FACULTY OF HEALTH SCIENCES

DISCIPLINE OF SPEECH PATHOLOGY

NEWSLETTER ISSUE NUMBER 6 – AUGUST 2010

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THE PAST SIX MONTHS have been marked by some major achievements by our staff and students and some significant staffing changes.

Dr Belinda Kenny has transitioned into a fulltime Research Associate position with A/Professor Leanne Togher. Belinda will be working on the Longitudinal Communication Recovery After TBI project; Dr Joanne Arciuli has been promoted to Senior Lecturer; Claire Layfield and Dominique Scholl have come on board as part-time Research

Assistants with A/Professor Kirrie Ballard.

We have been fortunate to welcome some highly regarded Speech Pathologists as casual lecturers. They have

enriched our case-based undergraduate and postgraduate curricula and are much appreciated by students and staff.

We hope you enjoy reading about all of the Discipline’s activities and successes.

ACCREDITATION

Undergraduate and Masters programs reaccredited by professional body We are pleased to announce the successful reaccreditation of the Pass and Honours programs

for the Bachelor of Applied Science (Speech Pathology) and the Master of Speech Language Pathology, for a further five years, by the Speech Pathology Association of Australia (SPAA).

Most notably, the accreditation committee made no recommendations for change to either degree. Congratulations to the Speech Pathology teaching team, this is an outstanding and rare achievement! The committee also pointed out that it was likely

that our students were achieving above the minimum expected by Speech Pathology

Australia.

Left - Associate Professor Kirrie Ballard and Dr Tricia McCabe proudly display our accreditation certificates from SPAA

GRANTS UPDATE Successful grant for speechBITE

Leanne Togher, Emma Power, Tricia McCabe

and Natalie Munro. (2010-2011). Speech Pathology Database for Best Interventions

and Treatment Efficacy (speechBITE) website development. Motor Accidents Authority of

NSW. $142,000

This grant is enabling the ongoing

development of the speechBITE website. Visit the website – it’s free!

http://speechbite.com

HEALTHY COMPETITION Teams Challenge report

Last week, six allied health students from the University of Sydney, met for the first time as

a team that will compete in the annual Australian Health Fusion Team Challenge.

In the challenge, teams from universities and community groups all over Australia must develop a management plan for a client with

complex health needs.

This is the first year the University of Sydney

will be involved in the challenge that will be hosted by the University of Queensland.

Sydney’s team is comprised of students from a mix of allied health disciplines including; Speech Pathology, Physiotherapy,

Occupational Therapy, Medicine, Nursing, and Exercise and Sport Science.

The team has four weeks to put their minds together and propose a plan for the client. They will then fly to Brisbane and compete by

presenting the plan to a live audience and a panel of expert judges.

The next few weeks will see the team researching and preparing for this exciting

event.

Wish us luck!

Stephanie Hulewicz 4th Year Speech Pathology Student

http://healthcareteamchallenge.com/

Elated and proud discipline staff take the time to enjoy their success… (back) Alison Purcell, Kimberley Docking, Elizabeth Bourne, Lyndal Sheepway, Nadia Tudberry, Cate Madill, Tricia McCabe and Steven Cumming (front) Elise Baker, Janine McGloin, Annie Chan, Kirrie Ballard (with son JohnO), Christine Sheard and Belinda Kenny

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PG RESEARCH STUDENT PROFILE - Selena Young

Having worked as a speech pathologist in Singapore for 12 years since graduating from Cumberland in 1998, I never thought I would ever return to being a full-time postgraduate student again – much less one focussing on RESEARCH. Upon graduation, I worked with a mixed caseload at the Singapore General Hospital and concurrently completed a Master of Health Science Education. With a keen interest in paediatrics, I was offered a fellowship in Craniofacial and Velopharyngeal Anomalies at the Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children (London) in 2002, with the subsequent task of streamlining all the Craniofacial Speech Pathology protocols in Singapore. Since the official opening in 2005, I have been working at the national Cleft and Craniofacial Centre in Kandang Kerbau Women’s and Children’s Hospital.

