Assoc Prof Pamela Snow - Researcher Profile

Pamela Snow

Address

School of Psychology and Psychiatry
Building 17, Clayton

Contact Details

Tel: +61 3 5440 9006

Email: Pamela.Snow@monash.edu


Biography

Oral language competence in early life supports two key developmental pathways: the development of prosocial interpersonal skills and the transition to literacy. Children who have difficulties with oral language (talking and listening skills) often have other developmental difficulties also, however language difficulties frequently go undiagnosed (or misinterpreted) in the early years.  Pamela is both a psychologist and a speech pathologist.  She says a greater awareness among teachers and policy makers of the importance of early childhood language competence and subsequent literacy development may improve the chances of at-risk children receiving the additional support they need to overcome early obstacles in their lives. 

Pamela has a conjoint appointment in the School of Psychology and Psychiatry and the School of Rural Health, and is based at the Bendigo Regional Clinical School in central Victoria.

Oral language competence refers to a range of everyday talking and listening skills that begin to emerge in early childhood and continue to develop across the lifespan. Pam is particularly interested in oral language competence as an early protective factor, given its pivotal role in psychological, emotional, academic and vocational success - all of which are vital to social and economic engagement in adulthood.

Pam differentiates between poor language skills as a result of medically diagnosable conditions such as an intellectual disability or autism, and limited language ability as a result of psychosocial disadvantage or a chaotic home environment and poor caregiver attachment in the early years. That said, however, she notes that young people with disabilities are over-represented in the youth justice system, and argues that language skills need a stronger focus for all children facing developmental vulnerabilities.

"Our hope is that over time we can influence teachers and educational policy and practice to put greater focus on oral competence in the first year of school, not just on the transition to literacy. Much interest is focused just on literacy and reading in the early school years. But we also need to raise the awareness of teachers that oral language competence is the critical foundation that underpins the early transition to literacy, as well as being vital in its own right, as the means by which we form and maintain relationships."

She envisages children at preschool and the first year of school spending more time involved in story-telling, listening, learning songs, and explaining what they have heard. More emphasis is needed on spoken word use, language, rhythm and rhyme. It is when children are individually developmentally ready that teachers should start the transition to reading and literacy.

From her studies on the language skills of young offenders, Pam has developed a second research focus on the language development of children living in out-of-home care. She says that more than a quarter of the young offenders in her recent Malmsbury study had been in out-of-home care during their lives. She is also collaborating with A/Prof Philip Mendes (Social Work) on a project examining the particular needs of young people who exit the state care system via the youth justice system.

More than half of this group had clinically significant language impairments. She says the role of maltreatment (neglect and abuse) in contributing to life-long language difficulties has not been well researched. She believes it offers potentially valuable insights into early intervention opportunities for high-risk young people. Poor language skills can limit the formation of social networks and also reduce exposure to positive social role models.

Keywords

child and adolescent mental health, investigative interviewing with children and/or vulnerable witnesses, oral language skills and risk in childhood and adolescence

Qualifications

GRADUATE CERTIFICATE IN HIGHER EDUCATION
Institution: Monash University
Year awarded: 2008
PHD
Institution: La Trobe University
Year awarded: 1998
GRADUATE DIPLOMA IN COMMUNICATION DISORDERS
Institution: La Trobe University
Year awarded: 1986
BACHELOR OF APPLIED SCIENCE (SPEECH PATHOLOGY)
Institution: La Trobe University
Year awarded: 1982

Publications

Books

Ponsford, J.L., Sloan, S.M., Snow, P.C., 2013, Traumatic brain injury Rehabilitation for everyday adaptive living, Psychology Press, Hove, East Sussex and New York.

Book Chapters

Snow, P.C., Ponsford, J.L., 2013, Assessing and managing impairment of consciousness following TBI, in Traumatic Brain Injury Rehabilitation for everyday adaptive living, eds Jennie Ponsford, Sue Sloan and Pamela Snow, Psychology Press, Hove, East Sussex and New York, pp. 34-65.

