معرفی
Suzanne C. Hopf is a Senior Lecturer and Course Director for the Master of Speech Pathology at Charles Sturt University, Australia, within the School of Allied Health, Exercise and Sports Sciences. Based in Nadi, Fiji as an Australian-Fijian citizen, she leads the blended online Master of Speech Pathology program and serves as Discipline Lead for Speech Pathology. Her work bridges academic leadership with on-ground clinical innovation in Pacific Islander communities.
Her educational background includes:
- BAppSc (Speech Pathology) Hons
- Cert TESOL
- AdCert TEYL
- GradCertLTHE (Graduate Certificate in Learning and Teaching in Higher Education)
- PhD in 'Supporting Fijian children's communication'
Dr. Hopf's research centers on equity in communication disability services, examining how individual, community, and societal factors create barriers and facilitators in underserved regions. She developed the Communication Capacity Research and Culturally Responsive Teamwork frameworks to guide evidence-informed, culturally responsive service development. Current projects focus on Fijian children's oral/written communication acquisition and culturally appropriate pre-school interventions, with strong emphasis on Pacific Islander contexts and multilingual populations. Her work directly contributes to UN Sustainable Development Goals for health equity and quality education.
Analysis of her recent publications reveals consistent thematic focus on culturally responsive practice across 111 research outputs, with accelerating productivity (21 publications in 2024). Key trends include innovative arts-based methodologies for child voice research, decolonizing clinical frameworks, and virtual work-integrated learning models addressing global workforce shortages. The research demonstrates strong interdisciplinary connections across speech pathology, early childhood education, and Pacific Islander health equity.
Scientific recognition includes:
- 2021 Charles Sturt Executive Dean’s Teaching Award for blended online Master of Speech Pathology
- 2021 Staff Excellence Award: Successful Graduates
- 2022 Research Excellence Through Partnership Award
- 2023 Excellence Awards: Research (Early Childhood Interdisciplinary Research group)
- 2023 Excellence Awards: Social Responsibility (Highly Commended)
As an educator and supervisor, Dr. Hopf has guided PhD and Honours students to timely completion while fostering collaborative publication opportunities. Her student-centered approach maximizes engagement through innovative learning spaces, recognized through departmental teaching awards. Current grants support Fijian communication capacity building and virtual study abroad placements, with active partnerships including the Frank Hilton Organisation's Technical Governance Team.
Dr. Hopf co-leads the Children's Voices Centre and Social Equality Intersectionality & Inclusion Research Group, while contributing to the Early Childhood Interdisciplinary Research group. Her Pacific-focused work involves community co-design through initiatives like the Fiji National Consultation on Assistive Technology, ensuring research directly addresses local needs while building sustainable service capacity.
