Language Disorder Australia

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

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.

⚫🟡🔴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)

English as an additional language or dialect (EALD) 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.

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