DrLaura Chahda

Dr Laura Chahda is a speech pathologist, academic, and researcher with expertise in adult communication, swallowing, cognition, and quality of life across disability, aged care, and palliative and supportive care contexts. She is a Senior Lecturer in Speech Pathology with a strong background in curriculum design, practice education, and clinically grounded research.

Laura’s research focuses on communication, cognition, and decision-making at the intersection of palliative care, chronic/progressive illnesses, and disability. She is particularly interested in how speech pathologists can support autonomy, participation, and dignity for people with complex communication needs, particularly at end of life. Her work also explores contemporary issues such as cognitive decline, mental health, and the ethical integration of emerging technologies, including artificial intelligence, into clinical communication practice.

She has authored and co-authored multiple peer-reviewed publications, co-edited Speech-Language Pathology and Palliative Care (Routledge, 2025), and is lead author of the speech pathology chapter in the upcoming Oxford Textbook of Palliative Medicine (2026), a definitive international reference in the field. Laura is increasingly recognised internationally for her leadership in palliative care research within speech pathology.

Alongside her research, Laura brings extensive experience in postgraduate teaching, accreditation processes, and practice education. She has led the development of curriculum, assessments, simulation-based learning, and placement frameworks aligned with Speech Pathology Australia professional standards. Her teaching is known for being clinically authentic, inclusive, and strongly informed by community and consumer perspectives.

She maintains strong partnerships with health services, community organisations, disability providers, and industry, and is actively involved in translating research into education, policy, and clinical practice. Laura is also passionate about mentoring students, early-career clinicians, and emerging researchers, and supporting the development of ethical, reflective, and practice-ready speech pathologists.