This document summarizes an educational speech pathology and therapy expo and study tour that took place from April 2-4, 2014 in Darwin, Australia. It included presentations from Dr. Roslyn Neilson on speech difficulties and literacy, as well as occupational therapy demonstrations at Anula Primary School. The study tour visited Warruwi Primary School on Goulburn Island and used the Kathy Walker early learning approach. The expo featured displays and allowed attendees to learn about innovative speech and occupational therapy programs. Participants found the professional development presentations and opportunities to collaborate with teachers and colleagues to be very valuable learning experiences.

1. Anula Primary &
Educational
Speech Pathology
& Therapy
Services
Expo and study
tour April 2-4th
2014

2. Dr Roslyn Neilson
Dr Neilson is a Speech -Language Pathologist,
specialising in children with reading difficulties. She
completed a Ph.D. in 1998 at the University of
Wollongong on the topic of Phonological Awareness
and Word Recognition Skills in Children with Reading
Difficulties. She runs a private clinical practice, has
worked in local schools and schools in remote
Indigenous communities, provides university lectures
and professional in -services, and devotes time to
research. This research has involved the development
of several phonological awareness assessment tools,
including the Sutherland Phonological Awareness
Test -Revised (SPAT-R)and the School Entry
Alphabetic and Phonological Awareness Readiness
Test (SEAPART)
.

3. Speech Difficulties and Literacy: The Good, the Bad
and the Fuzzy.
If children aren’t pronouncing
words clearly, does this affect
their reading? The answer is that
it depends on the kinds of errors
that children are making. This
discussion will outline the kinds
of speech patterns that teachers
can be on the lookout for in the
classroom, and will present some
suggestions about what teachers
might do when a child’s speech
doesn’t sound right –suggestions
for supporting literacy learning as
well as speech

4. Literacy Difficulties:
Getting the Phon back into Phonics.
When children struggle to learn to
recognise and spell words, their problem
typically involves not a visual difficulty,
but rather some weakness at the level of
phonological processing. The
weaknesses may be subtle, and it is very
easy to take it for granted that children
have the relevant skills that support
learning to master the alphabetic code.
This workshop will explore aspects of
phonological processing that are
relevant in the context of learning to
read and spell. Guidelines will be
provided for assessing the skills, and for
supporting children who are finding the
task difficult, using teaching strategies
that can complement any reading
program.

5. Flight to Warruwi
School
Study tour begins - 31st of March
2014. Sue and Roslyn fly to
Warrawi Primary School.

6. Location:
Warruwi School is on
Goulburn Island, located
in the Arufura Sea about
300 kilometres north-east
of Darwin, has a travel
buddy named Munburri
(Maung, the local
language, for turtle) who
has travelled around the
Northern Territory.

7. Ouraccommodation

9. Sue working with the beautiful children at
Warruwi Primary School

10. It was such a privilege to be able to share the visit to Warruwi with Roslyn
Frogs and all!

11. “The Anula teachers
make the
difference.” Sue
"Witnessing the Kathy Walker approach first hand was inspiring. Both students and
teachers were so captivated in the learning experience“ Anna Kovacs

12. Study tour continued
Kathy Walker Early Learning
Approach
Anula Primary School

13. Debrief of WLA lesson
with Teachers

14. “(Walker Learning Approach shows)
Students taking ownership of their
learning.” Connie
Great learning with the Tribes approach
thank you Coleen!
T
r
i
b
e
s
a
p
p
r
o
a
c
h

15. ESP&TS Occupational Therapy in
action at Anula Primary School
Debrief of Occupational Therapy
Lessons with Teachers

16. Students enjoying the engaging in-class Speech lesson
"Captivating and exciting activities that everyone enjoyed participating in".

17. LANDMARK EVENT! Official release of the ‘SEAPART’ -
School Entry Alphabetic and Phonological Awareness
Readiness Test

18. Stimulating
discussions!
"Teachers had a wealth of knowledge and it was fabulous to get
the opportunity to pick their brains“ Anna

19. Exceptional professional development presentations
were held during the study tour week. Guest Speaker
Dr Roslyn Neilson presented:
1. ‘Speech Difficulties and Literacy the good, the bad
and the fuzzy.’
2. ‘Literacy difficulties: Getting the Phon back into
Phonics’

20. “I appreciated hearing Ros’s talk and the wonderful information
she provided us with. It was fantastic”! Daniella
Dr. Ros Neilson is a brilliant presenter who is an inspiration to
listen to!" Claudia
“The Welcome to Country and Ash’s own story of speech
therapy touched me deeply- a really moving experience”

21. Sue with Teachers at Darwin ESP&TS Expo. Attendees had the opportunity to learn
more about the innovative Speech /Occupational Therapy programs and Teacher
Professional learning programs offered by ESP&TS.

23. To all concerned,
Thank you for all the effort and time that you have taken to provide us all with the opportunity to engage in both the Occupational Therapy
and Speech Pathology and Therapy sessions.
Having the opportunity to listen and talk to Dr Roslyn Neilson was a great privilege and all the staff at Wagaman felt that through Dr
Roslyn’s talks they had increased their own understanding on ‘The ‘Good, the Bad and the Fuzzy’. Additionally, analysing, understanding
and planning for students that are experiencing literacy difficulties.
The occupational therapy workshop has promoted in us here at Wagaman Primary a renewed desire to include more varied tasks and
supports to promote the fine motor skills needed to become fluent and confident writers. We are already busy making the fine motor kits
that Erica showed us.
The only drawback for me was that on the Thursday afternoon I found the room very stuffy and I also struggled to hear Dr Roslyn. This
made me quite tired and I felt I was not able to give my whole attention to the presentation. The presentation itself was very illuminating
and of deep interest to me.
I am aware that the behind scenes organisation often runs into many hours. Thank you again and I hope that it will become a regular event
on our schools calendar.
Kind Regards
Carol Putica
Senior Teacher
Wagaman Primary School Wagaman Terrace Wagaman, Northern Territory, 0811

24. Expo displays
3rd April 2014

25. Speechies & OT’s having fun in Darwin

26. Thanks also to (from left): Anna Kovacs (Sydney Speech Pathologist,) Erica Farrugia (Sydney OT), Claudia Westcott
(Student Speech Pathologist) Daniella Votano (Assistant manager Darwin branch), Amber Brooker (Darwin Speech Pathologist).
"A huge thank you to
Sue for this amazing
experience in
Darwin“
Erica