Speech Therapy
The Speech Therapy program was developed as a result of interest from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Island mothers on what they could be doing to build their children’s confidence and self-esteem before going to school.
The program is designed to help the children feel like they have been understood and to strengthen communication and bonding between mothers and their children. Speech therapy activities are built into the entire Young Aboriginal Mothers Program using techniques like language stimulation, modelling communication and interaction work.
Research and Evaluation
In a 2021-2022 partnership, Newcastle University and the Vonwiller Foundation will develop the Guyati, Garraka wa Witing Speech Pathology Project as part of Clinic on Country. This ground-breaking program aims to address the critical shortage of qualified speech pathologists for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children in the Dalaigur and Scribbly Gum Dalai Preschools in Kempsey. This much needed pilot program will see final year Speech Pathology students deliver culturally appropriate speech pathology services to help to close the gap by addressing early speech and language difficulties.