Clancy is helping more people find their voice, at home and abroad
For Dr Clancy Conlon, communication is more than a skill, it's a human right.
Whether she's teaching future speech pathologists in Rockhampton or mentoring clinicians in Fiji or researching ways to improve communication support, her goal remains the same: ensuring more people have the opportunity to be heard.
As a Senior Lecturer in Speech Pathology at CQUniversity, Dr Conlon has built a career focused on supporting people with complex communication needs, particularly those living in regional, rural and under-resourced communities.
Growing up in rural and regional North Queensland, she saw firsthand the challenges families often faced when accessing specialist services.
"From the beginning, I knew I wanted to work with children and families in regional communities because I could see the inequities they often experience when it comes to accessing services and support," Dr Conlon said.
After completing a Bachelor of Speech Pathology at James Cook University, Dr Conlon worked across education, private practice and the not-for-profit sector supporting children with disability and their families. She later completed a Master of Teaching (Early Childhood), broadening her understanding of child development and family support while building a more holistic skillset as a clinician.
Since joining CQUniversity in 2020, Dr Conlon has combined teaching, research and international engagement to help strengthen the speech pathology workforce. She teaches undergraduate students, supervises honours, master's and PhD candidates, and coordinates international placement opportunities that have taken students to Thailand and Fiji.
"I love helping students develop the confidence and practical skills they'll need when they enter the workforce," she said.
A key focus of Dr Conlon's work is augmentative and alternative communication (AAC), which encompasses the tools and strategies used by people who cannot rely on spoken language alone to communicate. AAC can include communication books and picture boards through to high-tech speech-generating devices.
In 2025, she completed a PhD through CQUniversity exploring clinical competence in AAC among Australian speech pathologists. The research examined the knowledge, skills and professional behaviours required to support people with complex communication needs and has since expanded through an AGOSCI Research Grant focused on strengthening workforce capability.
"Every person and family deserves access to high-quality services delivered by competent professionals," Dr Conlon said.
Her work has already been recognised through several significant honours, including CQUniversity's Vice-Chancellor's Award for Excellence in 2024 and the 2026 Speech Pathology Australia Service and Impact Award, which recognises contributions to the profession at local, national and international levels.
Beyond Australia, Dr Conlon is helping strengthen disability and communication services in Fiji through her work with the Frank Hilton Organisation. Since 2022, she has supported workforce development initiatives, provided mentoring and professional development for clinicians, and worked on projects designed to improve access to services for children and families.
Among the many experiences that have stayed with her is supporting a young girl in Fiji who, when they first met, was not using verbal language and had limited opportunities to participate at school. Over four years, with the support of her family, therapy services and a high-tech AAC system, the student developed literacy skills and became more actively involved in everyday life.
"What has stayed with me most isn't just the progress she has made, it's seeing people's expectations change," Dr Conlon said.
"Sometimes the biggest barrier for children with disabilities isn't their disability, it's other people's assumptions about what they can achieve."
As she continues her research, teaching and international collaborations, Dr Conlon remains focused on improving access to communication support wherever it is needed most.
"Communication is a human right, and everyone deserves the opportunity to have their voice heard," she said.
Discover a rewarding career in speech pathology with CQU’s Bachelor of Speech Pathology (Honours).
