UC Speech and Hearing Alumni & Friends

17/04/2026

Save on fuel while making a difference in brain and swallowing research! Healthy participants needed. $10 MTA voucher. Please contact Mel if you can help.

14/04/2026

Ngā mihi mō tō ekenga! Our latest Speech language Therapy graduates walked across the stage today to receive their degrees after years of learning and growth. Well done to you all and we look forward to seeing you thrive in your careers.

01/03/2026

01/12/2025

Calling all Speech Language Therapy students,

Have you completed at least two clinical/ practice education placements? We are seeking Speech Language Therapy students to participate in the final phase of our online Delphi study.

We are exploring transfer of knowledge and skills and how this occurs during student placements. The study involves input from students, placement supervisors and university academics. Your participation will help guide education and training of placement supervisors and students and inform university-based teaching practices.

Participation is voluntary. Participants will receive a $20 gift voucher in recognition of their time for each Delphi round.

This project is being conducted by a team of researchers from La Trobe University (AU), Griffith University (AU), University of Canterbury (NZ), University of Queensland (AU), University of Sydney (AU) and Speech Pathology Australia.

Who can participate?
We are seeking Speech Language Therapy students who are currently completing an undergraduate, dual degree or graduate master degree that will qualify them to work as speech therapists upon graduation. Also, they need to:
 have completed two (2) practice education placements (including internal clinic and/or external workplace and/or simulated setting).
 study in a country that uses COMPASS® as an assessment tool for placements
 have been assessed using COMPASS® during at least one placement.
 Speak English as a primary language/ with fluent proficiency

Participation involves
The study is divided into three phases:
1. Survey - completed
2. Focus groups - completed
3. Delphi panel - *now*

The third phase of this study will present a series of statements about transfer of knowledge and skills where participants will indicate their level of agreement; If there are some areas where participants do not agree we may ask participants to complete another round (15-20 mins each round, maximum 3 rounds).

Your decision to participate in research is voluntary. There are no disadvantages, penalties nor adverse consequences for not participating in this or any of the research phases of this study or for withdrawing from the research completely.

The Delphi survey can be accessed on the QR code below or at https://latrobe.questionpro.com/t/AYmJBZ7Tuk

Reimbursement for participation
In recognition of your time, you will receive a $20 gift voucher for each Delphi round of the study that you complete (maximum $60 if three rounds are required and completed).

HEC23103 Transfer of Knowledge and Skills During Speech-Language Pathology Placements

If you would like more information, please contact:
Name: Dr Rachel Davenport
School/Department Discipline of Speech Pathology, Department of Clinical and Community Health
Email: [email protected]
Phone: +61 3 9479 1808
Ethics Approval Number HEC23103

16/11/2025

Another year of fantastic presentations, discussions, connections and exploring how to best serve our paediatric population. Thank you UC Swallowing Rehabilitation Clinic and Research Laboratory

The UC Rose Centre Paediatric Feeding Education and Networking Days 2025. A huge thank you to the amazing speakers and attendees. It was two outstanding days of learning, great discussion, and networking. We hope you enjoyed it as much as we did 😊

08/11/2025

A fantastic evening of food, fun and even an impressive musical creation, was had last week to farwell the MAud 2026 class as they move into summer and thesis completion. Nearly there - well done and all the best as you head to the finish line! Whāia te iti kahurangi!

07/11/2025

Tino pai rawa atu! Our very own, distinguished Professor Maggie-Lee Huckabee, has been made a Fellow of the European Society for Swallowing Disorders. Congratulations on this amazing and well deserved recognition! 🥂

06/11/2025

Summer placement for our first-year Master of Speech-Language Pathology students has begun!
They’re currently out in Christchurch schools, delivering six weeks of communication and literacy interventions with tamariki and kaiako, aligning with the New Zealand Curriculum. In a recent workshop led by our SLT MSc students within the Clinical Education paper, they tackled clinical decision-making and shared their reasoning as part of their professional learning. It’s fantastic to see their confidence and collaboration growing as they experience communication development in school settings.

30/10/2025

Shout out to our very own, Tika Ormond, for being the speech therapist to the speech therapist to the king! The King's Speech has been on an extended run at The Court Theatre here in Ōtautahi. Tika coached Jason Hodzelmanson (King George VI) on types of stutters, misconseptions and secondary behaviours. The result was a stunning performance - laughter, tears and triumph!

18/10/2025

Another farewell as we celebrate our 2025 MSLP class! They start their final chapter with block placements and then enter the profession. We are so proud of you all. Kei runga noa atu koe!

From the students:
Coming into this degree we didn't realise how broad our scope of practice can be. From teaching kids to say “s” without spitting on you, to helping someone safely enjoy their morning coffee again and everything in between. Finding words after a stroke, supporting a voice that’s been lost or changed, helping someone build confidence in their fluency, using AAC to give someone their first real way to communicate, to guiding families through end-of-life care. And so so so much more! The blue-skies analogy couldn’t be more truthful. We really do go everywhere.
And somewhere along the way, it hit us how powerful our work can be. We meet people at some of the most vulnerable points in their lives, and somehow, with a few cue cards, a whiteboard, and a lot of compassion, we get to make a real difference.

Through it all, this group has shared a rare form of support and care for one another that has only strengthened throughout our journey. It has been a privilege to watch everyone grow into the brilliant clinicians you’re becoming, and it's safe to say we're standing right at the doorstep of making that a reality.

06/10/2025