About Us
The name SPELD stands forSPEcific Learning Difficulties!
SPELD is a not-for-profit organisation providing information and services to children and adults with Specific Learning Difficulties and those who care for, teach, and work with them.
History
SPELD Victoria was founded in 1968 after the Dyslexia Symposium which was initiated by the Speech Pathologists. At the conclusion of the Symposium a steering committee was set up to establish a SPELD centre in Victoria. This led to the foundation of SPELD centres across Australia. Chris Davidson, one of the co-founders was part of the Steering Committee. Today he is the Immediate Past President of SPELD. In 2009, Chris was awarded with an Order of Australia Medal for services to Special Education. Chris has an amazing story, you can read about it here.
Management
SPELD is run by a committee of management, whose members include parents, teachers and other interested professionals.
SPELD is supported by teams of dedicated volunteers, donations from the public, memberships and annual grants. This allows SPELD to offer quality services and programs at a reduced cost.
Location
We are located centrally at 494 Brunswick Street, North Fitzroy (see map below).
Meet the people behind SPELD Victoria
The SPELD Victoria Office Team
Director of Professional and Educational Services
Lukas Silver| Email | 03 9489 4344
Deputy Director of Professional and Educational Services
Hilary Davidson | Email| 03 9489 4344
Administrator
Vicky Pappa | Email | 03 9489 4344
The SPELD Committee of Management
President – Mandy Brent-Houghton
Immediate Past president – Chris Davidson OA
Vice President – Marilyn Bradbury
Treasurer – Marg Mulqueen Bush
Secretary – Jeni Blake
Member – Mary Delahunty
Member – Pauline Farrell
SPELD Victoria Educational Psychologists
Janice Beddome
Frances Coffey
Angela Coughlan
Dr Daryl Greaves
Trish Pearson
SPELD Victoria Special Education Teachers
Philippa Barr
Claire Clayton
Rosemary Lawford
Bill Senyard
Judith Wright
SPELD Victoria Professional Development Committee
Marilyn Bradbury
Marg Mulqueen
Mary Delahunty
Pat Minton
Di Ohlsen
Josette Tyler
Wendy Lowe
Christine Killey
Lisa Dinan
Claire Clayton
SPELD Victoria Computer Committee
Jo Evans
Yvonne Lynch
Lyn Pedler
Mary Delahunty
Pat Minton
Marg Mulqueen
Dr John Vincent
The SPELD Victoria Patrons
Dame Elisabeth Murdoch A.C.; D.B.E.
Professor Keith Houghton Dean of Economics, Australian National University
Andrew Symonds Australian Test and one-day cricketer
Other SPELD Supporters
Dame Elisabeth Murdoch
The David Syme Charitable Trust
Lord Mayor's Charitable Foundation
Ansvar Insurance - Community Education Program
Department of Planning and Community Development (Vision Australia/SPELD)
The Department of Education and Early Childhood Development
The Specific Learning Difficulties (SPELD) Association of Victoria
