This fully online short course has been developed for Speech Pathologists who provide, or who would like to provide, gender-affirming voice and communication training for trans and gender diverse people. This non-award course will help Speech Pathologists develop the skills to support trans and gender diverse individuals with their voice, communication, and wellbeing. Information about speech pathology approaches to working with trans and gender diverse young people and adults is provided based on the current knowledge.

This short course is informed by a team of clinicians, lecturers, and researchers with diverse gender identities (both binary and non-binary, cisgender, and transgender) who represent a range of different perspectives on this area of practice. The overarching goal of this short course is to provide you with information about the knowledge, skills, and abilities that Speech Pathologists require to provide trans and gender diverse people with an informed, client-centred culturally responsive service. The training module will address this goal by highlighting key theories and techniques for working with trans and gender diverse people in a welcoming, supportive, and evidence-based way.

Additional foci address working on specific client-centred goals related to voice and communication, as well as information for clients regarding potential surgical approaches to voice modification.

Developed by:

Emma Ball (she/her)

Emma works as a senior speech pathologist and clinical educator in the role of Voice Clinic Coordinator within La Trobe Communication Clinic, based at La Trobe University, Melbourne.

David Azul (they/them)

David is a Discipline Lead Speech Pathology, Chair of the Diversity and Inclusion Committee, Senior Lecturer, Researcher, and Certified Practising Speech Pathologist based at La Trobe Rural Health School, La Trobe University, Bendigo.

Georgia Dacakis (Please use my name)

Georgia is a speech pathologist, Adjunct Lecturer in Speech Pathology, La Trobe University and Adviser to the Voice Clinic (La Trobe Communication Clinic).

Alex Giannini (she/her)

Alex is a Speech Pathologist with a background in Family Therapy and Bioethics, and with extensive experience with children and adolescent’s voice therapy. She worked for decades at the Royal Children’s Hospital in Melbourne, including the Gender Service. Alex has additional interests and qualifications in professional supervision and mentoring.

Jennifer Oates (she/her)

Jennifer Oates is Emeritus Professor in Speech Pathology at La Trobe University. She is a Certified Practicing Speech Pathologist and practices clinically at Melbourne Voice Analysis Centre and Voice Medicine Australia. She has extensive clinical and research experience in in voice, communication, and social participation support for trans and gender diverse people.

Sterling Quinn (they/them or he/him)

Sterling is a non-binary trans voice clinician, research coordinator, PhD candidate, and casual academic working out of the La Trobe Communication Clinic at La Trobe University in Melbourne, Australia.

Course content

Topics covered will include:

1. The theoretically informed ASSEMBLE approach with its professional practice focus on different factors that impact on trans and gender diverse clients' voice, communication and well-being.
2. Assessment and training considerations for adult trans and gender diverse clients, informed by the Trans and Gender Diverse Voice Clinic (a service of the La Trobe Communication Clinic, La Trobe University, Melbourne, Australia).
3. Assessment and training considerations for trans and gender diverse young people

Extra requirements

1. Broadband internet access and an active email address that can be accessed at home during study periods.
2. Students must have basic computer literacy skills (e.g. Word or other word processing software).