Snow, P.C., 2013, Communication competence following TBI Assessment and management, in Traumatic Brain Injury Rehabilitation for everyday adaptive living, eds Jennie Ponsford, Sue Sloan and Pamela Snow, Psychology Press, Hove, East Sussex and New York, pp. 133-163.

Snow, P.C., Sanger, D.D., 2011, Listening to adolescents with speech, language and communication needs who are in contact with the youth justice system, in Listening to Children and Young People with Speech, Language and Communication Needs, eds Sue Roulstone and Sharynn McLeod, J&R Press, UK, pp. 111-120.

James, E., Ward, B., Dickinson-Swift, V.A., Kippen, S., Snow, P.C., 2009, Best practice in research methods assessment: Opportunities to enhance student learning, in Teaching Research Methods in the Social Sciences, eds Mark Garner, Claire Wagner and Barbara Kawulich, Ashgate, Surrey, UK, pp. 139-149.

Snow, P.C., 2009, Oral language competence in childhood and access to equity in education and health across the lifespan, in Communication in Healthcare, eds Karen Bryan, Peter Lang, Oxford, UK, pp. 101-134.

Meatheringham, B., Snow, P.C., Powell, M.B., Fewster, M., 2007, Improving literacy for adult prisoners and offenders, in Vocational Education and Training for Adult Prisoners and Offenders in Australia, eds Susan Dawe, National Centre for Vocational Education Research, Adelaide, Australia, pp. 177-203.

Journal Articles

Kinsman, L., Rotter, T., Willis, J., Snow, P., Buykx, P., Humphreys, J., 2012, Do clinical pathways enhance access to evidence-based acute myocardial infarction treatment in rural emergency departments?, Australian Journal of Rural Health [P], vol 20, issue 2, Wiley-Blackwell Publishing Asia, Richmond VIC 3121, pp. 59-66.

Sanger, D.D., Friedli, C., Brunken, C., Snow, P.C., Ritzman, M., 2012, Educators' year long reactions to the implementation of a response to intervention (RTI) model, Journal of Ethnographic and Qualitative Research [P], vol 7, issue 2, Cedarville University, United States, pp. 98-107.

Snow, P.C., Powell, M.B., Sanger, D.D., 2012, Oral language competence, young speakers, and the law, Language, Speech, and Hearing Services in Schools [P], vol 43, issue 4, American Speech - Language - Hearing Association, United States, pp. 496-506.

Greenway-Crombie, A., Snow, P.C., Disler, P.B., Davis, S., Pond, D., 2012, The influence of rurality on diagnosing dementia in Australian General Practice, Australian Journal of Primary Health [P], vol 18, issue 3, CSIRO Publishing, Australia, pp. 178-184.

Snow, P., Powell, M., 2012, Youth (in)justice: Oral language competence in early life and risk for engagement in antisocial behaviour in adolescence, Trends & Issues in Crime and Criminal Justice [P], vol 2012, issue 435, Australian Institute of Criminology, Australia, pp. 1-6.

Snow, P., Powell, M., 2011, Oral language competence in incarcerated young offenders: Links with offending severity, International Journal of Speech-Language Pathology[E], vol 13, issue 6, Informa Healthcare, UK, pp. 480-489.

Ward, B., Snow, P., 2011, Parents's plans to supply their adolescents with alcohol, Australian Journal of Primary Health [P], vol 17, issue 2, C S I R O Publishing, Australia, pp. 169-174.

Sanger, D., Snow, P., Colburn, C., Gergen, M., Ruf, M., 2011, Speech-language pathologists’ reactions to response to intervention: A qualitative study, International Journal of Speech-Language Pathology[E], vol E, Informa Helathcare, UK, pp. 1-10.

Rotter, T., Kinsman, L., James, E., Machotta, A., Willis, J., Snow, P., Kugler, J., 2011, The effects of clinical pathways on professional practice, patient outcomes, length of stay, and hospital costs: Cochrane systematic review and meta-analysis, Evaluation and the Health Professions [P], vol E, Sage Publications Inc., USA, pp. 1-25.