My boss had always encouraged me to pursue a PhD but I never gave it serious thought, as I loved being a clinician, travelling with our team on international Operation Smile missions, and had also just started lecturing full-time at the National University of Singapore. What then transpired was a series of events in quick succession in 2007: I received an email from Alison Purcell, sent on from Michelle Lincoln, both eagerly proposing I try for a PhD scholarship. I had one frantic week to put in the application, and within one month, had the news that I was accepted and had a University of Sydney International Research Scholarship to commence study in 3 months. Needless to say, there were mixed feelings, but with the utmost support and love from my family and colleagues, I packed up and returned to Cumbo! My PhD study aims to profile the language and cognitive characteristics of Chinese Singaporean preschoolers and their parents, and is supported by a generous 3-year grant from the Singapore Ministry of Health. It has been an absolute luxury to immerse myself in full-time reading and writing…and with a semester left to go, I hope I can complete THE BOOK on schedule. I have learnt so much from my main supervisory team – Alison Purcell, Kirrie Ballard, Rob Heard; Susan Rickard Liow in Singapore; as well as my fellow postgraduate room-mates. I would like to thank everyone in the Discipline for their good humour and hospitality, especially tolerating me taking up half of the precious fridge space to house my weekly supply of packed lunches and snacks!

BREAKING SCIENCE

Dr Joanne Arciuli and colleagues from the UK recently published a paper titled

'Learning to Assign Lexical Stress during

Reading Aloud: Corpus, Behavioural and

Computational Investigations' in the Journal of Memory and Language (2010, 63:2, 180-

196). This study represents one of the few investigations of how children aged 5-12

years learn to read aloud polysyllabic words. It is an outcome of research funded bilaterally

through the ARC (Australia) and the ESRC (UK). The Journal of Memory and Language

was rated A* in the recent ERA exercise and has an ISS Impact Factor of 3.221.

Abstract:

Models of reading aloud have tended to focus

on the mapping between graphemes and phonemes in monosyllables. Critical

adaptations of these models are required when considering the reading of

polysyllables, which constitute over 90% of word types in English. In this paper, we

examined one such adaptation – the process of stress assignment in learning to read. We

used a triangulation of corpus, behavioural, and computational modeling techniques. A

corpus analysis of age-appropriate reading materials for children aged 5 to 12 years

revealed that the beginnings and endings of English bisyllabic words are highly predictive

of stress position, but that endings are more reliable cues in texts for older children.

Children aged 5-12 years revealed sensitivity to both the beginnings and endings when

reading nonwords, but older children relied more on endings for determining stress

assignment. A computational model that learned to map orthography onto stress

showed the same age-related trajectory as the children when assigning stress to

nonwords. These results reflect the gradual process of learning the statistical properties

of written input and provide key constraints for adequate models of reading aloud.

CLINICAL EDUCATION NEWS

COMPASS® now available online

The national clinical assessment tool COMPASS® (Competency Assessment in

Speech Pathology) is now available in an online version. Clinical educators and

students participating in placements in our on-campus clinic have been utilising this

version in the past year, and we are now in a position to support external clinicians who

may prefer an electronic version. Clinical educators who have access to the internet

are able to be linked into the system by providing some brief profile details about their

site and services. Clinicians supervising our students this semester have been sent an

email offering this information. If you did not receive this email and would like to utilise this

option please contact Charlotte Colaco, Clinical Placement Administrator via email on

charlotte.colaco@sydney.edu.au for more information.

CDTRC partnership with Granville South SaCC resumes

Following a successful clinical partnership

with the Schools as Community Centres (SaCC) project located at Granville South

Public School in Semester 2, 2009, we were delighted to again be approached by the

facilitator to provide speech pathology services to children aged 0-5 and their

families. Jenny Hill, on campus clinical educator,

supported 4 third year students to provide both group and individualised therapy as well

as some assessment services during 2009 and is now utilising 6 third year students to

provide similar services in Semester 2, 2010. To date, our students have already conducted

assessments on a number of children under 2 years of age, as well as developed group

activities for the associated supported playgroup. The students will also work with

children individually, including those in the

transition to school program in the coming months. It is hoped that this partnership will

provide: • Early identification of children who would

benefit from assessment and/or intervention

• Information for families on speech development

• Increased school preparedness of children starting Kindergarten in 2011

• Increased understanding of services available and where to access

support/therapy

For further information please contact

Elizabeth Bourne, Clinical Education Program Manager elizabeth.bourne@sydney.edu.au or

(02) 9036 7334.

