Sylvia is currently an Associate Professor in Medical Genetics in the Department of Paediatrics at the University of Melbourne and Joint Head of the Genetics Education Unit at the Murdoch Childrens Research Institute. She has a BSc (Hons) in Biochemistry and a PhD, with a broad background in biomedical research (almost 20 years of bench research), but in recent years her focus has been on genetics education. She coordinates and teaches genetics to medical students at the University of Melbourne, and teaches in the Masters of Genetic Counselling. She is involved in developing genetics and ethics education resources, including a number of multimedia programs, for schools, the community and professionals. Her research interests include genetic understanding of health professionals and the community, implications of genetic technologies and counselling issues for families, and community genetic screening programs.

Sylvia is a highly respected member of the Department of Paediatrics (of which she has been a member since 1997) and the Murdoch Children's Research Institute (MCRI) and indeed the RCH campus, and this promotion is a well deserved recognition of Sylvia's contribution to the University and to the discipline. [close]

The Academy consists of 528 Fellows including those honorary and overseas. Fellows of the Academy are elected by their peers on the basis of having achieved a very high level of scholarly distinction and for having made a distinguished contribution to one or more disciplines of the social sciences. Sheena is the first Speech Pathologist on record to have been elected a Fellow of the Academy.

Sheena Reilly is Professor of Paediatric Speech Pathology, Department of Paediatrics at the University of Melbourne and is Director of Speech Pathology, at the Royal Children's Hospital. Sheena received her B.App.Sc (Speech & Hearing) from Curtin University and a PhD from the Faculty of Medicine at the University of London. Sheena's research focuses on speech, language and swallowing difficulties in children. Sheena has successfully attracted research funds from a variety of national and international sources and has published widely. Sheena holds a National Health and Medical Research (NHMRC) practitioner fellowship.

Sheena is a visiting Professor at University College London (Neurosciences Unit, Institute of Child Health) and is on the Editorial Board of five well-respected journals. She is also a well-respected invited speaker both nationally and internationally. In addition, Sheena is Adjunct Professor at the School of Human Communication at LaTrobe University in Melbourne. [close]

Seven University of Melbourne students from the faculties of Medicine, Dentistry & Health Sciences, Commerce and Arts, were awarded a Dreamlarge Student Engagement Grant to produce a magazine called ‘Laugh out Loud’.

Developed in association with the Royal Children’s Hospital (RCH) Education Institute, it brings together stories, pictures and other creative material from a wide range of young people at the RCH. The project was designed to enrich young people’s hospital experiences and provide a learning tool for the students involved.

There is a “Visions” episode covering the project: http://visions.unimelb.edu.au/episode/110 [close]