About LearnFast Australia Pty Ltd, and LearnFast New Zealand Limited
LearnFast is an Australian and New Zealand business which was established to bring Fast ForWord to students via schools, and clinical professionals operating in the education, speech pathology, psychology and learning difficulties arena.
LearnFast Director, Devon Barnes, is a speech pathologist and audiologist who has worked with children struggling with language, learning and reading difficulties for over 35 years.
Many times during those decades when working with a learning disabled child she would remark to colleagues, “If only there was some way to get into their brains and reorganise them, perhaps we could fix the problems.”.
In 1997 she read about the work of Dr Paula Tallal, a renowned neuroscientist (see details in Scientific Learning below) and decided to travel to the University of York in England to hear Dr Tallal present the results of the early trials of a set of exercises which were to become the foundation for the development of Fast ForWord.
The results were so impressive, Devon realised she had found something that could potentially ‘re-wire’ the brains of learning disabled clients.
The following year Devon completed the Fast ForWord professional Provider training in New York and commenced offering the programs at her speech pathology & learning centre in Sydney.
LearnFast now represents the Fast ForWord programs in NSW, Queensland, South Australia, ACT, Tasmania and Victoria as well as New Zealand. Devon is the company’s Clinical Director. Her husband Peter Barnes, is Program Director. Bridget Leach is Manager, School Markets. Heidi MiddleBrook is Support Co-Ordinator.
Career Opportunities with LearnFast Australia
LearnFast Australia Pty Ltd Team.
About Scientific Learning
Founded in 1996, Scientific Learning (Nasdaq: SCIL) combines the latest advances in brain research and proprietary technology to create products and services that develop learning and communication skills. Based on more than 30 years of neuroscience research, Scientific Learning's Fast ForWord® family of products use patented technology to target the language and reading skills widely recognized as the keys to all learning.
In March of 1997, after an extensive field trial with almost 500 children at 35 sites, the Company launched its first Fast ForWord® product, Fast ForWord Language software, an Internet and CD-ROM product that develops the fundamental language skills that are the building blocks for reading success. Later that year, a second field trial, with almost 500 students in 19 schools across the U.S., replicated earlier results, showing gains of 1-2 years in 4 to 8 weeks of working on Fast ForWord Language software.
Fast ForWord® Language to Reading software, designed to rapidly build the skills critical for learning to read or become a better reader, was released in 1998.
In 1999, the Company introduced Fast ForWord® Middle & High School software, designed for middle and high school students and adults to reinforce and strengthen basic language skills and develop critical reading skills.
In 2000, the Company introduced Fast ForWord® Reading software, a flexible product that is designed to build reading skills and is correlated to curriculum standards.
Numerous independent studies as well as detailed research and outcomes data consistently confirm the effectiveness of these products.
Publications such as The New York Times, The Los Angeles Times, The Philadelphia Inquirer, Newsweek, Time and others have reported on the powerful science behind the Company's products as well as the success experienced by students across the country. Today, the Company continues to employ the latest developments in neuroscience and technology to create cutting edge tools to enhance learning and performance.
Mission
Scientific Learning applies advances in neuroscience and cognitive research to increase human potential. They produce unique products, tools, and implementation strategies that enable people to build the fundamental cognitive abilities required to read and learn. They use technology, as appropriate, to provide their customers with the applications that allow each learner to progress based on his or her individual needs.
Read the Fast ForWord history: "Fast ForWord - Research to Relevancy"
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LearnFast Australia Pty Ltd operates this website. LearnFast Australia Pty Ltd is an authorised distributor of Fast ForWord products. Fast ForWord products are designed and produced by and proprietary to, Scientific Learning Corporation, which is a separate entity to LearnFast Australia Pty Ltd.