WHATS HAPPENING IN THE LAB Equipment Update

The Faculty is currently renewing infrastruc-ture. Speech Pathology is now the proud

owner of a high speed video laryngoscopy unit for viewing vocal fold movement. This is

the first of this type of equipment in the southern hemisphere and brings us to the

cutting edge of voice research globally. The lab and clinic have also recently acquired new

full and screening audiometers, stuttering rating machines and tympanometers. These

will be for both teaching and research. We are currently writing an equipment vision for

the next 5 years and this will lead to a wide range of educational innovations in

technology. Watch this space!!

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SPEECH PATHOLOGY PARTICIPATION IN UNIVERSITY’S COMPASS PROGRAM Find your way to higher education COMPASS aims to encourage pre-tertiary students from low socioeconomic status (SES) backgrounds to participate in higher education. The key goal of the project is to build attainment and aspiration within selected school communities. http://sydney.edu.au/compass/

Consultative models in schools

The Communication Disorders Treatment and Research Clinic (CDTRC) currently have four Speech pathology students working in the COMPASS (social inclusion) program

mentored by clinical educator, Jenny Hill.

They are collaborating and consulting with primary school teachers in target schools

regarding specific students. The school students are identified by their teachers as having possible speech or language difficulties that would impact their ability to obtain

tertiary education.

After observations, a resource information folder will be provided to the schools. The

teachers will have gained better identification and referral skills and this should flow onto benefits for all future students

Left - our Year 4’s in their COMPASS project gear. (Left to right) Ciara Holland, Alison Falconer, Lauren Cox, Carly Bignill

SPA RECOGNITION

Service Award

At the Speech Pathology Australia Annual General Meeting this evening our own Dr Emma Power was awarded a Recognition of Service Award for her exceptional leadership over 4 years to the Speech Pathology Australia Branch in NSW and for her outstanding service to the profession.

Elizabeth Usher Memorial Lecturer

Congratulations to Professor Susan

Balandin for being the Elizabeth Usher

Memorial Lecturer at the Speech Pathology Australia Annual Conference in Melbourne in

May 2010. Sue has had a long relationship with the Discipline and the lecture

acknowledged her work in Sydney and around the world. Sue's talk was inspiring and

thought provoking.

Eleanor Wray Award Teena Caithness was awarded the Eleanor Wray Award by Speech Pathology Australia

at the Annual General Meeting in Melbourne in May, for her work at the NSW Department

of Ageing, Disability and Home Care on challenging behaviours. Although Teena has

returned to Victoria, she is remembered in the Discipline as an inspiring clinical educator

and advocate for people with life long difficulties. Well done, Teena!

Ethics Appointment At the Speech Pathology Australia Annual General Meeting, Dr Belinda Kenny was appointed to the SPA Ethics Board. Congratulations to Belinda, it is a fantastic testament to her expertise in the field of ethics.

RADIO STAR Discipline’s Speech Pathologist interviewed on local radio

Lately there has been lots of media interest

surrounding Speech Pathology. Karen

James, one of our Clinical Educators, has been invited to take part in a number of ABC

radio and Radio National interviews to talk about results which she collected as part of

two 4th year clinical placements run at 2 western Sydney schools.

The program targeted adolescents who present with significant behavioural issues.

It’s exciting to see the media interest surrounding this important topic of behaviour

and how improving both language and social communication skills can make a huge

difference to how someone behaves.

Karen’s work highlighted the ongoing need for

Speech Pathology services once children are past the younger years and showed how

Speech Pathologists working in schools can make a difference.

