2010 National Tour

Register now for the workshops in Launceston and Canberra and Melbourne

“Working with Children from Multilingual Backgrounds”

by Associate Professor Cori Williams, B App Sci (Speech and Hearing),
BA (AS) (Hons), Dip Ed, Ph D

The CPD portfolio is pleased to announce that online registration is now open for the National Tour workshops to be held in:

Launceston on Friday 23 April 2010

Canberra on Tuesday 27 April 2010

Melbourne on Friday 23 July 2010.

In an increasingly multicultural Australia, it is crucial that speech pathologists bring to their workplace an understanding of the impact on their clients of exposure to more than one language. This interactive workshop will address the complex issues which must be faced when working with children from multilingual backgrounds. It will consider the typical processes involved in acquisition of more than one language, and provide participants with the opportunity to examine the evidence surrounding assessment and intervention for this population. 

The workshop will seek to address questions such as ‘What’s wrong with using standardised assessments with children from multilingual backgrounds?”, “Which language should be used in intervention?” and “What about children with disabilities?”. Participants will be encouraged to pose questions, to apply the evidence in considering possible responses to these questions and to reflect on the possibilities for practical application of the research evidence within their workplace.

Associate Professor Cori Williams has been interested in cross cultural issues in language for longer than she cares to remember. Over the past two decades or so she has worked as teacher, speech pathologist and university lecturer.  In her work, she aims to infect her first year students with a fascination for language in all its forms. In 2009 she published two papers looking at ear health in Aboriginal children. Cross cultural language issues are a focus of her research. 

Keep an eye on the Association website and in e-News for details as registrations open for other legs of the 2010 National Tour.

Sharon Crane

Continuing Professional Development