Professor Alison Ferguson
Professor
School of Humanities and Social Science
EditCareer Summary
Biography
I commenced my career as a speech pathologist in 1981, working with a generalist community and hospital caseload in Orange, NSW. I developed specialist expertise with adults with communication disorders of neurological origin through my work in a number of settings including Prince of Wales Hospital, The Parramatta Hospitals (now Westmead Hospital), and Lidcombe Hospital (which was a specialised rehabilitation hospital). My academic career commenced at Cumberland College of Health Sciences (now Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Sydney), and following completion of my doctorate from Macquarie University, I began my work here to establish the discipline of Speech Pathology at University of Newcastle.
Qualifications
- PhD, Macquarie University, 24/09/1993
- Bachelor of Applied Science, Cumberland College of Health Sciences, 31/12/1981
- Bachelor of Arts, Canberra College of Advanced Education, 31/12/1973
Research
Research keywords
- Aphasia
- Clinical education
- Clinical linguistics
Research expertise
My research expertise is in the area of applications of sociolinguistic approaches to the development of assessment and intervention for people with acquired language impairment due to brain damage (for example, following a stroke). I have a strong track record of collaborative funded clinical research, mainly in the area of social interactions involving people with aphasia. I have disseminated this work through publications and presentations in international and national peer-reviewed forums. My work is cited in influential papers and leading reference works in the area of aphasia. In 2008, my book on Expert Practice: A Critical Discourse was published by Plural Publishing, and in 2009 Researching Communication Disorders (co-authored by myself and my colleague Professor Beth Armstrong) was published by Palgrave Macmillan Publishers.
I also have a strong and sustained track record in successful research supervision, and this work was recognised by the Vice-Chancellors Award for Supervision Excellence in 2007.
Fields of Research
| Code | Description | Percentage |
|---|
| 200400 | Linguistics | 60 |
| 110300 | Clinical Sciences | 30 |
| 130200 | Curriculum And Pedagogy | 10 |
Memberships
Body relevant to professional practice.
- Member - American Speech-Language-Hearing Association
- Fellow - Speech Pathology Association of Australia
Editorial Board.
- Member - Aphasiology (journal)
- Member - Clinical Linguistics & Phonetics (journal)
Awards
Recognition.
| 2008 | Australian Award for University Teaching - Award for Programs that Enhance Learning
Australian Learning & Teaching Council (Australia)
Awarded in recognition of the development and national implementation of a competency based assessment tool for speech pathology professional practice (Team Award: Associate Professor Michelle Lincoln, Dr Sue McAllister, Associate Professor Alison Ferguson, & Associate Professor Lindy McAllister) |
|---|
| 2006 | Carrick Award for Australian University Teaching
Carrick Institute for Learning & Teaching in Higher Education (Australia)
Citation for outstanding contribution to student learning - for the development of a valid & reliable national competency based assessment for speech pathology students (Team Award: Associate Professor Michelle Lincoln, Dr Sue McAllister, Associate Professor Alison Ferguson, & Associate Professor Lindy McAllister) |
|---|
| 2001 | Award for Excellence in Teaching (Team award)
University of Newcastle (Australia)
In recognition of integration of competency-based assessment within the professional practice curriculum. |
|---|
Collaboration
My research collaborations include:
- Centre for Clinical Research Excellence in Aphasia Rehabilitation - working with a national and international team led by Professor Linda Worrall from University of Queensland (see www.ccreaphasia.org.au )
- Benchmarking in Speech Pathology Education - working with a national team led by Associate Professor Michelle Lincoln from University of Sydney and Dr Sue McAllister from Flinders University
Administrative
Administrative expertise
I have administration experience at discipline level (as Speech Pathology Program Convenor for over 12 years), at School level (in roles as Deputy Head, and School Convenor for Teaching & Learning, and for Research for 4 years in total), and at University level (as Chair, University Human Research Ethics Committee, 2009-2011).
Teaching
Teaching keywords
- Acquired neurogenic communication disorders
- Speech-language pathology
Teaching expertise
In late 1993 I took up the inaugural position in the speech pathology discipline at University of Newcastle, and was responsible for developing the curriculum and teaching approach for the four year undergraduate professional preparation program (Bachelor of Speech Pathology) which commenced in 1994. I led the ongoing development of the program through my roles of Speech Pathology Discipline and Program Convenor for over 12 years since its commencement. In 2001, the University acknowledged the consistent high quality of the teaching program by the speech pathology teaching team through the Award for Excellence in Teaching. The program was the first competency-based curriculum in speech pathology, and the ratings of overall satisfaction and teaching quality by graduates are consistently high for the discipline.
