Patricia has a strong interest in Aboriginal language diversity and its effect on teaching and learning. She herself grew up as a dialect speaker and is fluent in four languages.
She has been working with Aboriginal people from across Australia since 1987 and has been involved in collaborative linguistic research into Aboriginal English since 1994. Patricia (with Glenys Collard) managed the ABC of Two-Way Literacy and Learning Project and more recently has managed the West Australian Aboriginal Literacy Strategy.
Patricia has co-authored “Bee Hill River Man” – a book written in Aboriginal English – with the late Jack McPhee, a Nyamal Elder from the Pilbara Region and numerous other educational publications.
In her workshop Patricia will present key findings from research into Aboriginal English, spoken by most Aboriginal people in Australia, and how it affects teaching and learning.