The Wire

The Cape York community in Far North Queensland has welcomed the appointment of their first full time speech pathologist. The appointment of a speech pathologist hopes to improve educational outcomes for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children.

Speech and language difficulties can result in poor educational outcomes for affected children. It can also affect identity, as children cannot connect with their oral tradition. The Cape has particularly high rates of speech and language difficulties as a result of middle ear infections and complications from Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders.