Professor Linda Worrall has been awarded the prestigious Robin Tavistock Award
Professor Linda Worrall has been awarded the prestigious Robin Tavistock Award
27 November 2014

A leading University of Queensland researcher has been awarded the prestigious Robin Tavistock Award in recognition of her outstanding contribution to the field of the language disorder aphasia.

UQ Centre for Clinical Research Excellence in Aphasia Rehabilitation Director Professor Linda Worrall will be presented the award by Henrietta, the Dowager Duchess of Bedford, England, at UQ’s St Lucia campus on Friday (28 November).

The Duchess said Professor Worrall had inspired and influenced practitioners through her teaching, research and example.

“It is not uncommon these days for science and research to lose touch with the human context, to ignore the impact of a condition on the patient and the family,” the Duchess said.

“Professor Worrall has done the opposite and has proved that this need not, and should not, be the case.

“Professor Worrall has developed and evaluated new integrated approaches to managing and improving not only the aphasic condition, but also its many associated consequences.

“She has been a pioneer in ensuring that the client is at the centre of all that is done. This has influenced the perception and work of others.”

The Duchess is the widow of Robin Tavistock, the 14th Duke of Bedford, who founded The Tavistock Trust for Aphasia.

The trust presents the annual award to an inspirational person or group who has made a significant contribution to the field of aphasia.

Aphasia affects the spoken and written word, such as a person's ability to talk, read, write and understand the spoken word, and can occur after stroke, traumatic brain injury or brain cancer.

School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences Head Professor Louise Hickson congratulated Professor Worrall on her outstanding achievement.

“The Robin Tavistock Award is for an individual who is inspirational and has made a major difference in aphasia across the world, and Professor Worrall is certainly a worthy recipient,” Professor Hickson said.

The Duchess will present the Award to Professor Worrall at 11:30am Friday 28 November at the UQ Art Museum.

The presentation will be followed by the UQ Aphasia Research Showcase which will profile research to improve the journey of people with aphasia.

The showcase will be held from 1:30-4:30pm in Lecture Room 360, Physiology Building, St Lucia campus.

The event is open to the media and the public.

Contact: Faculty of Health and Behavioural Sciences Senior Media and Communications Officer Helen Burdon, +61 7 3365 7436, h.burdon@uq.edu.au.