As part of a cross-institutional team (with colleagues from University of Sydney, Flinders University and Charles Sturt University) I have contributed to the development of the first validated performance assessment tool for the evaluation of speech pathology students, COMPASS®. The research development, validation and implementation of this tool received competitive grant funding from the Australian Research Council, and from the Australian Learning and Teaching Council. This assessment tool is now in use nationally for all speech pathology professional preparation programs (both undergraduate and postgraduate) in Australia, as well as being adopted by all programs in New Zealand (with further interest currently being shown in other countries).
EditPublications
No publications.
EditGrants and Funding
Summary
| Number of grants | 26 |
|---|
| Total funding | $366,731 |
|---|
For project grants received where the lead institution is other than the University of Newcastle, details are shown in italics.
- Indicates that the researcher may be seeking students for this project.
Click on a grant title below to expand the full details for that specific grant.
2013 (3 grants)
Language and Ageing: Mapping language change with age$7,470
Funding Body: University of Newcastle
Developing the skills to promote communicative competence in aphasia group therapy
$2,533
Funding Body: National Stroke Foundation
| Project Team |
|---|
| Professor Alison Ferguson, Miss Laura Cubirka |
| Scheme | Role |
|---|
| Honours Grant | Chief Investigator |
| Total Amount | Funding Start | Funding Finish |
|---|
| $2,533 | 2013 | 2013 |
| GNo:G1201068 |
43rd Clinical Aphasiology Conference 2013, Tucson USA, 28 May - 2 June 2013$1,500
Funding Body: University of Newcastle - Faculty of Education and Arts
| Project Team |
|---|
| Professor Alison Ferguson |
| Scheme | Role |
|---|
| Travel Grant | Chief Investigator |
| Total Amount | Funding Start | Funding Finish |
|---|
| $1,500 | 2013 | 2013 |
| GNo:G1300647 |
2008 (3 grants)
CEF admin relief Ferguson$50,000
Funding Body: University of Newcastle
Talking about legal and related matters: Issues for individuals with communication disability$7,981
Funding Body: University of Newcastle
| Project Team |
|---|
| Professor Alison Ferguson |
| Scheme | Role |
|---|
| Career Enhancement Fellowship for Academic Women | Chief Investigator |
| Total Amount | Funding Start | Funding Finish |
|---|
| $7,981 | 2008 | 2008 |
| GNo:G0188503 |
CADAAD - Critical Approaches to Discourse Analysis across Discipline - Hertfordshire, 10/7/2008 - 12/7/2008$2,500
Funding Body: University of Newcastle
| Project Team |
|---|
| Professor Alison Ferguson |
| Scheme | Role |
|---|
| Travel Grant | Chief Investigator |
| Total Amount | Funding Start | Funding Finish |
|---|
| $2,500 | 2008 | 2008 |
| GNo:G0188915 |
2007 (2 grants)
COMPASS Directions: Leading the Integration of a competency based assessment tool in Speech Pathology Learning and Teaching$93,160
Funding Body: Australian Learning and Teaching Council
| Project Team |
|---|
| Professor Alison Ferguson, Professor Michelle Lincoln, Associate Professor Lindy McAllister, Associate Professor Sue McAllister |
| Scheme | Role |
|---|
| Research Grant | Chief Investigator |
| Total Amount | Funding Start | Funding Finish |
|---|
| $93,160 | 2007 | 2008 |
| GNo:G0186465 |
Partner strategies used when talking with people with communication difficulties$18,000
Funding Body: University of Newcastle
| Project Team |
|---|
| Professor Alison Ferguson |
| Scheme | Role |
|---|
| Pilot Grant | Chief Investigator |
| Total Amount | Funding Start | Funding Finish |
|---|
| $18,000 | 2007 | 2007 |
| GNo:G0186674 |
2006 (1 grants)
Communicating legal issues: facilitating access to justice for people with aphasia$16,086
Funding Body: University of Newcastle
| Project Team |
|---|
| Professor Alison Ferguson, Professor Linda Worrall, Mr John McPhee, Doctor Susan Sherratt |
| Scheme | Role |
|---|
| Near Miss Grant | Chief Investigator |
| Total Amount | Funding Start | Funding Finish |
|---|
| $16,086 | 2006 | 2006 |
| GNo:G0186043 |
2005 (2 grants)
2005 RIBG allocation$7,500
Funding Body: University of Newcastle
| Project Team |
|---|
| Professor Alison Ferguson |
| Scheme | Role |