If you would like to hear Karen’s most recent interview on Radio National’s ‘Life Matters’

segment go to….

http://abc.net.au/rn/lifematters/stories/2010/2959173.htm

STUDENTS’ SUCCESS

Hoc Mai Scholarship

Congratulations to Lucy Bath and Robyn

Weymer, MSLP Year 1students, who have

been awarded Hoc Mai Scholarships to work in interdisciplinary teams in Vietnam

at the end of the year. http://sydney.edu.au/medicine/hocmai/

CCRE NEW WEBSITE

The Clinical Centre of Research Excellence (CCRE) in Aphasia Rehabilitation has recently launched a new website The Aphasia Rehabilitation CCRE is a

national and international group of

researchers aiming to improve the assessment and treatment of people living

with aphasia, which is a communication disorder subsequent to stroke and traumatic

brain injury. Our research program seeks to develop the

Australian Aphasia Rehabilitation

Pathway, a set of guidelines for person-

centred aphasia services. With research, capacity building and

community engagement as its foundations, the CCRE endeavours to investigate

principles of neuroplasticity as they apply to aphasia rehabilitation and translate best

research evidence into best practice for Australians living with aphasia.

Members on the team from The University of Sydney include A/Professor Leanne Togher,

A/Professor Kirrie Ballard and Dr Emma Power.

Go to http://ccreaphasia.org.au for more information about our mission and aims.

SPEECH’s FACULTY LIAISON LIBRARIAN – JohnPaul Cenzato

JohnPaul has added the Discipline of Speech Pathology to his Faculty Liaison Librarian portfolio. The Discipline warmly welcomes his commitment to helping our students and staff fully utilise the Library’s resources. He has done a lot of work on the Speech Pathology Subject Guide – take a look…

http://libguides.library.usyd.edu.au/content.php?pid=27839&sid=248438

You can contact him via email: johnpaul.cenzato@sydney.edu.au or at Health Sciences Library, 75 East Street, Lidcombe NSW 2141

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Did You Know?

Searching on speechBITE http://speechbite.com, is a

unique way to help you find the treatment articles you

are looking for as someone has pre-read them for you!

On the search page, there are 6 drop down columns.

To find exactly what relates to your client(s), service or

question you can specify:

• Target Area

• Intervention type

• Service Delivery Mode

• Method

• Client Sub-groups (in terms of diagnoses)

• Age Group

You can also type in Author(s), Journal and Keywords

but do not use any punctuation to ensure you find what you are after.

Happy searching!

WHAT’S NEW IN THE TAM ROOM

The Clinical Administrators continually update and replenish the Tests and Materials (TAM) room’s existing resources. Here is the latest addition to the TAM catalogue…

The Social-Emotional Evaluation™ (SEE™)

SEE is a criterion-referenced assessment designed to evaluate aspects of emotional and social awareness. The abilities probed by the SEE are part of the repertoire of skills that define social-emotional competence.

Contact the Clinic for more details - (02)9351 9539 or speech.clinic@sydney.edu.au

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GO EXPO – 22 September 2010, 3.00pm to 6.00pm – Camperdown Campus

At the Graduate Options Expo you can explore your options, investigate a particular course or, for some courses, begin the application process. The Expo takes place in the Great Hall, where you can ask questions and discuss

your individual circumstances with representatives from each faculty. Whether you’re interested in courses for professional development, you’re looking to further your career, change careers or you just want to learn for the love

of it, there is something on offer for you at Sydney. http://sydney.edu.au/graduate_options/

Clinical Education Workshops Many speech pathologists have expressed an interest in some Advanced clinical educator training and we hope to

schedule this in the coming months. We are also happy to provide site-specific training in the Sydney Metropolitan area on request provided sites/areas have at least 10 attendees. Sites outside of Sydney can also request training

through the NSW Consortium of Speech Pathology programs. For more information contact Charlotte Colaco, Clinical Placement Administrator charlotte.colaco@sydney.edu.au.

FOR MORE INFORMATION

Faculty of Health Sciences

Discipline of Speech Pathology PO Box 170, 75 East Street

LIDCOMBE NSW 1825 Australia Phone: +61 2 9351 9447

Fax: +61 2 9351 9173 Email: speech.info@sydney.edu.au

Produced by the Discipline of Speech Pathology, Faculty of Health Sciences of

the University of Sydney, August 2010.

The University reserves the right to

make alterations to any information contained within this publication without

notice.

CRICOS Provider No. 00026A

website: http://sydney.edu.au/health_sciences/speech_pathology/