• Charles Sturt University in Albury-Wodonga welcomed a delegation from Cambodia to forge stronger links in speech pathology education

Charles Sturt University in Albury-Wodonga hosted a visit by a delegation of speech pathology educators from Cambodia on Wednesday 9 and Thursday 10 August.

The purpose of the visit was to bring key Cambodian stakeholders (university and non-government organisations) to Australia to facilitate learning on course design and education issues in the Speech-Language Pathology discipline and profession, and to facilitate the development of a contextually relevant course for Cambodia.

The delegation included representatives of the University of Health Science (UHS) in Phnom Penh, Cambodia and the Organisation to Improve Communication and Swallowing Therapy Services in Cambodia (OIC Cambodia).

Dr Catherine Easton Senior Lecturer in Speech and Language Pathology in the Charles Sturt School of Allied Health, Exercise and Sports Sciences hosted the delegation.

Dr Easton said currently there is no speech pathology profession in Cambodia.

“People with communication and swallowing difficulties in Cambodia experience barriers to education, employment and community participation, and rely on their families and communities for support,” she said.

“This visit has been instrumental in strengthening our relationship with OIC Cambodia and the University of Health Sciences in Phnom Penh as they work to establish culturally and contextually appropriate Speech Pathology education for Cambodia.”

She was joined by Charles Sturt colleagues Executive Dean of the Faculty of Science and Health Professor Megan Smith, Associate Professor Narelle Patton, Associate Professor Caroline Robinson, and Dr Rachel Whitsed.

Representatives in the Charles Sturt Three Rivers Department of Rural Health included Associate Professor Melissa Nott, Mr Brent Smith and Ms Latitia Kernaghan, as well as Ms Kristie Ivone from the Office of Engagement and Enterprise and student representative Ms Paige Hughes and Ms Lucia Flint.

The Cambodian delegation included:

• Professor TANN Ngy, Director of Technical School of Medical Care, UHS 
• Mr SAR Team, Head administrative office of TSMC, Master of Health Profession Education, UHS 
• Ms SAN Many, Deputy Head administrative office of TSMC, Bachelor of Physical Therapy, UHS 
• Ms NET Chenda, Executive Director, OIC Cambodia 
• Ms Ruth Bryce, an Australian living in Cambodia, is Speech Therapy profession development manager, OIC Cambodia 

Across their two-day visit, the delegation met with representatives from the School of Allied Health, Exercise and Sports Sciences, the Faculty of Science and Health and Three Rivers Department of Rural Health.

They also visited a range of speech pathology services in Albury, including the Charles Sturt Community Engagement and Wellness clinic, Marathon Health and the Allied Health unit at Albury-Wodonga Hospital where they met with members of the Speech Pathology team led by Ms Jennifer Lepkhammany, Speech Pathology Manager.