Natalie Munro

Natalie Munro is an Associate Professor in the Sydney School of Health Sciences within the Faculty of Medicine and Health at the University of Sydney. A certified practising speech-language pathologist, she earned her Bachelor of Applied Science in Speech Pathology (Honours 1) in 1996, PhD in 2008, and Graduate Certificate in Higher Education Studies in 2009, all from the University of Sydney. She served as Associate Professor at the University of Sydney from January 2008 to February 2021 and maintains ongoing research affiliations there. Currently, she holds the position of Professor of Speech Pathology in the Faculty of Health at Southern Cross University. Munro was awarded a University of Sydney Brown Equity Fellowship and serves on the SpeechBITE Advisory Committee for Speech Pathology Australia and the University of Sydney. She is also Co-Editor of the International Journal of Speech-Language Pathology and a member of Speech Pathology Australia, the International Association for the Study of Child Language, and the International Association of Communication Sciences and Disorders.

Her research program investigates individual differences in children's speech, language, and communication development from toddlerhood through adolescence, with a focus on developmental language disorder, speech sound disorder, ADHD, and autism. Munro leads studies on interventions and evidence-based practices supporting children and young people with communication needs, their families, educators, and communities. Key publications include 'The role of elicited verbal imitation in toddlers' word learning' (Journal of Child Language, 2015), 'Psychometric properties of language assessments for children aged 4–12 years: A systematic review' (with Denman et al.), 'Parents' Experiences of Completing Home Practice for Speech Sound Disorders' (Topics in Early Childhood Special Education, 2019), 'Combined Language and Code Emergent Literacy Intervention for At-Risk Preschool Children: A Systematic Meta-Analytic Review' (Child Development, 2025), and 'Context matters: Speech-language pathologists' perceptions of the impact of barriers and facilitators on culturally responsive professional practice' (International Journal of Speech-Language Pathology, 2025). With over 3,000 citations on Google Scholar and 97 publications, her work advances clinical practices in speech pathology, including telepractice, social interaction assessments, and pragmatic language disorders. She serves as an ambassador for Raising Awareness of Developmental Language Disorders and contributes to professional development in culturally responsive practice.

Professional Email: natalie.munro@sydney.edu.au