Cleft Aware
A Free Webinar Series:
"Understanding Speech Pathology needs for children with Cleft Lip / Cleft Palate"
Four sessions from Wednesday 5th February to 19th March 2025
Craniofacial Australia presents Dr Jessica Boyce, a Speech Pathologist based in Melbourne, Victoria who will host our free Cleft Aware webinar series.
Did you know that around half of patients with a cleft palate will need some form of Speech and Language Therapy? There is a critically unmet need in Australia, with too many children slipping through the cracks.
Craniofacial Australia invites you to join Cleft Aware, a series of 4 free webinars, offering parents the perfect space to delve into the various stages of Speech and Language Therapy considerations for cleft lip and cleft palate affected children. You’ll learn about the latest information, ask questions from an expert, gain confidence to advocate for your child and discover a community that understands you!
Dr Jessica Boyce will present current recommendations from birth to childhood. Dr Boyce has worked with children and families in private practice, community health, and at the Royal Children's Hospital. As well as being founder of Protea Therapy, Jess is a lecturer at the University of Melbourne's Master of Speech Pathology.
Here’s what you need to know:
- Held fortnightly over two months
- Time: 6pm (AEST), 5:30pm (ACST), 4pm (AWST)
- Duration: 30 minutes – 20 minutes presentation, 10 minutes Q&A
Topic 1:
Feeding your baby before and after surgery.
- Recorded video coming soon
Topic 2: Speech and language development (0-6 years). - Recorded video coming soon
Topic 3: Speech and language stimulation in the first year
When: Wednesday 5th March 2025
Topic 4: Strategies to support speech in children born with a Cleft Lip and / or Palate beyond the first year
When: Wednesday 19th March 2025
Mark your calendars and please help us spread the word. This is a rare opportunity to hear direct from one of Australia’s most renowned Speech Pathologists.
We thank and gratefully acknowledge the PKF Foundation, whose generous grant has contributed to developing and delivering the Cleft Aware program for the Cleft-affected community.
About our Host
DR JESSICA BOYCE
BA MSpPath PhD CPSP
Jess (she/her/hers) is a multilingual speech pathologist and provides services to families in English and Mandarin. She has a particular expertise working with children experiencing:
- Communication difficulties related to cleft lip and/or palate
- Speech sound disorders
- Difficulties learning to read
Jess has worked with children and families in private practice, community health, and at the Royal Children's Hospital. As well as working at Protea Therapy, Jess is a lecturer at The University of Melbourne's Master of Speech Pathology. Jess' PhD investigated the speech and language in children with cleft. She continues research in cleft, alongside speech, language and stuttering. Her research has led to publications in scientific journals and awards at international speaking engagements.
Outside work, Jess enjoys navigating the delightful chaos of two little ones, while trying to remember where she put her coffee.
* Registration is required. Register once for all four Zoom meetings.