Feltis, B., Powell, M., Snow, P., Hughes-Scholes, C., 2010, An examination of the association between interviewer question type and story-grammar detail in child witness interviews about abuse, Child Abuse and Neglect [P], vol 34, issue 6, Pergamon, UK, pp. 407-413.

Ward, B., Snow, P.C., Aroni, R., 2010, Children's alcohol initiation: An analytic overview, Drugs: Education, Prevention and Policy [P], vol 17, Informa Healthcare Ltd, UK, pp. 270-277.

Ward, B.M., Snow, P.C., Aroni, R., 2010, Children's alcohol initiation: an analytic overview, Drugs [E], vol 17, issue 3, Informa Healthcare, London UK, pp. 270-277.

Rotter, T., Kinsman, L., James, E., Machotta, A., Gothe, H., Willis, J., Snow, P.C., Kugler, J., 2010, Clinical pathways: effects on professional practice, patient outcomes, length of stay and hospital costs., Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews [P], vol 3, issue 3 (CD006632), John Wiley & Sons Ltd, United kingdom, pp. 1-120.

Ward, B., Snow, P., 2010, Factors affecting parental supply of alcohol to underage adolescents, Drug and Alcohol Review [P], vol 30, Wiley-Blackwell Publishing Ltd, UK, pp. 338-343.

Sanger, D., Ritzman, M., Stremlau, A., Snow, P., 2010, Juvenile delinquent girls reflect on learning in schools and offer suggestions, Journal of Ethnographic and Qualitative Research [P], vol 5, issue 1, Cedarville University, USA, pp. 45-54.

Snow, P., Sanger, D., 2010, Restorative Justice conferencing and the youth offender: Exploring the role of oral language competence, International Journal Of Language & Communication Disorders [P], vol 46, John Wiley & Sons Ltd, UK, pp. 324-333.

Ward, B., Snow, P., 2010, Supporting parents to reduce the misuse of alcohol by young people, Drugs: Education, Prevention and Policy [P], vol 17, issue 6, Informa Healthcare, UK, Australia, pp. 718-731.

Antoniazzi, D., Snow, P.C., Dickson-Swift, V., 2010, Teacher identification of children at risk for language impairment in the first year of school, International Journal of Speech-Language Pathology[P], vol 12, Informa Healthcare, UK, pp. 244-252.

Kinsman, L., Rotter, T., James, E., Snow, P.C., Willis, J., 2010, What is a clinical pathway? Development of a definition to inform the debate, BMC Medicine [P], vol 8, issue Art. No. 31, BioMed Central Ltd, United Kingdom, pp. 1-3.

Kinsman, L., Buykx, P., Humphreys, J.S., Snow, P.C., Willis, J., 2009, A cluster randomised trial to assess the impact of clinical pathways on AMI management in rural Australian emergency departments, BMC Health Services Research [E], vol 9, issue 83, BioMed Central Ltd, London, W1T4LB, United Kingdom, pp. 1-4.

Ward, B.M., James, E., Graham, M., Snow, P.C., 2009, Assessing epidemiological learning amongst undergraduate students, Focus on Health Professional Education [P], vol 10, issue 3, ANZAME, Adelaide, pp. 26-38.

Ward, B., James, E., Graham, M.L., Snow, P.C., 2009, Assessing epidemiological learning amongst undergraduate students, Focus on Health Professional Education [P], vol 10, issue 3, ANZAME, Australia, pp. 26-38.

Snow, P.C., 2009, Child maltreatment, mental health and oral language competence: Inviting speech-language pathology to the prevention table, International Journal of Speech-Language Pathology[P], vol 11, issue 2, Informa Healthcare, UK, pp. 95-103.

Snow, P.C., Powell, M.B., Murfett, R., 2009, Getting the story from child witnesses: exploring the application of a story grammar framework, Psychology, Crime and Law [P], vol 15, issue 6, Routledge, UK, pp. 555-568.

