
Speech For The Stars
*Helping little stars shine brighter*
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Speech For The Stars is a paediatric mobile speech therapy and tutoring service that operates in Melbourne, Australia.


Training

More Than Words
- Hanen Training
Felicity gained a clearer understanding of an evidence-based framework for addressing the specific communication needs of autistic children or children who may benefit from social communication support.

Which phonological intervention should I choose?
- Rebecca Reinking SLP
Given the variety of available options, speech pathologists can find it challenging to choose the “right” phonological intervention for speech sound disorders.
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This course focused on bridging the gap between research and clinical practice and delved into the foundational principles for working with children with speech sound disorders in real-life clinical settings.

Learning Language and Loving it
- Hanen Training
Felicity learnt about evidence-based strategies for engaging all children in the kinds of rich interactions that help them learn best. This includes children with or at risk of language delay, as well as second language learners. Felicity also learnt about the different stages and styles of communication, and how you can become more responsive to the individual needs of children while connecting and having fun.

Mastering Language Therapy for School Aged Children.
- Marina Hennes (SLP)
This workshop assisted Felicity in improving by language therapy techniques.. The key components covered were; establishing an understanding of language development, unpacking how to assess language, interpreting assessment results, setting appropriate language goals, and creating thorough session plans.

Achievements

The light was always there
- Children's book author
Everyone's lives were turned upside down when the COVID-19 pandemic spread across the world. Strict restrictions were put in place by the government and people struggled to adapt to their new isolated environment at home. This story tells the reality of the pandemic through the eyes of a child. It reminds us that even though there were challenging times, there was some positivity (the light) to all of this - a new appreciation for the little things in life.

Book of the Year Judge
Decodables Category
2023, 2024, 2025
Speech Pathology Australia
Felicity has the pleasure and honour of being an annual judge for the decodables category of the 'Speech Pathology Australia Book of the Year Awards'.

Creating the speech pathology department at Penleigh & Essendon Grammar School
Since 2012, Felicity has been instrumental in the creation and establishment of the Speech Therapy Department at Penleigh and Essendon Grammar School in Melbourne, Australia. In her dual roles as both Speech Pathologist and Primary Teacher, she has worked diligently to integrate evidence-based practices into the school's speech therapy program. Felicity takes immense pride in her contributions to the school and now extends her expertise to assist other institutions in implementing effective speech therapy programs. As a trailblazer in the field, she was among the first speech pathologists in Melbourne to be directly employed by a school.

Bridge Communication AAC App
French Translation
Felicity worked with the App Creator (Danielle Poletti) in North Carolina, USA to translate the features from English to French. She also assisted with their social media presentations.
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Felicity really enjoyed merging her two passions, speech pathology and the french language!

Podcasts

Speech Pathology Australia Podcast
Guest on 'Speak Up'
Dual Qualified Speech Pathologists​
Anneke Flinn chats with a panel of dual qualified speech pathologists. This episode features four speech pathologists who each wear multiple hats . Kate Broderick, is a speech pathologist, and also an OT, Felicity Conlan is a speech pathologist, and also a teacher, Robyn Fernandez-Baca is a speech pathologist, and also a music therapist, and Natalie Manley is a speech pathologist, and also a psychologist.

Speech Pathology Australia Podcast
Guest on 'Speak Up'
Establishing a thriving
'community of practice'
Anneke Flinn chats to Marina Hennes and Felicity Conlan. Marina and Felicity are school-based speech pathologists from Melbourne, and they discuss establishing and sustaining a thriving 'community of practice'.

The Beyond Physical Therapy Podcast
Becoming a Best Selling Author
In this episode we talk with Felicity Conlan, B.Ed Prim, M.SpPath a primary school teacher as well as a speech pathologist in Australia who decided to turn her experiences during lockdown due to covid-19 into a hopeful children’s picture book. We talk about how she was able to write and self-publish her very first book “The Light Was Always There” and how she got to #1 on Amazon shortly after her book release.
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Mindset Stories Podcast
The light was always there
David chats to Fliss all the way in Australia about her book "The light was always there" which was written as a children's book to help them make sense of the covid-19 pandemic, but has also changed the perspectives of adults around the world

Presentations

Preschool Speech & Your Child
Presentation to Kinder Parents
Penleigh & Essendon Grammar
Each year, Felicity has the privilege of presenting to the kindergarten parents of Penleigh and Essendon Grammar School on the role of speech therapy within the school. During this session, she provide insights into key speech and language milestones for kindergarten and prep children, and offer strategies to support their social, emotional, language, literacy and academic development as they transition into the school environment.

Little Learners Love Literacy
Presentation to Learning Assistants
Penleigh & Essendon Grammar School
August 2024
The focus was centred around:
- explanation of explicit teaching of reading approach
- The scope & sequence of LLLL
- The importance of decodable books
- Exploring LLLLs range of resources
- LA's crucial role in LLLL's program

Cued Articulation & AAC
Presentation to Learning Assistants
Penleigh & Essendon Grammar School
August 2024
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Felicity had the pleasure of presenting to a very engaged group of Learning Assistants from both the junior boys and junior girls' campuses.
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Topics of interest:
- Cued Articulation
- AAC

School SLP
Caseload Management
Felicity was delighted to be asked to present to a group of speech pathologists online on caseload management in a school.
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It's important to acknowledge that school speech pathologists have the somewhat daunting and unique task of creating their own work model, while trying to meet the demands of a range of school leaders (who aren't speech pathologists).

Promoting Speech Pathology

Apraxia Awareness Day
Melbourne CBD
Melbourne lights up BLUE each year for Apraxia Awareness Day (May 14th). Apraxia can affect children from birth (childhood apraxia of speech) or can be acquired in childhood/adulthood due to a brain injury/stroke/degenerative condition.
Childhood Apraxia of Speech is a lifelong motor speech disorder that affects 1-2 in 1000 children. Communication is a basic human right and everyone deserves a voice!

Speech Pathology Australia Week
Silent Morning Tea
Penleigh & Essendon Grammar School
The focus was centred around:
- explanation of explicit teaching of reading approach
- The scope & sequence of LLLL
- The importance of decodable books
- Exploring LLLLs range of resources
- LA's crucial role in LLLL's program

Meeting the creator of 'Bluey'
Penleigh & Essendon Grammar School
Thinking Seminar 2024
The creator of Bluey, Joe Brumm presented to the school about his incredible journey of becoming the creator of the most watched show in the world, 'Bluey'.
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We asked him, "Will there ever be a speech therapy episode?!"

Speech Pathology Australia Week
Book Week
Promoting both Speech Pathology Australia Week and Book Week together!
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"You can't always see a communication disability"
(Just like you can't always see Wally!)
- Service Information
1 hr 30 min
1 hr

Research

Felicity felt honoured to be asked to be a participant in the above study.