Welcome to the ABI Communication Lab Newsletter! |
This newsletter is your space for updates, resources, and insights from the Acquired Brain Injury (ABI) Communication Lab. We’ll be sharing news from our team, highlights from ongoing projects, upcoming events, and evidence-based perspectives on communication following ABI. This newsletter will be released quarterly.
Thank you for taking the time to read and for your continued interest in, and support of our work!
In this edition:
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- Project updates and research highlights
- Past events
- Meet the team
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The University of Sydney is working on a new way to support people with a head injury / traumatic brain injury (TBI) in building their communication skills.
💬 In the Social Brain Toolkit Virtual Clinic, people with TBI will work with speech pathology students, guided by our experienced educators.
🤝 TBI peer mentors (other people with TBI lived experience) will also be part of the team. They will offer extra support and connection. We want to develop a service that is a good fit for Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander people with a TBI.
🧠 We’re doing a call out for Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander people with a connection to traumatic brain injury - people with TBI, close others, those caring for family with TBI or Aboriginal Health Workers (AHW). They will be our Aboriginal Reference Group who will assist in guiding our project.
💻 This group will join online meetings every 1-2 months during 2026 and 2027. They will check and advise on the project. They will be invited to help design the new clinic services. Group members will receive payment or vouchers for their time.
📱 Are you interested?
Contact Shenane Hogg (0480 496 267) from Connectivity to yarn about being involved or use the QR code to find out more.
This project has received funding from the Australian Medical Research Future Fund TBI Mission.
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Dr Petra Avramović, Professor Leanne Togher, and Naomi Folder flew to Noosa for the World Federation of Neurology Aphasia, Dementia, and Cognitive Disorders Specialty Group Biennial Meeting (Thursday 19th to Sunday 22nd February 2026). It was an outstanding venue for coming together to exchange the latest research, with a strong emphasis on the prevention, diagnosis, and management of dementia and PPA.
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We’re also spotlighting some of the wonderful work led by Dr Megan Trebilcock at the Australian Aphasia Association (AAA) Aphasia Camp in the Gold Coast that happened in February! Megan spent time connecting with people living with aphasia and their supporters in a supportive and empowering environment. Experiences like this are a powerful reminder that research and real-world impact go hand in hand.
Check out this website for more information about the camps and resources: https://aphasia.org.au/what-we-offer/aaa-camps/
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Naomi also presented at the ISTAART Alzheimer's Association Neuroscience Next Conference on Wednesday 25th February.
She won the Best Oral Presentation Award for her presentation “Connect For Dementia: Co-Creating A Digital Communication Partner Training Program For Families Of People Living With Dementia”.
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| Olivia Maurice was also awarded Best Poster at the ISTAART Alzheimer's Association Neuroscience Next Conference.
Her PhD research explored how age and multilingual experience dynamically shape everyday executive and memory function.
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Congratulations to our team for sharing their amazing research in such valuable spaces!
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On Friday 20th February, we held our very first ABI Comm Lab Research Pathways Workshop for recent Honours graduates and students, providing insights into career and research pathways, and practical guidance on publications and conferences.
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The Sydney Aphasia Social Group held a social event for people with aphasia and their supporters on Tuesday 24th February. It was a relaxed afternoon of connection and conversation!
If you’d like to join Sydney Aphasia Social Group or find out more, please contact us or visit this link: Sydney Aphasia Social Group
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Stay tuned over the coming months where we’ll be spotlighting a different member of the lab!
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| Professor Leanne Togher
Director
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Dr Melissa (Liss) Brunner
Senior Lecturer
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| Dr Elise Bogart
Senior Lecturer
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| Dr Rachael Rietdijk
Lecturer
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Dr Petra Avramović
Lecturer
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| Dr Sophie Brassel
Lecturer
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| Dr Emma van der Schyff
Research Fellow
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Dr Megan Trebilcock
Research Fellow
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| Dr Mona Faris
Research Fellow
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| Dr Chelsea Larkman
Research Fellow
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Kylie (Ky) Southwell
PhD Candidate
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| Tushar Prasad
PhD Candidate
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| Nazia Islam
Program Manager
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Olivia Maurice
Project Officer
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| Mary Dawoud
Research Assistant
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| Charlene Lo
Research Assistant
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We acknowledge the Traditional Custodians of the lands on which the University of Sydney resides, the Gadigal people of the Eora Nation.
We pay our respects to Elders past and present and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.
We recognise their continuing connection to land, waters, culture, and community.
We recognise that sovereignty has never been ceded.
It always was and always will be, Aboriginal land.
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