Our very own Nicole Free wins Monash University 3MT grand final

Speech pathologist Nicole Free won Monash University’s 3MT grand final competition last Thursday with her presentation ‘Restoring voice with therapy: Can a larynx change its spots?’

A PhD candidate in the School of Clinical Sciences at Monash Health and the Monash Health Department of Surgery, Nicole’s research looks at how non-surgical interventions, like voice therapy, could potentially reverse or eliminate vocal fold lesions. 

Nicole, still in shock from the win, said the competition was really tough and was honoured to receive the recognition.

“The competition forced me to work on an area of my life as a clinician and researcher that I have always dreaded—public speaking!” said Nicole.

“Honing my presentation through the 3MT rounds at Department, School and Faculty allowed me to develop confidence and focus on connecting with the audience over my passion for my PhD project.”

“It was also wonderful to learn a little about lots of amazing PhD students across the university. We can get lost in our own little world of research, but it is inspiring to get a glimpse into the breadth and calibre of PhD research at Monash.”

 “I would like to give sincere thanks to my supervisors Dr Debra Phyland, Clinical Research Coordinator for the ENT Head and Neck Department of Monash Health (and Speech Pathologist extraordinaire) and Professor Julian Smith, Head of the Department of Surgery, for all their wonderful support...and insisting I do the competition in the first place,” Nicole said.

Nicole will represent Monash University in the Asia-Pacific 3MT finals on 27 September at the University of Queensland in Brisbane. She will be compete against students from universities across Australia, New Zealand, Oceania, North-East and South-East Asia.

Watch Nicole HERE.