Ward, B.M., Dickson-Swift, V., James, E., Snow, P.C., Spark, J., Verrinder, A., 2008, Incorporating research training into undergraduate pharmacy courses: A case study from Australia, Pharmacy Education [P], vol 8, issue 1, Pharmacy Education, The Hague, Netherlands, pp. 1-6.

Ward, B., Dickson-Swift, V., James, E.L., Snow, P.C., Spark, J., Verrinder, A., 2008, Incorporating research training into undergraduate pharmacy courses: A case study from Australia, Pharmacy Education, vol 8, issue 1, Informa Healthcare, UK, pp. 1-6.

Snow, P.C., Powell, M.B., 2008, Oral language competence, social skills and high-risk boys: What are juvenile offenders trying to tell us?, Children & Society, vol 22, Wiley-Blackwell Publishing Ltd, UK, pp. 16-28.

Harris, S.M., James, E., Snow, P.C., 2008, Predischarge occupational therapy home assessment visits: Towards an evidence base, Australian Occupational Therapy Journal, vol 55, Blackwell Publishing, Oxford England UK, pp. 85-95.

Murfett, R., Powell, M.B., Snow, P.C., 2008, The effect of intellectual disability on the adherence of child witnesses to a "story grammar" framework, Journal of Intellectual and Developmental Disability, vol 33, issue 1, Informa Healthcare, UK, pp. 2-11.

Ward, B.M., Snow, P.C., 2008, The role of families in preventing alcohol-related harm in young people, Prevention Research Quarterly [E], vol 6, issue 2, Australian Drug Foundation, West Melbourne, pp. 1-19.

Ward, B., Snow, P.C., 2008, The role of families in preventing alcohol-related harm in young people, Prevention Research Quarterly, vol 5, DrugInfo Clearinghouse, Australia, pp. 1-14.

Douglas, J.M., Bracy, C., Snow, P.C., 2007, Exploring the factor structure of the La Trobe Communication Questionnaire: Insights into the nature of communication deficits following traumatic brain injury, Aphasiology [P], vol 21, issue 12, Psychology Press, UK, pp. 1181-1194.

Powell, M.B., Snow, P.C., 2007, Guide to questioning children during the free-narrative phase of an investigative interview, Australian Psychologist, vol 42, issue 1, Taylor & Francis Ltd, UK & Australia, pp. 57-65.

Douglas, J.M., Bracy, C., Snow, P.C., 2007, Measuring perceived communicative ability after traumatic brain injury: reliability and validity of the La Trobe Communication Questionnaire, Journal of Head Trauma Rehabilitation, vol 22, issue 1, Lippincott Williams & Wilkins, Philadelphia USA, pp. 31-38.

Powell, M.B., Snow, P.C., 2007, Recommendations for eliciting a disclosure of abuse from a young child, Australian Police Journal [P], vol 61, issue 2, New South Wales Police Force, Australia, pp. 76-80.

Lewis, C., Dickson-Swift, V., Talbot, L., Snow, P.C., 2007, Regional tertiary students and living away from home: A priceless experience that costs too much?, Australian Journal of Social Issues, vol 42, issue 4, ACOSS, Strawberry Hills NSW Australia, pp. 531-547.

Snow, P.C., Munro, G., 2006, Alcohol (mis)use in metropolitan amateur football clubs, ACHPER Healthy Lifestyles Journal, vol 53, issue 1, Australian Council for Health, Physical Education and Recreation, Inc., Australia, pp. 7-11.

Agnew, S., Powell, M.B., Snow, P.C., 2006, An examination of the questioning styles of police officers and caregivers when interviewing children with intellectual disabilities, Legal and Criminological Psychology, vol 11, British Psychological Society, Leicester England, pp. 35-53.

Perrin, B., Snow, P.C., 2006, Foot care confidence in people with diabetes, Australasian Journal of Podiatric Medicine, vol 40, issue 1, Australasian Podiatry Council, Australia, New Zealand, pp. 3-8.

Ward, B.M., Snow, P.C., Munro, G., Graham, M., Dickson-Swift, V., 2006, It starts with the parents and ends with the parents, Journal of the Australasian College of Road Safety [P], vol 17, issue 3, Australasian College of Road Safety, Mawson ACT, pp. 20-28.

