Speech Pathologist

Dr Courtney Feldman, PhD, BCA(Hons), is completing a Master of Speech Pathology at the University of Melbourne (class of 2024). To date, her clinical experience includes both paediatric clients (acute tertiary hospital setting, primary school setting) and adult clients (community-based private practice setting), across the full scope of clinical practice (language, speech, swallowing, voice, fluency, multi-modal communication).

Courtney is a vibrant, motivated, and caring clinician who models and inspires exemplary clinical and professional practice in Speech Pathology. Through her portfolio of clinical and professional experiences, Courtney has developed a wealth of specialist knowledge and transferable skills. She harnesses this expertise, in conjunction with evidence-based, ethical, and multidisciplinary approaches in practice, to find creative and clinically robust solutions to support her client’s needs. Courtney is passionate about championing her clients’ success. She strives to make meaningful contributions that will leave a legacy in the lives of her clients and their families.

Courtney is a member of Speech Pathology Australia and the Australian Voice Association.

Musician

Courtney is an experienced musician trained in jazz, contemporary, and classical music styles. She is Certified in Levels I, II, and III Somatic Voicework™ the LoVetri Method. Courtney has performed as a singer and pianist to a range of audiences including the Doo Bop Jazz Bar (Brisbane), Queensland College of Wine Tourism (Stanthorpe), Kingfishers Restaurant (Toowoomba), as well as private and corporate functions, worship events, and official university ceremonies. Courtney was a member of the a cappella ensemble Harmony Wednesdays (led by esteemed Australian jazz musician, Helen Russell). She was also a member of the Keyboard Ticklers (directed by the late eminent pianist, Dr Marilyn Meier-Kapavale), an innovative ensemble that performed classical and contemporary works arranged for 8 pianos with 16 piano hands. Courtney has accompanied singers, small and large choirs, and performed as a pianist and flautist in music theatre orchestras.

Educator

Courtney is a dedicated and passionate educator whose approach is built around intensive care, support, and dialogue with her students. In the higher education sector, Courtney has worked with diverse cohorts in music, education, and the humanities, with a specialisation in the voice (sung and spoken domains) and communication. She has taught voice and piano to students from 4 years to adulthood, in private studios and primary schools, and delivered professional development in workshops and conferences. Courtney’s educational philosophy is to “train the whole practitioner”. She is motivated to facilitate holistic learning experiences that will develop her students’ practical skills on an individual and collaborative level, alongside their broader academic, professional, and personal development. Through this process, Courtney supports her students’ self-efficacy, agency, and confidence to leave a lasting learning legacy in their lives.

In recognition of her impactful educational contributions, Courtney was made a Fellow of the Higher Education Academy (UK) in 2022, and in 2021 she was nominated for a University Teaching Award (UniSQ Excellence Award for School/College Teaching, School of Creative Arts).

Researcher

Courtney is an early career researcher who researches lived experiences of the voice in a range of contexts, including expert jazz performers, and teachers of singing. She also voices the lived experiences of university educators, researching issues related to employability and feedback culture in higher education.

Courtney is co-authoring several forthcoming publications including a study focussing on oral motor tone in childhood apraxia of speech; feedback culture in higher education; and casual educators’ experiences in higher education.