Claire Murphy

Claire has over 15 years experience across several KLAs in a range of high school settings from Western Sydney to the North Coast. She has always had a keen interest in literacy, making educational tasks accessible for all and the impacts that language difficulties have on wellbeing. Claire’s background is in languages and teaching English as a second language. She completed her Masters in TESOL but always wanted to know more about how to teach students to read, in particular those students who arrived in high school without being able to fluently read, spell and write. She has had the role of Learning Support Coordinator in several schools and has a clear understanding of the daily literacy demands placed on students.  In 2015 she completed her Multisensory Structured Language (MSL) training and is qualified as an Associate Member of the Australian Dyslexia Association (AMADA). Since that time Claire has worked with students and delivered personalised and structured language therapy. Although an advocate of early intervention, she also believes it is never too late to learn about the English language. These experiences have laid the foundation to enable Claire to deliver professional learning to teachers to learn about Dyslexia and what strategies enable students with dyslexic  learning profiles to access curriculum and demonstrate what they know.

Sonja has over 20 years experience in the field. She has always had a passion for making a difference in the lives of those with learning difficulties. Having finished her Master in Special Education, Sonja soon realised that it did not really prepare her to support students who were struggling with reading and literacy skills. She then set about researching best practice for reading intervention. In 2014, Sonja completed her Multisensory Structured Language (MSL) training and qualified to be an Associate Member of the Australian Dyslexia Association (AMADA). She then went on to do further study with the Academy of Orton-Gillingham Practitioners and Educators of the United States. She is now an Associate member and has done the Certified Level training. Sonja continues to update her knowledge of the latest research by attending training with experts in the field. In 2018, she travelled to the United States to visit schools that were implementing teaching practices that were consistent with best practice and attended the renowned International Dyslexia Association conference. Sonja has worked as a consultant to schools in the public and private system in Australia and overseas. She has offered professional development and consultancy in identification and strategies for learning difficulties, the teaching of reading/spelling and evidenced-based reading intervention. She has also liaised with schools to support them in setting up learning support policies and practices. Sonja is well qualified to not only provide therapy for those with a dyslexic profile but also to work with teachers in order to develop their skills in teaching reading, supporting students with a dyslexic profile and providing research-based intervention.