• A leading Charles Sturt University speech-language expert advocates for children’s communication rights and support
• Communication is central to all people and societies, and the ability to communicate impacts all aspects of our lives
• Children’s communication must be supported to enhance the future of individuals, communities, and society

A leading Charles Sturt University speech-language expert addressed a recent gathering of eminent scientists and others in Sydney to stress the need to support children’s communication to enhance the future of individuals, communities, and society.

Charles Sturt Professor of Speech and Language Acquisition Sharynne McLeod (pictured) in the Charles Sturt School of Education addressed the Royal Society of NSW and Learned Academies Forum at Government House in Sydney on Thursday 2 November.

Professor McLeod thanked Her Excellency the Honourable Margaret Beazley, Governor of NSW, and Dr Susan Pond, President, Royal Society of NSW, for the invitation, and said she was deeply honoured to speak to the gathering about a topic that is so important to her and the guests - the ability to communicate.

Professor McLeod invited her audience to stop and think about how the ability to talk comes so naturally and easily for many people that we don’t even think about it.

“It’s like the air we breathe, we only notice it if it is not there,” she said.

“Communication is central to all people and societies, and our ability to communicate impacts our identity, relationships, education, employment, self-determination and engagement in community, social and civic life.

“Our nation’s prosperity, health, wellbeing and security requires successful communication.”

She noted that communication is enshrined by the United Nations as a human right, and that communication mediates children’s behaviour, learning and socialisation.

“There is a strong link between children’s communication ability and their educational, social and occupational outcomes, behaviour, mental health issues and involvement with criminal justice,” she said.

Professor McLeod said that while the ability to communicate is innate, communicative competence is established in early childhood and impacts participation in society, economic potential, social and cultural cohesion.

The Australian Government Education Council’s goals include to support all young Australians ‘to reach their potential and achieve their highest educational outcomes’, enhancing ‘communication skills’, and providing ‘effective early intervention and support strategies to ensure each young person has the necessary skills, knowledge and confidence to thrive as they move through school’.

“We need to support children’s communication, to enhance the future of individuals, communities and our society,” Professor McLeod said.

Other dignitaries and guests supporting the forum included Professor Hugh Durrant-Whyte, NSW Chief Scientist and Engineer, Professor Ian Hickie, Professor Phillipa Pattison, Professor Penny Van Bergen, Members and fellows of the Academies and the Royal Society of NSW, and invited Charles Sturt students Ms Kate Margetson (PhD student in the School of Education) and Mr Noah Secomb (journalism student in School of Information and Communications Studies).