|---|
| Research Infrastructure Block Grant (RIBG) | Chief Investigator |
| Total Amount | Funding Start | Funding Finish |
|---|
| $7,500 | 2005 | 2005 |
| GNo:G0185819 |
The 14th World Congress of Applied Linguistics, 24-29 July 2005, USA$2,400
Funding Body: University of Newcastle
| Project Team |
|---|
| Professor Alison Ferguson |
| Scheme | Role |
|---|
| Travel Grant | Chief Investigator |
| Total Amount | Funding Start | Funding Finish |
|---|
| $2,400 | 2005 | 2005 |
| GNo:G0185038 |
2004 (3 grants)
Decision-making and acquired dysphasia in adults: Issues for health professionals$4,000
Funding Body: University of Newcastle
| Project Team |
|---|
| Professor Alison Ferguson, Professor Linda Worrall |
| Scheme | Role |
|---|
| Project Grant | Chief Investigator |
| Total Amount | Funding Start | Funding Finish |
|---|
| $4,000 | 2004 | 2004 |
| GNo:G0183385 |
Barriers and bridges to improved quality of life: Perceptions of people living with aphasia$2,000
Funding Body: University of Newcastle
| Project Team |
|---|
| Professor Alison Ferguson, Ms P Machin |
| Scheme | Role |
|---|
| Project Grant | Chief Investigator |
| Total Amount | Funding Start | Funding Finish |
|---|
| $2,000 | 2004 | 2004 |
| GNo:G0183384 |
26th World Congress of the International Association of Logopedics & Phoniatrics 29 August to 2 September 2004$590
Funding Body: University of Newcastle
| Project Team |
|---|
| Professor Alison Ferguson |
| Scheme | Role |
|---|
| Travel Grant | Chief Investigator |
| Total Amount | Funding Start | Funding Finish |
|---|
| $590 | 2004 | 2004 |
| GNo:G0183847 |
2002 (2 grants)
Self-directed learning as a predictor of professional development$6,000
Funding Body: University of Newcastle
| Project Team |
|---|
| Professor Alison Ferguson |
| Scheme | Role |
|---|
| Project Grant | Chief Investigator |
| Total Amount | Funding Start | Funding Finish |
|---|
| $6,000 | 2002 | 2002 |
| GNo:G0181294 |
British Association for Applied Linguistics 35th Annual Meeting, Cardiff University, UK 12-14 September 2002$2,500
Funding Body: University of Newcastle
| Project Team |
|---|
| Professor Alison Ferguson |
| Scheme | Role |
|---|
| Travel Grant | Chief Investigator |
| Total Amount | Funding Start | Funding Finish |
|---|
| $2,500 | 2002 | 2002 |
| GNo:G0182159 |
2001 (1 grants)
Speech Pathology Australia National Conference, Melbourne 20-23 May 2001$516
Funding Body: University of Newcastle
| Project Team |
|---|
| Professor Alison Ferguson |
| Scheme | Role |
|---|
| Travel Grant | Chief Investigator |
| Total Amount | Funding Start | Funding Finish |
|---|
| $516 | 2001 | 2001 |
| GNo:G0180761 |
2000 (2 grants)
Speech Pathology Australia Research Grant.$5,000
Funding Body: Speech Pathology Association of Australia
| Project Team |
|---|
| Professor Alison Ferguson |
| Scheme | Role |
|---|
| Research Grant | Chief Investigator |
| Total Amount | Funding Start | Funding Finish |
|---|
| $5,000 | 2000 | 2000 |
| GNo:G0179203 |
Aphasiology Symposium of Australia, NSW 24-25 November 2000$295
Funding Body: University of Newcastle
| Project Team |
|---|
| Professor Alison Ferguson |
| Scheme | Role |
|---|
| Travel Grant | Chief Investigator |
| Total Amount | Funding Start | Funding Finish |
|---|
| $295 | 2000 | 2000 |
| GNo:G0180573 |
1999 (2 grants)
Assessment of Higher Level Language in Children following Brain Injury$123,968
Funding Body: Motor Accidents Authority of NSW
| Project Team |
|---|
| Professor Alison Ferguson |
| Scheme | Role |
|---|
| Research Grant | Chief Investigator |
| Total Amount | Funding Start | Funding Finish |
|---|
| $123,968 | 1999 | 2000 |
| GNo:G0177831 |
7th Meeting of the Aphasiology Symposium of Australia Melbourne, VIC.$246
Funding Body: University of Newcastle
| Project Team |
|---|
| Professor Alison Ferguson |
| Scheme | Role |
|---|
| Travel Grant | Chief Investigator |
| Total Amount | Funding Start | Funding Finish |
|---|
| $246 | 1999 | 1999 |
| GNo:G0179083 |
1998 (2 grants)
Analysis of Learning Interactions.$6,000
Funding Body: ARC (Australian Research Council)
| Project Team |
|---|
| Professor Alison Ferguson |
| Scheme | Role |
|---|
| Small Grant | Chief Investigator |
| Total Amount | Funding Start | Funding Finish |
|---|
| $6,000 | 1998 | 1998 |
