Language Disorder Australia

29/05/2026

Join Emily Barnett (Senior Speech Pathologist) and Nicole Lindgren (Inclusion – Specialist Educator) in their webinar titled: Shifting the Focus: Broadening our understanding of Language Disorder and DLD. In this webinar, they will explore the different profiles of Language Disorder and Developmental Language Disorder (DLD), and how students may present in varied ways across language, learning, behaviour, and social interaction. This webinar highlights the impact these differences can have on classroom participation and shares practical, inclusive approaches to support diverse learner needs.

Learning Objectives:
By the end of this webinar, participants will be able to:
• Understand the importance of language and language development, and define Language Disorder and Developmental Language Disorder.
• Explore current research and contemporary understandings of Language Disorder and Developmental Language Disorder.
• Describe how Language Disorder may present across different profiles, including Language Disorder associated with biomedical conditions and DLD co-occurring with other neurodevelopmental conditions.
• Compare how different models of disability inform our understanding and support of Language Disorder.
• Analyse case studies and identify practical strategies to support students with Language Disorder in the classroom.

📅 Date: Thu 25th of June
⏰ Time: 3:30pm - 4:30pm AEST (Brisbane time)
💲Free registration
Register now: d1ba9d87-2146-41be-9d5c-a94317599e5f@8c86d36b-1be4-48fc-8eda-d29d4e0a9e49" rel="ugc" target="_blank">https://events.teams.microsoft.com/event/d1ba9d87-2146-41be-9d5c-a94317599e5f@8c86d36b-1be4-48fc-8eda-d29d4e0a9e49

27/05/2026

What an incredible two days at the ACEL Inclusion & Disability Conference in Adelaide.

As proud Bronze Sponsors, the Language Disorder Australia team loved connecting with educators, school leaders, allied health professionals and policy makers from across the country - all united by a shared commitment to inclusion.

Across the conference, one message came through clearly: genuine inclusion requires intentional design, collaboration, and a deeper understanding of the diverse communication needs of students.

We were especially encouraged to see conversations around:
✨ inclusive classroom practice
✨ accessible assessment and curriculum design
✨ Developmental Language Disorder (DLD) and hidden communication challenges
✨ supporting autistic students
✨ building school-wide systems that scale inclusion effectively

A huge thank you to everyone who stopped by our booth, shared their experiences, asked questions, and connected with our team. These conversations matter and they continue to drive the work we do alongside schools and educators across Australia.

We’re leaving Adelaide inspired, energised, and excited for what’s ahead.

26/05/2026

⚫🟡🔴Today is National Sorry Day ⚫🟡🔴

The 2026 theme, “All In for Reconciliation”, reminds us that reconciliation requires everyone to learn, reflect and contribute.

In honour of this, we are sharing some information about Aboriginal English.

🗣️ Aboriginal English is a dialect spoken by many First Nations people in Australia and may be the first and/or only language variety used by some Aboriginal students. It can differ from Standard Australian English in speech sounds, grammar, vocabulary, meaning and storytelling practices, including yarning.

⬇️For further learning in this space, we have linked additional resources below:

📍National Sorry Day, The Healing Foundation https://healingfoundation.org.au/stolen-generations/national-sorry-day/

📍All In for National Reconciliation Week 2026, Reconciliation Australia https://www.reconciliation.org.au/all-in-for-national-reconciliation-week-2026/

📍Aboriginal English, The Australian Institute of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Studies (AIATSIS) https://aiatsis.gov.au/blog/aboriginal-english

📍'Aboriginal English: It's All In the Yarning', from The University of Western Australia https://researchimpact.uwa.edu.au/research-impact-stories/its-all-in-the-yarning/

📍Aboriginal English in the global city: Minorities and language change, The University of Western Australia https://www.uwa.edu.au/projects/aboriginal-english-in-the-global-city-minorities-and-language-change

📍Capability Framework - Teaching Aboriginal and Torres Strait Island EAL/D Learners, from the Department of Education Queenslandhttps://education.qld.gov.au/student/Documents/capability-framework-teaching-aboriginal-torres-strait-islander-eald-learners.pdf

📍English as an additional language or dialect (EALD), from the Department of Education Western Australia https://myresources.education.wa.edu.au/topics/english-as-an-additional-language-or-dialect-(eal-d)

Tracks to two-way learning is a train-the-trainer resource which aims to improve quality teaching and learning of Aboriginal students through the 4 dimensions of Staff Knowledge and Practice, Community Engagement, Policy and Practice, Learner Engagement.

24/05/2026

The Language Disorder Australia team has officially arrived in Adelaide and has set up for the ACEL Conference! ✨

Booth setup is complete, resources are out, coffee is needed ☕ — and we’re excited for a fantastic few days connecting with educators and leaders from across the country.

Here’s a little behind-the-scenes look at the setup process 🎥

As proud Bronze Sponsors of this year’s conference, we can’t wait to meet everyone, share conversations about inclusive education and language, and showcase the work our team is doing to support schools and students across Australia.

