In the modern world its hard to imagine being in the one line of work for over 50 years. But that’s exactly what speech language pathologist, Devon Barnes, has managed to achieve; and there’s little sign of anything slowing down. Over those years she’s helped countless people, mostly children, deal with issues surrounding speech, language and learning impairment. And it’s not only been a learning journey for her clients, but also for herself as she’s continued to embrace new research into the brain, and in particular, the way that the brain can change. In fact it was the desire to see young brains change that led to ongoing contact and collaboration with neuroscientists in the United States. This enabled Devon to introduce new technologies that were being developed overseas, to help her local Australian clients. But as you might imagine, 50 years is a long time to accumulate experiences, and for Devon this meant challenging ideas that she was raised on, and constantly seeking new understanding. In this first part of a two part interview, we hear how a young catholic girl from Queensland went to university, and sought insight that took her on a journey that included the hippy trail, transcendental meditation, a love of India and a fascination with the brain.

Be sure to catch the second half of this interview in episode 16 of this podcast, where I explore Devon’s increasing interest in the brain, how it can change, and how that can impact the lives of struggling learners. Whilst a knowledge of the brain was always a part of her work, right from the beginning, Devon explains how research emerged that helped to provide the missing link that she’d been looking for.

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