). Thirty-six papers, by authors from 36 countries, between them addressed all of the 17 SDGs, demonstrating the importance of communication and swallowing to their achievement. The 36 papers were written by authors who work in Australia, Austria, Benin, Cambodia, Cameroon, Canada, China, Columbia, Denmark, Egypt, Ethiopia, Ghana, Greece, Iceland, India, Iraq, Ireland, Italy, Jordan, Kenya, Lebanon, Maldives, Mozambique, Nepal, New Zealand, Nigeria, State of Palestine, Peru, Philippines, Rwanda, Serbia, South Africa, Uganda, UK, USA, Vietnam. Innovations by communication professionals and researchers focussed on poverty, hunger, health, education, work, innovation, climate, cities, land, oceans, justice, and partnerships. This special issue supports the international call for SDG 18: Communication for All. 

• The following paper presents an overview of the special issue: McLeod, S., & Marshall, J. (2023). Communication for all and the Sustainable Development Goals. International Journal of Speech-Language Pathology, 25(1), 1-8. https://doi.org/10.1080/17549507.2022.2160494 
• Professor Sharynne McLeod launched the special issue at a plenary session of the Speech Pathology Australia national conference in Hobart in May. 
• Throughout 2023 she has/will co-present with Professor Marshall about the special issue at conferences and seminars in Salzburg (Austria), Manchester (UK), Auckland (NZ), Santander (Spain) and Boston (USA). 
• Speech Pathology Australia has a webpage devoted to the special issue (https://bit.ly/SPAWEB_CSSDG) Additionally, 
• Speech Pathology Australia has launched a podcast on Soundcloud titled “UN Sustainable Development Goals: How speech pathologists can support peace and prosperity for people and the planet”: https://soundcloud.com/speechpathologyaustralia/un-sustainable-development-goals-how-speech-pathologists-can-support-peace-and-prosperity-s05e18

Australia's Speech-Language Pathology Profession and Its Global Impact

JUST PUBLISHED 

McLeod, S., McGill, N., Baldac, S., & Mulcair, G. Australia's Speech-Language Pathology Profession and Its Global Impact. Perspectives of the ASHA Special Interest Groups. https://doi.org/doi:10.1044/2023_PERSP-22-00239

Purpose: The purpose of this article is to describe the speech-language pathology profession in Australia and its global impact. 

Conclusions: Australia is known for its international collaboration in research, advocacy, leadership in practice (clinical) education and training of the workforce, innovations in technology for service delivery, and global partnerships. In Australia, speech-language pathologists are known as speech pathologists who have expertise in providing assessment and intervention to optimize communication and swallowing for people across the life span. Speech Pathology Australia (SPA) is the peak professional body in Australia and was founded in 1949. Speech pathology is a self-regulating profession, and SPA is recognized by the Australian government as the body that sets and maintains the standards for the profession. Members can hold Certified Practising Speech Pathologist (CPSP) status if they meet annual recency of practice and continuing professional development requirements. Not all speech pathologists are members of SPA. SPA has approximately 14,000 members; half are employed in private practices where services may be funded by government-funded schemes, private health insurance, or self-funded by service users. Most SPA members are female and the majority only speak English, with Cantonese being the most common other language spoken. The Professional Standards for Speech Pathologists in Australia outlines the knowledge, skills, and attributes for entry-level and practicing speech pathologists. SPA hosts an annual national conference and produces two journals: International Journal of Speech-Language Pathology and Journal of Clinical Practice in Speech-Language Pathology. SPA have committed to cultural responsiveness and privileging the voices of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples and Communities, the First Peoples of Australia. SPA aspires to the provision of culturally safe speech pathology services for all people and supports the development of speech-language pathology in the Asia-Pacific region including Vietnam and Cambodia.

 

Diversity, Equity and Inclusion framework for Speech Pathology Australia

I have been invited to be on a focus group to work with Speech Pathology Australia on their new Diversity, Equity and Inclusion framework.

Here is the invitation Over the past 12 months, Speech Pathology Australia (SPA) has been working with Diversity Partners to develop a Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) framework. The framework will include the commitments and aspirations of Speech Pathology Australia to support diversity, equity and inclusion across the profession. The framework will guide and support Speech Pathology Australia with future implementation of DEI initiatives, as well as providing guidance to members to increase their understanding of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion issues within the speech pathology profession and inform practice. Initial consultation with key stakeholders was undertaken in 2022 and an advisory committee was formed to support the project planning. Diversity Partners undertook a literature review and have drafted the structure of a DEI framework for Speech Pathology Australia. Diversity Partners will now hold focus group discussions with key groups, including internal stakeholders and staff and external stakeholders, to gather feedback on the draft and to inform next steps. We are seeking your input by requesting you consider attending a focus group. 

 

SDGs podcast for Speech Pathology Australia

Prof Julie Marshall and I were interviewed by Nathan Cornish-Raley for a Speech Pathology Australia podcast in the Speak Up series. We were interviewed about the special issue of the International Journal of Speech-Langauge Pathology focussing on the Sustainable Development Goals. The episode has just been released on Soundcloud: https://soundcloud.com/speechpathologyaustralia/un-sustainable-development-goals-how-speech-pathologists-can-support-peace-and-prosperity-s05e18

Here are some of Nathan's excellent questions that we discussed:

• You received a lot of submissions on this topic: 36 articles. Did you think you would get that type of a response? What does that tell us about how speech pathologists see themselves and communication positioned in global, sustainable development?
• Can you give us an overview of the 17 SDGs? How did they come to be and what is next for them? · There’s an emphasis throughout the work on global partnerships and co-constructing change with local communities or people with lived experience
• Were there any “lessons-learned” about partnerships and multi-directional learning that stood out to you? · What were some of the things you discovered, or interesting perspectives on sustainability that you found during this project? 
•  There is an international call for an additional Sustainable Development Goal: SDG 18: Communication for All. Tell us about this. Where does it fit within this sustainable development? What movement has already happened in this space? How can speech pathologists help move this forward?

Speech-Language-Multilingualism team at SPA2023

It was wonderful to met up with Speech-Language-Multilingualism team members at the Speech Pathology Australia National Conference in Hobart. We made opportunities to caatch up and plan future research projects.

Jane McCormack, Kate Margetson, Sharynne McLeod, Suzanne Hopf, Helen Blake

Kate Margetson, Kerry Ttofari-Eecen, Helen Blake, Sharynne McLeod