Come visit us at our booth and say hello! 👋

23/05/2026

What a great day Mancel College team is having at The Education Fair today!

19/05/2026

Communication may include spoken language, written language, sign language, gestures, or the use of a communication device. Multi-modal communication (MMC) is an umbrella term that describes all of these methods.

Join our Senior Speech Pathologists Jordan Wellington and Ashton Moncrieff for a practical webinar titled: Multi-Modal Communication in the Classroom. This webinar unpacks how MMC supports participation, engagement and learning for all students.

This session will explore:
- Types of MMC in the classroom
- The benefits of MMC and common misconceptions
- Practical, evidence-based strategies to integrate and support multi-modal communication in the classroom.

This webinar is designed for school staff, allied health professionals, and anyone supporting students across their schooling journey.

📅 Date: Tue 23rd of June
⏰ Time: 3:30pm - 4:30pm AEST (Brisbane time)
💲 Free registration

Register now: 10e26ee3-a1e9-4b21-8001-b3d0d855f0e9@8c86d36b-1be4-48fc-8eda-d29d4e0a9e49" rel="ugc" target="_blank">https://events.teams.microsoft.com/event/10e26ee3-a1e9-4b21-8001-b3d0d855f0e9@8c86d36b-1be4-48fc-8eda-d29d4e0a9e49

14/05/2026

✨ What a wonderful day 1 at the National Education Summit in Brisbane! where Language Disorder Australia exhibited today🎉📚

Our Senior Speech Pathologist / Team Leader: SSS, Meg MacKenzie 👏 spoke today at the Diverse Learners Symposium on Narratives That Connect: One Approach, Many Outcomes 🗣️💡 and shared how oral narratives can be used as a powerful, practical tool to support language, learning and belonging for students with Language Disorder and other diverse learning needs. ❤️📖

The response to the session was incredibly positive 🙌 It was so lovely to hear how many educators and professionals connected with the narratives as a way to support students in the classroom 🍎✨

A special mention to Athena Panagopoulos Senior Speech Pathologist / Senior Manager: SSS 🌟 for doing such a fantastic job MC-ing the Diverse Learners Symposium 🎤 and creating such a warm, thoughtful and engaging space across the day 🤝💙 Also, thank you to Louise Corran our Commercial & Administration Manager from Mancel College, for supporting the event and managing the stand.

Thank you to everyone who came along, asked questions, shared reflections and continued the conversation 💬✨ It has been such a joy to connect with so many people advocating for Language Disorder ❤️🧠

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12/05/2026

Ahead of ACEL’s inclusion-focused conference conversations this month, we’re reminded that inclusive education is strongest when awareness, leadership and practical support come together.

At Language Disorder Australia, we believe children and young people with Language Disorder deserve learning environments where communication needs are understood and supported — and where educators are equipped with the tools to help every learner participate and thrive.

We welcome every opportunity to keep this conversation moving.

10/05/2026

Over the past 3 days, our team was proud to attend and exhibit at the 2026 DSF Literacy Services (The Dyslexia Speld Foundation of WA) Language, Literacy and Learning Conference in Fremantle. It has been an inspiring 3 days filled with rich conversations, practical strategies, and powerful reminders of the critical role language plays in learning, wellbeing, engagement, and inclusion.

We heard from outstanding international and Australian speakers including Stanislas Dehaene, Zach Groshell, Tara Thiagarajan, Stuart Kime, Kathy Rastle, Kristopher Boulton and many others, each bringing thought-provoking perspectives on cognition, literacy, numeracy, mental health, explicit instruction, and evidence-based teaching practice.

We were also proud to see our own Athena Panagopoulos present on the intersection between Language Disorder and executive function from the classroom perspective — an area that remains critically important for improving identification, support, engagement, and wellbeing outcomes for students.

07/05/2026

Recently, we recorded a new series of Comprehension modules.

Designed for educators and professionals, these modules break down how language comprehension impacts learning, with practical strategies that can be applied in real classrooms.

Grounded in evidence and everyday practice, they’re built to support better understanding and better outcomes for students with Language Disorder.

Look out for these soon!

You can find our webinars at https://academy.languagedisorder.org.au/home

06/05/2026

We’ve arrived in Fremantle! 🌊📍

Our SSS Senior Manager, Athena Panagopoulos, and Deputy Head of Mancel College, Jodi Dew, landed in Perth yesterday to attend the DSF Literacy Services (The Dyslexia Speld Foundation of WA) Language, Literacy and Learning Conference (7–9 May 2026).

First stop ✅ setting up the Language Disorder Australia booth in the Exhibitors Hall!

We’re looking forward to three inspiring days of learning, sharing, and connection 🤝. Don’t miss Athena’s presentation on Friday:
Beyond Words: Building Capacity to Support Language and Executive Function in Schools.

If you’re attending, come and say hello 👋, explore our resources 📚, and learn more about how we support language and literacy in schools.