Introduction
Dr Sharon Smart is a Lecturer in the School of Occupational Therapy, Social Work and Speech Pathology and Course Coordinator of the Graduate Entry Masters (GEM) Speech Pathology program at Curtin University. She has coordinated and taught into 15 undergraduate and postgraduate units related to paediatric speech, language, feeding and swallowing over the past 5 years. Sharon is a clinical researcher specialising in infant feeding, swallowing disorders in children, tongue tie, and paediatric speech and language development. She works clinically as a speech pathologist running feeding clinics, and enjoys translating clinical problems into research projects, and teaching evidence-based assessment and intervention practices to the next generation of speech pathologists.
Post Nominals
PhD BSc CPSP FHEA
Employment History
2018-current: Course Coordinator (Master of Speech Pathology) Curtin University
2016-current: Lecturer, Curtin University
- 2019 0.6FTE Teaching and Research (T&R)
- 2018 0.6FTE Teaching Academic (TA)
- 2016 to 2017 0.4FTE Teaching Academic (TA)
2013-2019: Owner/Director, Smart Speech Pathology
2009-2015: Sessional Academic, Curtin University
2007-2009: Professional Manager of Paediatric Speech & Language, Royal Free Hospital, London
2006: Reed Health, Northwick Park Hospital Primary Care Trust, London
2001-2005A/Senior Speech Pathologist & Speech Pathologist, Feeding Service, Princess Margaret Hospital
2002-2003: Senior Project Officer, Therapy Focus
2001: Speech Pathologist, Therapy Focus
Research Interests
- Ankyloglossia (tongue-tie)
- Orofacial myofunctional therapy for feeding and speech production.
- Infant feeding and paediatric dysphagia (swallowing difficulties)
- Assessment practices in paediatric dysphagia
- Child speech and language
Membership
Memberships
Fellow, Higher Education Academy (FHEA), United Kingdom
Certified Practicing Speech Pathologist (CPSP), Speech Pathology Australia
Australasian Society for Tongue and Lip Ties (ASTLiT)
International Consortium of Oral Ankylofrenula Professionals (ICAP)
Awards
Faculty of Health Science, Early Career Teaching Award, Curtin University, 2019
American Speech-Language-Hearing Association Student Travel Award, 2005
Mark Liveris Research Seminar Student Award 2002
Recent Training
Employability thinking to enhance academic and student career outcomes, August 2019
Australian Academy of Orofacial Myofunctional Therapy - 4-day introductory course, August 2019
Writing a Teaching Philosophy Statement Workshop, Curtin University, July 2019
HDR Supervision training, June 2019
Writing for Publication, Western Australia Network for Dissemination, August 2018
Demand-Driven Research, July 2018
Supervision
Teaching Summary
I am committed to providing high-quality teaching to improve student learning. Units coordinated include:
- Language Analysis and Communication Science (Masters)
- Approaches to Language Analysis (Undergraduate and Masters)
- Dysphagia (Undergraduate and Masters)
- Phonetics and Phonology (Undergraduate and Masters)
- Assessment in Speech Pathology (Undergraduate and Masters)
- Intervention in Speech Pathology (Undergraduate and Masters)
- Hearing and Multimodal Communication (Undergraduate and Masters)
- Introduction to Speech Pathology (Masters)
Teaching Grants
2018. Parsons, D., Smart, S., Gardner, P., & Parry, S. A pilot inter-professional mindfulness program for allied health students to improve engagement, retention and well-being. Seed.
2018. Morrisby, C., Sanderson, B., Flavell, H., Bennett, D., Franklyn, K., Timms, L., Smart, S., Water, R., Fernandez, T., and Hunter, S. Careering ahead: Embedding employability thinking in undergraduate curricula. Innovation.
Publications
2020
- Salt, H., M. Claessen, T. Johnston, and S. Smart. 2020. "Speech production in young children with tongue-tie." International Journal of Pediatric Otorhinolaryngology 134
- Smart, S., N. Cocks, and I. richmond. 2020. "Non-Instrumental Assessment Practices of Speech Pathologists working with Paediatric Dysphagia in Australia." In Speech Pathology Australia national conference, May 24, 2020, Darwin
- Rose, N., A. Whitworth, S. Smart, E. Oliver, and J. Cartwright. 2020. "‘I remember when…’ The Role of Reminiscence Therapy on Discourse Production in Older Adults with Cognitive Impairment." International Journal of Speech-Language Pathology
2019
- Mckay, R., S. Smart, and N. Cocks. 2019. "Investigating Tongue Strength and Endurance in Children Aged 6 to 11 Years." DYSPHAGIA
2004
- Smart, S. 2004. "Clinical outcomes in paediatric dysphagia." ACQuiring Knowledge in Speech, Language and Hearing 6 (3): 130-134.