• A free public lecture at Charles Sturt University in Bathurst on Thursday 20 April explores the negative impact of speech deficiencies on pre-school children’s literacy, numeracy and socialisation

The first of a new series of public lectures at Charles Sturt University will explore the central importance of proficient communication in the development of children.

World-leading speech-language pathologist and Professor of Speech and Language Acquisition in the Charles Sturt School of Education, Professor Sharynne McLeod (pictured), will deliver the first of the new Provocations Public Lecture Series at the University in Bathurst on Thursday 20 April.

Professor McLeod’s lecture, ‘Children should be seen AND heard: the importance of communication so children can thrive’, will demonstrate the importance of pre-school children’s speech and language development with respect to its impact on their literacy, numeracy, and socialisation.

Her presentation will draw on extensive large-scale evidence which confirms that a speech and language deficit in preschool children often leads to negative impacts in these areas.

“Approximately 25 per cent of Australian parents of four- to five-year-old children are concerned about how their child talks and makes speech sounds,” Professor McLeod said.

“The impact of preschool children’s speech and language competency on their subsequent literacy, numeracy, and socialisation is well documented, though we have not seen any shift for the last decade in the long speech pathology waiting lists that could help curb this wave of deficiency.

“This free public lecture is highly relevant to parents and professionals who foster children’s communications skills and will include a range of policy solutions for interdisciplinary, cross-sectoral change to enable Australia’s children to be seen AND heard.”

The public lecture venue is at Charles Sturt Engineering (building 1305) in Bathurst at 6pm to 8pm on Thursday 20 April. The lecture is free but please register for tickets at Eventbrite.

The Provocations Public Lectures Series will showcase Charles Sturt research with the aim of presenting new ways of thinking while reviving policy ideas and political thought from the past for contemporary consideration.

As part of the event, Dr Susan Pond, President of the Royal Society of New South Wales, will present certificates to Western Branch Fellows, Members and Associate Members at 6 pm. Charles Sturt Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research) Professor Mark Evans will introduce each recipient and provide a short citation, upon which Dr Pond will present the certificates.

Charles Sturt University strives for research excellence and partnership. The University continues to provide meaningful outcomes for industry, government, business, and communities.

The Provocations Public Lectures Series is another example of the University’s impact at a regional, national and global level by contributing to the economic, social and environmental sustainability and well-being of these communities.