Annual Report 2015 Speech Pathology Australia

3 Strategic Imperative FUTURE READY

In July 2015, the Association’s Twitter handle received its 5000th follower!

3.1 Speech Pathology Australia (SPA) is the lead organisation to inform an advance future directions of speech pathology. 3.2 SPA supports members to be future ready through innovation and new technologies. 3.3 SPA develops leadership capacity within the profession. 3.4 SPA understands the needs and projections for the speech pathology workforce in Australia.

@WeSpeechies #RoCur Speech Pathology Australia’s social media presence continued to grow in 2015 and was given an added boost through an invitation to be the first Association to curate the @WeSpeechies #RoCur one hour chat. The @WeSpeechies handle was founded by Speech Pathology Australia members Caroline Bowen and Bronwyn Hemsley in March 2014 and provides an internationally curated meeting point in Twitter for speech pathologists to comment and discuss specific topics. The Association’s topic for discussion in this event was ‘Strategic planning: objectives, deliverables, and future directions’. In July, the Association’s Twitter handle - @SpeechPathAus received its 5000th follower.

National Conference The Association held its National Conference at the National Convention Centre in Canberra from 17–20 May 2015. More than 540 delegates attended the conference, themed Challenge, Broaden, Revolutionise . The Conference was opened by the Federal Minister for Health, Minister for Sport, The Hon. Sussan Ley MP. Professor Nickola W Nelson started the Conference week presenting her Keynote Presentation: ‘Methods for using written expression as a context for curriculum-based language instruction and intervention’. Professor Emeritus John (Jay) Rosenbek followed with his Keynote Presentation: ‘Aphasia management: It’s the method and much more’. The 2015 Elizabeth Usher Memorial Lecture was delivered by Professor Pamela Snow. There were 96 presentations and workshops delivered during the Conference, along with an impressive array of posters on display. These were universally well received and represented a diverse range of clinical and research topics.

‘Recognise Health’ ‘Recognise Health’ is an initiative of the Lowitja Institute that aims to promote understanding of the important link between well-being and constitutional recognition of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. Speech Pathology Australia is one of 117 non-government organisations across the Australian health system brought together by this initiative.

‘Recognise Health’ is an initiative bringing together more than 117 non-government organisations across the Australian health system.

10 2015 ANNUAL REPORT Speech Pathology Australia