Speak Out June 2021

Association NEWS

whose work has examined the delivery of evidence-based reading interventions for Year 1 students in disadvantaged areas of NSW. After leading a large Victorian Department of Education tender, Associate Professor Serry went on to lead the design and execution of a comprehensive mixed methods research project arising from this work. The project surveyed over 500 Department of Education and Training staff about their confidence and readiness to identify and support students who are struggling readers in both primary and secondary settings. In 2020, Associate Professor Serry and Professor Pamela Snow established the Science of Language and Reading (SOLAR) Lab within La Trobe University’s School of Education. The purpose of this virtual platform is to

promote the transfer of empirically-supported reading science into classroom practice. A key aspect of the SOLAR platform is its central positioning of oral language to the reading process. Associate Professor Serry has held the role of Editor, Australian Journal of Learning Disabilities, since 2018. A prestigious appointment, assisting to highlight the profile of speech pathology in the field of learning difficulties. In addition to her distinguished career as an academic, Associate Professor Serry has made significant and highly valued contributions to the work of Speech Pathology Australia in both honorary and invited capacities. Associate Professor Serry brings a thoughtful, considered, inclusive and respectful approach to all that she does and is an outstanding ambassador for the profession. research translation, and makes her work freely available to the profession and beyond through her own website. Associate Professor Westerveld is a very proud member of the CATALISE consortium, a panel of 59 experts representing ten disciplines from English-speaking countries. Their task, using an online Delphi technique, was to reach consensus regarding the criteria used to identify and classify language impairments in children. This exercise under the apt guidance of Professor Dorothy Bishop has resulted in two open access peer-reviewed publications. Associate Professor Westerveld has held a range of editorial and editorial board appointments, across a number of journals, including Folia Phoniatrica et Logopaedia; Language, Speech and Hearing Services in Schools , Journal of Speech, Language and Hearing Research , the New Zealand Journal of Speech-Language Therapy and the Journal of Clinical Practice in Speech- Language Pathology . Associate Professor Westerveld is currently an Editor for Language, Speech and Hearing Services in Schools, a Board member for the International Association for Logopedics and Phoniatrics and chair of the IALP Child Language committee. Associate Professor Westerveld’s impact on the profession has been significant and she continues to invest deeply in the speech pathology profession. Her contribution to Speech Pathology Australia has helped ensure the Association has achieved key deliverables. Associate Professor Westerveld held the position of Speech Pathology Australia Board Director from 2017 to 2019. Associate Professor Westerveld’s research record speaks for itself, as she continues to help children, families and those that support them to reach their potential. Finally, her engagement in teaching the future generation of speech pathologists will continue to have an impact on the profession for years to come.

Associate Professor Marleen Westerveld

Associate Professor Marleen Westerveld’s sustained commitment to the speech pathology profession, both within Australia and internationally, has been demonstrated throughout her 34 year career. Associate Professor Westerveld has extensive clinical and

research experience in literacy and language development, particularly in typically developing children, children with Developmental Language Disorder, and Language Disorders associated with biomedical conditions. Associate Professor Westerveld has been the principal researcher on numerous funded research projects and collaborated with reputable key stakeholders such as, the Queensland Department of Education, the New Zealand Ministry of Education, Autism Queensland, the AEIOU Foundation, as well as speech pathologists and other allied health professionals, parents, and children. Associate Professor Westerveld’s research focuses on the spoken and written language skills needed to participate successfully at home, in school, and in the community. Associate Professor Westerveld has a particular interest in spontaneous language sampling and analysis, oral narrative development and intervention, emergent literacy development and disorders, and reading comprehension difficulties. During her career, Associate Professor Westerveld has been successfully awarded $1.6 million in research grants and published more than 60 peer reviewed papers, 2 books and 5 book chapters. She has presented her research at conferences across the world. Associate Professor Westerveld values the importance of

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Speak Out | June 2021