Ward, B.M., Snow, P.C., Munro, G., Graham, M.L., Dickson-Swift, V., 2006, It starts with the parents and ends with the parents, Journal of the Australasian College of Road Safety, vol August, Australasian College of Road Safety, Australia, pp. 20-28.

Graham, M., Ward, B.M., Munro, G., Snow, P.C., Ellis, J., 2006, Rural parents, teenagers and alcohol: What are parents thinking?, Rural and remote health [electronic resource]. [P], vol 6, issue 1, Australian Rural Health Education Network Online, Deakin West, ACT, Australia, pp. 1-13.

Graham, M., Ward, B.M., Munro, G., Snow, P.C., Ellis, J., 2006, Rural parents, teenagers and alcohol: what are parents thinking?, Rural and Remote Health, vol 6, issue 1, Australian Rural Health Education Network, Australia, pp. 1-14.

James, E.L., Graham, M.L., Snow, P.C., Ward, B.M., 2006, Teaching research and epidemiology to undergraduate students in the health sciences, Australian and New Zealand Journal of Public Health, vol 30, issue 6, Public Health Association of Australia, Australia, pp. 575-578.

James, E., Graham, M., Snow, P.C., Ward, B.M., 2006, Teaching research and epidemiology to undergraduate students in the health services, Australian and New Zealand Journal of Public Health [P], vol 30, issue 6, Wiley-Blackwell Publishing Asia, Richmond, pp. 575-578.

Snow, P.C., Powell, M.B., 2005, What's the story? An exploration of narrative language abilities in male juvenile offenders, Psychology, Crime & Law, vol 11, issue 3, Routledge Journals, Taylor & Francis Ltd, Abingdon England, pp. 239-253.

Snow, P.C., Powell, M.B., 2004, Developmental language disorders and adolescent risk: a public-health advocacy role for speech pathologists?, Advances in Speech-Language Pathology, vol 6, issue 4, Taylor & Francis Ltd, UK, pp. 221-229.

Toumbourou, J.W., Williams, I.R., White, V.M., Snow, P.C., Munro, G.D., Schofield, P.E., 2004, Prediction of alcohol-related harm from controlled drinking strategies and alcohol consumption trajectories, Addiction, vol 99, Blackwell Publishing Ltd, Oxford UK, pp. 498-508.

Snow, P.C., Wallace, S., Staiger, P., Stolz-Grobusch, B., 2003, "As long as it doesn't spill over into class": harms arising from students' alcohol use, and the role of policy in reducing them, International Journal of Drug Policy, vol 14, Elsevier, The Netherlands, pp. 5-16.

Toumbourou, J.W., Williams, I.R., Snow, P.C., White, V.M., 2003, Adolescent alcohol-use trajectories in the transition from high school, Drug and Alcohol Review, vol 22, Carfax Publishing, Basingstoke UK, pp. 111-116.

Snow, P.C., Bruce, D.D., 2003, Cigarette smoking in teenage girls: exploring the role of peer reputations, self-concept and coping, Health Education Research, vol 18, issue 4, Oxford University Press, Oxford UK, pp. 439-452.

Midford, R., Munro, G., McBride, N., Snow, P.C., Ladzinski, U., 2002, Principles that underpin effective school-based drug education, Journal of Drug Education, vol 32, issue 4, Baywood Publishing Co. Inc., Amityville USA, pp. 363-386.

Thomson, M.B., Snow, P.C., 2002, The written expression of children with reading disabilities: a comparison of written and dictated narratives, Australian Journal of Learning Disabilities, vol 7, issue 4, Learning Difficulties Australia, Australia, pp. 13-19.

Snow, P.C., Wallace, S.D., Munro, G.D., 2001, Drug education with special needs populations: identifying and understanding the challenges, Drugs: education, prevention and policy, vol 8, issue 3, Carfax Publishing, Basingstoke UK, pp. 261-273.

