Language and Learning

Language and Learning 🇦🇺 NSW Kathryn Thorburn 💻 SLP Online Training & Support 💥 Tier 3 Language & Literacy Intervention

Kathryn Thorburn

Certified Practising Speech Pathologist
Member Speech Pathology Australia
NESA Accredited Teacher - Proficient
Tutor SPELDNSW
Consultant teacher Learning Difficulties Australia

Medicare Provider
Private Health Fund Approved

School Age (K-12) Language, Literacy & Learning

Over 20 years experience - NSW Health, NSW DET Schools, Catholic Schools & Independent Schools

0416 544 153 (Mobile)

kathryn@languageandlearning.com.au

www.languageandlearning.com.au

About

Kathryn Thorburn holds dual qualifications in Speech Pathology & Teaching [Primary & Special Education]. She has been a certified practicing speech pathologist and member of Speech Pathology Australia since January 1998 and teacher since 2002. Kathryn holds proficient teacher accreditation with NESA in NSW and was employed on the NESA English Writers team for the K-2 & 3-6 Syllabus updates, 2021. Kathryn is a consultant teacher with Learning Difficulties Australia and Tutor for SPELDNSW. Kathryn has Speech Pathology experience in both NSW Health [adult & kids rehab] & Private practice. She has a particular interest and practical experience in the education and support of students who would be considered educationally at risk due to neurological condition, traumatic brain injury, rare disease, oncology treatment or complex medical history. Kathryn has extensive experience with assistive technology for supporting learning with a focus on student function and independence. Within the education sector Kathryn has worked across the DET, Catholic and Independent school sectors in NSW over 20 years. In addition Kathryn piloted a Rehabilitation Education Liaison Role within HNE Kids Rehab supporting students with mild moderate Head Injury back to their mainstream school environment. Kathryn has practical experience as a classroom teacher, co-ordinator, member of school leadership team / school executive and consultant for schools within a regional team. Kathryn has extensive experience managing and implementing whole school change in a K-12 setting in the areas of Literacy, Numeracy and Inclusive Education. Kathryn provides clinical education to Speech Pathology students [4th yr & Masters programs] from both the University of Newcastle and Sydney University within a Preschool - Year 12 setting and provides an annual guest lecture to Speech Pathology students on the topic of Reading & Spelling - Assessment & Intervention. Kathryn believes in supporting others to be the best they can be whether it is the students she works with or the professionals she supports. Kathryn believes all students can learn however as professionals we need to work smarter not harder because of the ever changing demands of the students in our educational and therapeutic care. Attached to their page is the group Language and Learning - Training and Support. This group is a safe place for professionals to ask questions and learn from each other. Kathryn reserves the right to delete any post that doesn’t not align with current best practice research and any instance of bullying or harassment will not be tolerated. Our focus at all times is the students we work with but we value collaboration because ‘together we can go far’

🔸Have you considered that targeting oral narrative skills in the classroom can support students to develop proficiency w...
21/01/2026

🔸Have you considered that targeting oral narrative skills in the classroom can support students to develop proficiency with listening comprehension, use of language for social interactions and the ability to request and explain.

🔹In fact if a student can tell a personal narrative they can tell a teacher about an incident in the playground and build friendships by sharing stories about weekends highlights and navigate the intricacies of playing handball at lunchtimes.

🔸Oral Language is more than just giving a speech or sharing news. It lays the foundations for reading comprehension and writing.

Childhood Brain Tumor and Leukemia [CBTL] - Did you know? [Australian Guidelines]🧠 Children diagnosed with CBTL are at r...
20/01/2026

Childhood Brain Tumor and Leukemia [CBTL] - Did you know? [Australian Guidelines]

🧠 Children diagnosed with CBTL are at risk for developing a range of communication difficulties in critical foundation skills, including speech and language skills such as understanding instructions, vocabulary, producing sentences, correct grammar, and reading and writing

🧠 Cognitive-communication and social language difficulties are also evident, impacting functional abilities such as problem-solving, story-telling, understanding jokes and sarcasm, conversation-level skills, social skills, initiating and maintaining friendships, and job readiness

🧠 Communication difficulties have been reported for up to 81% of survivors of major childhood cancers.

🧠 Critically, verbal and nonverbal language skills that are yet to develop are most vulnerable, with young children in particular experiencing difficulty acquiring or developing skills at the expected rate after cancer treatment across developmental milestones.

🧠 Missed schooling and reduced time spent socializing with peers can also exacerbate communication difficulties for children with CBTL.

