Annual Report 2015 Speech Pathology Australia

President’s Report

Speech Pathology Australia continues to grow. In 2015, the Association reached a record membership of 6929. In 2011 the membership year closed with 4750 members on our books. In four years, the Association’s membership has grown by a staggering 45 per cent. It is reassuring to know that when the Association speaks on behalf of the speech pathology profession, it does so confident in the knowledge that it represents the overwhelming majority of speech pathologists in Australia. As the Association’s membership continues to grow we are clearly looking to the future. In November 2015 we launched Speech Pathology 2030 – making futures happen . This exciting endeavour seeks to develop a shared vision for how our profession can and will respond to the challenges of the next decade and beyond. There is nothing certain about the future. It’s why we must plan for it. One of the greatest challenges for our Association every year is making Australians aware of the myriad of ways speech pathologists work to assist individuals with communication and swallowing difficulties. In 2015, the theme for Speech Pathology Week was Talk With Me . A theme designed to allow members and their State Branches the opportunity to promote all the different aspects of the profession, the work that we do, and the various workplaces and settings in which we do it. In another exciting initiative, the Association’s Book of the Year Awards was conducted in 2015 in conjunction with the State Library of Queensland. In a first, the awards ceremony was hosted at the State Library of Queensland in its beautiful theatrette on the banks of the Brisbane River. In a celebration of children’s literature, Gregg Dreise, the winner of the Indigenous Children’s category, played the Didgeridoo and conducted the ‘Welcome to Country’. After receiving over 110 nominations I was proud, on behalf of the Association, to present the five winning authors with their award. The Association’s advocacy work in 2015 continued and included a large number of written submissions, to both national and state inquiries. Speech Pathology Australia appeared at an inquiry into education for students with disability, and meetings and formal discussions with a wide range of key stakeholders; including a number of

State and Federal Ministers and Shadow Ministers. In the international sphere, the International Communication Project (ICP) has engaged the consultancy firm, Weber Shandwick, to map out a plan of action to strengthen the ICP’s advocacy and engagement endeavours. More detail on the latter is outlined within the pages of this annual report. They say it is the small things in life that matter. It is true. Early in 2015, our National Office produced an ‘infographic’ (see page 12) that provided a snapshot of Australian ‘speechies’. The infographic has been popular with members and has appeared and reappeared in numerous publications and been used as the backdrop at events. It provides a quick, ready-reckoner of what our profession looks like in Australia. In summary, the infographic highlights that a ‘typical’ Australian speech pathologist is female, working part time (about four days a week), in her late 30s, Bachelor Degree educated, living and working in a major city area, Australian born, and working in private practice. Our Association’s ability to serve its members and our clients is only possible because of the hard work, efforts and dedication of Board members, our Chief Executive Officer (CEO) and the staff that work for our National Office. The staff of the Association’s National Office ensure that the business of our organisation is conducted in a professional, efficient and timely manner. Without the skill and guidance of our CEO, Gail Mulcair, Speech Pathology Australia would not be the fine professional Association it is today. In closing, I wish to acknowledge the commitment of the Board of Directors who volunteer their time and expertise to provide the strategic direction and management of the Association. At the Annual General Meeting the Association farewells Asher Verheggen, who is stepping down after serving on the Board for the past two years. Thank you Asher for your service and commitment to the Association in this role. By the time you read this report, 2016 will be well and truly underway. The challenges and hurdles that confront the Association continue to appear. But our strength of numbers, the professionalism of our members, and the dedication of our paid employees and unpaid volunteers, ensures that the future for Speech Pathology Australia is one that is bright and rewarding.

Gaenor Dixon National President

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2015 ANNUAL REPORT Speech Pathology Australia