| GNo:G0177345 |
Speech Pathology Australia National Conference, WA 11-15 May 1998$769
Funding Body: University of Newcastle
| Project Team |
|---|
| Professor Alison Ferguson |
| Scheme | Role |
|---|
| Travel Grant | Chief Investigator |
| Total Amount | Funding Start | Funding Finish |
|---|
| $769 | 1998 | 1998 |
| GNo:G0179791 |
1996 (1 grants)
Aphasiology Symposium of Australia, Adelaide, 27-28 Sept, 1996$377
Funding Body: University of Newcastle
| Project Team |
|---|
| Professor Alison Ferguson |
| Scheme | Role |
|---|
| Travel Grant | Chief Investigator |
| Total Amount | Funding Start | Funding Finish |
|---|
| $377 | 1996 | 1996 |
| GNo:G0176626 |
1995 (2 grants)
Conversational Repair in Interactions involving people with and without Communication Disorders$5,000
Funding Body: University of Newcastle
| Project Team |
|---|
| Professor Alison Ferguson |
| Scheme | Role |
|---|
| New Staff Grant | Chief Investigator |
| Total Amount | Funding Start | Funding Finish |
|---|
| $5,000 | 1995 | 1995 |
| GNo:G0175175 |
Australian Assoc of Speech & Hearing, Brisbane, May 21-26$340
Funding Body: University of Newcastle
| Project Team |
|---|
| Professor Alison Ferguson |
| Scheme | Role |
|---|
| Travel Grant | Chief Investigator |
| Total Amount | Funding Start | Funding Finish |
|---|
| $340 | 1995 | 1995 |
| GNo:G0176896 |
EditResearch Supervision
| Number of current supervisions | 6 |
|---|
| Total current UoN Masters EFTSL | 0.15 |
|---|
| Total current UoN PhD EFTSL | 1.38 |
|---|
For supervisions undertaken at an institution other that the University of Newcastle, details are shown in italics, and the institution name is listed below the program name.
Current Supervision
| Commenced | Proposed
Completion | Program | Supervisor Type | Research Title |
|---|
| 2013 | 2017 | PhD (Speech Pathology) | Principal Supervisor | Critical Characteristics of Failing or Marginal Students |
| 2012 | 2016 | M Philosophy(Speech Pathology) | Principal Supervisor | The CTEA Study: Piloting Conversation Training in Early Aphasia to Improve Outcomes Post Stroke |
| 2011 | 2017 | PhD (Management) | Co-Supervisor | Rural Speech Pathologists' Perceptions of Working with Allied Health Assistants |
| 2010 | 2014 | PhD (Speech Pathology) | Principal Supervisor | Speech pathology assessment during post-traumatic amnesia |
| 2009 | 2015 | Masters Rehabilitation Therapies
University of Sydney | Co-Supervisor | Acquired cognitive communication disorders in children following severe traumatic brain injury |
| 2007 | 2011 | PHD Linguistics
Macquarie University | Co-Supervisor | Conversation and brain injury |
Past Supervision
| Year | Program | Supervisor Type | Research Title |
|---|
| 2013 | PhD (Speech Pathology) | Principal Supervisor | The Assessment of Aphasia in the Context of Cultural and Linguistic Diversity |
| 2012 | PhD (Speech Pathology) | Principal Supervisor | Treatment Schedules in the Delivery of the Lidcombe Program of Early Stuttering Intervention |
| 2012 | PhD (Speech Pathology) | Sole Supervisor | An Integrated Framework for Clinical Education: Situating Practice in the Classroom |
| 2012 | PhD (Midwifery) | Principal Supervisor | Woman-centred Care and the Socially Disadvantaged Woman: an Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis |
| 2008 | PhD (Linguistics) | Principal Supervisor | English Language Attitudes and Motivation Among Adult Migrants in Australia |
| 2007 | M Arts (Linguistics) [R] | Principal Supervisor | Teachers' Awareness of Language Impairment in Primary-School-Aged Children |
| 2007 | PhD (Speech Pathology) | Principal Supervisor | Factors Influencing the Choice of Speech Pathology as a Career: A Comparative Study |
| 2007 | PhD (Linguistics) | Principal Supervisor | Language Use in Children With Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder |
| 2006 | M Arts (Linguistics) [R] | Principal Supervisor | Comparing Language and Cognition Skills in Primary School Age Children with Language Impairment |
| 2003 | M Arts (Linguistics) [R] | Principal Supervisor | Early Literacy: Children's Systematic Creativity |
| 2003 | PhD (Linguistics) | Principal Supervisor | Breaking Barriers, Building Bridges: Clinician-Interpreter Interaction in Speech Pathology Practice |