🧠 Early intervention can minimize or prevent communication deficits that occur following treatment for childhood brain cancer or leukemia

🧠 Changes can appear any time up to 10–20 years post-treatment, potentially interrupting normal development in children who face the largest proportion of their lives post-cancer

https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/pbc.31749

Did you know? Everyone can now freely access teaching resources for K-2 English & Maths [including phonics resources and...
20/01/2026

Did you know?

Everyone can now freely access teaching resources for K-2 English & Maths [including phonics resources and decodable].

The NSW Student learning library is a suite of learning resources which are accessible for teachers, parents and carers, and students to be used in class or at home. The library currently contains K-2 English and Mathematics learning resources.

The resources are aligned with new syllabuses and have been quality assured by educational professionals within the department. The new resources will supplement and complement other resources being provided by the department, including units developed by department curriculum experts to support the roll-out of new syllabuses.

https://education.nsw.gov.au/schooling/schooling-initiatives/nsw-student-learning-library #/

There were some great new books published at the end of 2025. And yesterday Dr Pam Snow shared that her new book is star...
19/01/2026

There were some great new books published at the end of 2025. And yesterday Dr Pam Snow shared that her new book is starting to ship [ fortunately it’s on preorder ]

Which are on your must read pile?

In addition to running the Tier 3 Toolkit membership & customised PD for Speech Pathology Private Practice teams & schoo...
19/01/2026

In addition to running the Tier 3 Toolkit membership & customised PD for Speech Pathology Private Practice teams & schools, I’ve shared above some of the conferences & events I’ve been invited to present at. I’m pretty sure there are some I’ve forgotten such as the Successful Learning Conference held at Sydney University however it’s always great to present alongside others and learn from those who know more than me.

🔸Have you considered that targeting oral narrative skills in the classroom can support students to develop proficiency w...
18/01/2026

🔸Have you considered that targeting oral narrative skills in the classroom can support students to develop proficiency with listening comprehension, use of language for social interactions and the ability to request and explain.

🔹In fact if a student can tell a personal narrative they can tell a teacher about an incident in the playground and build friendships by sharing stories about weekends highlights and navigate the intricacies of playing handball at lunchtimes.

🔸Oral Language is more than just giving a speech or sharing news.

One of the most useful take-aways from the 2025 Write Now Conference was the really clear examples of ways to scaffold s...
16/01/2026

One of the most useful take-aways from the 2025 Write Now Conference was the really clear examples of ways to scaffold student writing.

How many of these do you use to scaffold student success?

How do you keep out to date when supporting students with school age Language and Literacy difficulties across K-12?Have...
15/01/2026

How do you keep out to date when supporting students with school age Language and Literacy difficulties across K-12?

Have you considered that by widely and learning from others around the world it allows you to see similarities and differences in both researchers and structures literacy approaches giving you more skills in your toolkit equipping you to understand principles not just following a program.

These are just a few of the trainings I’ve had the opportunity to complete over the years

🔸Have you considered that targeting oral narrative skills in the classroom can support students to develop proficiency w...
15/01/2026

🔸Have you considered that targeting oral narrative skills in the classroom can support students to develop proficiency with listening comprehension, use of language for social interactions and the ability to request and explain.

🔹In fact if a student can tell a personal narrative they can tell a teacher about an incident in the playground and build friendships by sharing stories about weekends highlights and navigate the intricacies of playing handball at lunchtimes.

🔸Oral Language is more than just giving a speech or sharing news. Skills with oral language not only support learning but social skills and student behaviour

Research tells us that writing supports reading comprehension and reading supports written composition. These two diagr...
14/01/2026

Research tells us that writing supports reading comprehension and reading supports written composition. These two diagrams were shared at the Write Now 2025 conference in November hosted by Kays to Literacy. They clearly show how language, reading comprehension and written composition skills can be harnessed to support development of academic & disciplinary literacy skills.

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Medowie, NSW
2318

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Wednesday 12pm - 9pm
Thursday 12pm - 9pm

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Kathryn Thorburn

Certified Practising Speech Pathologist | Member Speech Pathology Australia Mainstream & Special Education Teacher | NESA Accredited Proficient Teacher Registered Tutor (SPELD NSW) | Consultant Teacher (Learning Difficulties Australia)

Current WWCC [expires 09/2023] Medicare Provider Private Health Fund Approved Saturday Appointments | 9am - 5pm | 5 x Saturdays only each Term| Medowie Christian School | 6B Waropara Road, Medowie NSW 2318


  • School Age Speech Pathology (K-12)

  • Customised Individual Clinical Coaching for Speech Pathologists for Teachers | Executive Staff | Learning Support Staff | Live with Zoom