Makes even dry topics interesting.
Inspires a passion for knowledge and growth.
Always positive and motivating in class.
Challenges students to reach their potential.
Dr. Ronelle Hewetson is a Senior Lecturer and Acting Program Director in the Master of Speech Pathology Program within Griffith University's School of Allied Health, Sport and Social Work. She holds a PhD in Speech-Language Pathology from Griffith University, an MSc in Speech Pathology from the University of Cape Town (2005-2007), a BSc in Speech-Language Pathology, and a BA (Hons) in Psychology. Prior to her academic career, Hewetson worked as a speech pathologist in clinical settings, including the Department of Speech Pathology at Metro North Hospital. At Griffith, she teaches content related to adult motor speech disorders, cognitive-communication disorders following right hemisphere stroke and traumatic brain injury, and facilitates clinical skills simulations such as those for working with older adults, adult stuttering, and augmentative and alternative communication. Her teaching emphasizes preparing students to be work-ready and passionate about speech pathology.
Hewetson's primary research interests focus on cognitive-communication disorders following right hemisphere stroke and traumatic brain injury, social participation outcomes, rehabilitation access, clinical education, and dementia in aged care. Key publications include 'The lived experience of mothers of children with chronic feeding and/or swallowing difficulties' (2009, cited 89 times), 'Cognitive-communication disorder following right hemisphere stroke: exploring rehabilitation access and outcomes' (2017, cited 53 times), 'Social participation following right hemisphere stroke: influence of a cognitive-communication disorder' (2018, cited 61 times), 'Relationship and social network change in people with impaired social cognition post right hemisphere stroke' (2021, cited 31 times), 'Apragmatism: The renewal of a label for communication disorders associated with right hemisphere brain damage' (2023, cited 26 times), and 'The pervasive and unyielding impacts of cognitive-communication changes following traumatic brain injury' (2023, cited 21 times). Her scholarship has garnered over 338 citations on Google Scholar. Hewetson has secured funding for several projects, including the Right Hemisphere Cognitive Communication Screen (RECOGNISE) application upgrade from The Prince Charles Hospital Foundation ($3,900, 2024-2025), supporting social connections post-spinal cord injury and acquired brain injury from The Hopkins Centre ($39,748, 2023-2024), and developing education resources for right hemisphere damage from Speech Pathology Australia ($10,000, 2021-2024).