Humber, E., Snow, P.C., 2001, The oral language skills of young offenders: a pilot investigation, Psychiatry, Psychology and Law, vol 8, issue 1, Australian Academic Press Pty Ltd, Australia, pp. 1-11.

Conference Proceedings

Kinsman, L., Buykx, P., James, E., Rotter, T., Snow, P.C., Willis, J., 2009, Evidence for the role of clinical pathways in rural hospitals, Rural Health: the place to be..., May 17-20, National Rural Health Alliance, Canberra, Australia, pp. 194-195.

Grants

Title:
Computer Assisted Telephone Interviewing (CATI) in a survey of parental practices in relation to adolescent use of alcohol at parties.
Investigators:
Snow, P
Funding:
(2008 - 2013). Department of Education and Early Childhood Development.
Title:
Oral Language Supporting Early Literacy.
Investigators:
Snow, P
Funding:
(2010 - 2014). Catholic Education Commission Victoria.
Title:
Oral language competence and interpersonal violence: Exploring links in incarcerated young males.
Investigators:
Snow, P, Powell, M
Funding:
(2009 - 2013). Criminology Research Council.
Title:
Provision of Mental Health Professional Learning Program: Intervention, Research and Evaluation.
Investigators:
Reupert, A, Deppeler, J, Riley, P, Maybery, D, Sharma, U, Snow, P, Hasking, P
Funding:
(2012 - 2016). Department of Education and Early Childhood Development.
Title:
Young people transitioning from out-of-home care in Victoria: Examining interagency collaboration, leaving care plans & post-care support services for dual clients of child protection & youth justice.
Investigators:
Mendes, P, Snow, P
Funding:
(2011 - 2015). Helen Macpherson Smith Trust.
(2012 - 2016). Helen Macpherson Smith Trust.
Title:
Understanding the relationship between child maltreatment and language competence: an evidential interviewing perspective.
Investigators:
Powell, M, Lum, J, Snow, P
Funding:
(2010 - 2014). Australian Research Council (ARC).
Title:
Getting the story in forensic interviews with child witnesses.
Investigators:
Snow, P, Powell, M
Funding:
(2006 - 2010). Criminology Research Council.

Postgraduate Research Supervisions

Current Supervision

Program of Study:
(DOCTORATE BY RESEARCH).
Thesis Title:
Access to dementia care and support services in rural Victorian communities.
Supervisors:
Walker, J (Main), Buykx, P (Associate), Snow, P (Associate).
Program of Study:
(MASTER'S BY RESEARCH).
Thesis Title:
Attachment- informed Rural Mental Health Service Delivery.
Supervisors:
Buykx, P (Joint), Snow, P (Joint-co).
Program of Study:
(DOCTORATE BY RESEARCH).
Thesis Title:
Dementia Detection and Management in General Practice.
Supervisors:
Disler, P (Main), Snow, P (Associate).
Program of Study:
(DOCTORATE BY RESEARCH).
Thesis Title:
Effective/successful methods of challenging pro-criminal attitudes and beliefs of juvenile offenders..
Supervisors:
Trotter, C (Main), Heydon, G (Associate), Snow, P (Associate).
Program of Study:
(DOCTORATE BY RESEARCH).
Thesis Title:
Tuning into the adolescent world: The impact of self-concept on the recidivism of young offenders.
Supervisors:
Daffern, M (Joint-co), Snow, P (Joint).
Program of Study:
(DOCTORATE BY RESEARCH).
Thesis Title:
What is the relationship between the learning disability Dyslexia and offending behaviour in adolescent males?.
Supervisors:
Trotter, C (Main), Snow, P (Associate).

Completed Supervision

Student:
Collins, J.
Program of Study:
Compositional, contextual and collective community factors in mental health and wellbeing in Australian rural communities: perspectives from the front line. (PHD) 2011.
Supervisors:
Snow, P (Main), Judd, F (Associate).
Student:
Ward, B.
Program of Study:
The role of parents in adolescent alcohol use. (PHD) 2011.
Supervisors:
Snow, P (Main), Aroni, R (Associate).