Stuttering Treatment And Research Trust

17/08/2026

A huge thank you to Raye Freedman Trust and Pub Charity Limited for their ongoing support. Their grants help to fund our speech-language therapist salaries. We're incredible grateful for their support 💚💙

13/08/2026

A BIG thank you to the Community Organisation Grants Scheme (COGS) for their generous support towards our operating costs — their belief in our mahi helps us continue to deliver life-changing therapy and support to people of all ages who stutter across Aotearoa.

COGS supports community and voluntary organisations across Aotearoa to strengthen local communities, and we’re so grateful to have received support from the following COGS areas this year: Hutt Valley, Papakura/Franklin, Kirikiriroa/Hamilton City, Waitakere and Central Otago.

10/08/2026

📣 Aotearoa based SLTs - get involved in research that will help shape the future of how we train and support SLTs to feel more confident in working with people who stutter!

https://massey.au1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_bQUCd8pzBb7s7aK

Calling all SLTs in Aotearoa - please get involved with this short survey https://massey.au1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_bQUCd8pzBb7s7aK

25/07/2026

We have a couple of spaces left for Confident Communicators 2026! Get in touch to find out more info and to register, email [email protected]

Four sessions over Term 3 - Thursday 13th August, Thursday 27th August, Thursday 10th September & Thursday 24th September ⌚️12pm to 2:30pm

24/07/2026

We have a couple of spaces left for our Confident Communicators Group this term!

Get in touch with any questions or to register, email [email protected]

Dates
12pm to 2:30pm
Thursday 13th August
Thursday 27th August
Thursday 10th September
Thursday 24th September

23/07/2026

Yesterday we were delighted to welcome seven students from the Bachelor of Speech and Language Therapy programme at Massey University to START.

Between now and October, these Year 2 and Year 3 students will be spending Wednesdays observing and gaining practical experience with our speech-language therapist, Chris, as they gain insight into working with people who stutter.

We're thrilled to be able to offer this learning opportunity and hope it inspires the next generation of speech-language therapists to develop an interest in supporting people who stutter.

16/07/2026

Have you seen the stuttering pride flag?

Designed by Conor Foran in collaboration with a group from the stuttering community, 'making waves' symbolises stuttering as a natural, varied phenomenon 🌊

"To us, stuttering pride is a belief that stuttering voices are valid and important. It is a hope for a future in which people who stutter are respected and included. It is a movement to create this change and celebrate stuttering culture..."

"We hope people who stutter and their allies will be brought the same joy, inspiration and sense of solidarity as the flag has brought us: that the flag can bring us together as a community, as well as encourage each person on their own stuttering and life journeys too." (Dysfffluent.org)

Read more about the stuttering pride flag here https://dysfluent.org/fla

14/07/2026

We are saddened to hear of the passing of Sir Sam Neill.

Known and loved for his remarkable acting career, Sam also spoke openly about having a stutter. Sam shared with the Australian TV show Enough Rope, that "I spent most of my childhood hoping that people wouldn't talk to me so that I didn't have to talk back".

While acknowledging that he still stuttered as an adult, Sam also spoke about how acting built his confidence. "Acting has had a therapeutic effect on me and it probably helped give me confidence." (Stuttering Foundation)

His story is a reminder that stuttering does not define a person's potential.

Our thoughts are with his whānau, friends, and all those who admired him.

Read more about Sam Neill and his journey with stuttering here https://stamma.org/about-us/news-features/news/sam-neill-his-journey-stammering

09/07/2026

Mānawatia a Matariki ⭐

START is closed today for our national holiday Matariki, which marks the beginning of the Māori New Year (Te Mātahi o te Tau). Visible in the early morning dawn sky in mid-winter, Matariki is a time to remember those who have passed, celebrate the present, and plan for the future. We hope you and your whanau enjoy this special time.

Image courtesy of matariki.co.nz

08/07/2026

A reminder from one of our amazing clients 🦋

These affirmation cards were created by Millie (14), who wanted to remind herself and now all of us that:

🦋 Your stutter makes you unique
🌸 Every voice deserves to be heard
🦋 You can take your time

Thank you, Millie, for sharing your creative affirmations with STARTs community.