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)

[email protected]

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’

Speech Pathology Australia National Conference has commenced today on the Gold Coast.  To celebrate there is  a 20% off ...
25/06/2026

Speech Pathology Australia National Conference has commenced today on the Gold Coast. To celebrate there is a 20% off storewide sale in my new TPT Store: Language and Learning Australia - Kathryn Thorburn

You can find Printable pdf resources to support
+ students needing an Input Phonics Approach [see the Accessible Phonics Resources]
+ Independent work tasks for students still working at GPC knowledge and CVC word level in the classroom
+ Scaffolded Sentence Level Writing Resources
+ Resources to scaffold students who struggle with recall of multiplication and division facts, understand the relationship between fractions, decimals & percentages as well as learning to tell time in words, analog and digital formats.

Sale runs from now until lunchtime Monday [AEST] [link also in bio]
https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/store/language-learning-australia-kathryn-thorburn

25/06/2026
If you’re not subscribed to The Reading League Journal - this price is a really good incentive to join ⤵️
24/06/2026

If you’re not subscribed to The Reading League Journal - this price is a really good incentive to join ⤵️

Tonight is online webinar night - here is a sneak peak of the topics of discussion? Recording will be uploaded an availa...
24/06/2026

Tonight is online webinar night - here is a sneak peak of the topics of discussion? Recording will be uploaded an available in 48hrs

22/06/2026

Do challenging texts hinder reading progress? This is the question that Alison Madelaine addresses in our latest Nomanis Note. To find out what educational research has to say on the subject of appropriate text level, read the note in full here: https://hubs.la/Q04l94H50

I’ve learned over the years that as a teacher who went into teaching after completing my Speech Pathology Degree my teac...
21/06/2026

I’ve learned over the years that as a teacher who went into teaching after completing my Speech Pathology Degree my teaching in both Special Education and mainstream teaching across K-12 meant that often my teaching view was heavily influenced by my SLP training in language.

When assessing reading in learning support roles I’d typically complete a language assessment and learned to understand that listening comprehension and language comprehension draw from the same bucket of skills [as Discussed by Dr Tiffany Hogan with Melissa & Lori Love Literacy on their podcast]

The CELF 4 included RAN assessment tasks for object, colour, digit & letter naming but it was removed in the CELF 5.

RAN object & colour naming tasks are used in language assessment for adult aphasia [acquired language difficulties due to stroke / neurological injury]

When assessing reading RAN is often included but for students over 8, the object and colour naming tasks are not used yet as a Speech Pathologist it can be a super quick task that can give rich insight into language skills. What is even more interesting is that I’ve identified a number of students with acquired language difficulties [childhood aphasia due to hypoxic brain injury, childhood stroke and acquired due chemotherapy] which is a result of improved outcomes for students with complex medical conditions and treatment in early childhood meaning in today’s classrooms we have students who may not have survived in previous generations.

When you assess RAN as a SLP do you harness the information about language that objects and colour naming tasks provide?

The object & colour naming tasks are not included above the age of 8 if the WRMT3, TILLS or CTOPP2 are used [however I have worked out how to use the CTOPP2 to screen for this information]

The RAN / RAS by Dr Maryanne Wolf provides normed data for all students within the administration age bracket of 5-18yrs for all RAN tasks thus providing valuable information about language which we know underpins reading comprehension and writing composition.

I have many chats about this with members of my Tier 3 Toolkit Membership because we need tools that are as efficient as possible and allow us to glean assessment information about both reading and language skills.

This article from Dr Ros Neilson from the LDA Bulletin gives more information and is well worth a read when thinking about assessment batteries for language and reading skills.

https://www.ldaustralia.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/Neilson-Experiencing-RAN.pdf

Address

Medowie, NSW
2318

Opening Hours

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

Telephone

+61416544153

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