Speak Out August 2020 digital test

SPEAK O UT AUGUS 2020 THE MAGAZINE FOR AUSTRALIAN SPEECH PATHOLOGISTS

RETURNING TO IN-PERSON WORK ETHICS AND TELEHEALTH

Embracing new ways of working

IT'S TIME TO RENEW YOUR MEMBERSHIP

New feature: Member research Information for new graduates and more...

Conte n ts

August 2020

Feature story New ways of working

From the President

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It's time to renew your membership Advocacy during the pandemic Participate in the inaugural Speechie 10 New ways of working -Discover 22 New series -Member research in focus 23 The latest for new graduates 24 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander 30 Professional Education 32 National Conference news 34 Ethics amid COVID-19 36 In practice : Returning to in-person 38 Branch news

From the President

Tim Kittel O ne of Belinda Hill’s last duties as Vice President was to close the awards ceremony as a part of our first, completely online, Annual General Meeting (AGM). “On behalf of Speech Pathology Australia, I would like to thank you for your attendance this evening,” she said with a smile, handing back to the Online Facilitator. But if you waited right to the end, just before he turned off the audio, there was a laugh of relief, and you would have heard three final words: “We did it!” I’m not completely sure who it was who said that, but I suspect it may have been Nicole Pantalleresco, Board and Executive Assistant. Nicole had spent months of effort coordinating this new initiative. Working with Gail, Nicole had workshopped through all the possible risks and challenges involved. Having to hold an AGM online is something facing literally thousands of organisations, and not all have been successful. So, as a result, if it was Nicole, she absolutely deserved to utter these last words. And also because these words echo the experience that many speech pathologists are having right now. The ‘Embracing New Ways of Working’ feature article is a fantastic read, pulling together the experiences of speech pathologists across the nation, and the ways in which

they moved swiftly and thoughtfully. While the stories are all distinct, the theme of “we did it” rings through each, and in particular the SP2030 aspirations of clients and communities driving service delivery. As a profession, we are uniquely placed to understand the irony behind the term social distancing. While we understand the health connotation behind keeping a physical distance to slow the spread of COVID-19, socially, we’re connecting more than ever. You’ll see in this issue that SPA’s social groups have increased both their memberships and engagement over the past few months. Indeed, some of the stories in our lead article cite that engaging with others over social media was vital in terms of gaining the resources and support needed to respond successfully. Also, now is exactly the right time to check out when your Branch is next meeting in your State or Territory. With all meetings currently being held online, many Branches are experiencing increased attendee numbers, and the meetings I’ve been lucky to attend are filled with people sharing stories and laughing, as well as progressing the profession in a myriad of ways. It’s great to read that in Queensland, both pre-COVID and during the early days of the crisis, speech pathologists are getting together to share a story or two, and enjoy the collegiality of our profession. So there will be a lot of ways in which, once we start to re-establish what our profession and our wider society becomes in the years after the pandemic’s introduction. There will be some elements that return to us, some new ways of working that will continue to benefit us, and some things that absolutely must change. The Black Lives Matter movement has a particular resonance and importance within our country. Within this issue you will also read the significance of National Reconciliation Week, and meet Tania Harris, Eddie Ong, Louise Taylor, and Pauline Weldon-Bowen, who, with the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Advisory Committee,

Speechie Library Talks 2020

The role of speech pathologists in children’s language and literacy development will be the feature of Speech Pathology Australia’s inaugural Speechie Library Talks campaign. Speechie Library Talks will facilitate connection between speech pathologists and their local public or school library in a series of events to be held in November 2020 to coincide with the Association’s Book of the Year celebrations. By connecting speech pathologists with their local public or school library, and their broader community, the aim of the campaign is to raise awareness of speech pathologists' role in developing children’s language and literacy, the Association’s Book of the Year Awards, and how library resources can play a part in building language and literacy. The Association will collaborate on the campaign with the Australian Library Information Association (ALIA). Parents, carers and those interested in children’s language and literacy development will be invited to attend a talk to find out more about how speech pathologists can help their child’s language and literacy development and the resources available at their local library. Members will be supported by the Association's Communications and Marketing team

How you can get involved… You are invited to register your interest in holding a Speechie Library Talk in November at your nominated school or public library. The talk will include a reading of one of the winning books and will also be an opportunity for you to talk about your role in helping children's language and literacy. You will be asked to nominate the ALIA member library of your choice and also a tentative date in November. The Association will make the connection with the library and assist with the arrangements. To register you interest, click on the 'register here' button below. You can also find out more about the campaign here or www.speechpathologyaustralia.org.au/library. If you'd like more information about the Speechie Library Talks campaign please contact Publications Manager, Rebecca Faltyn, rfaltyn@speechpathologyaustralia.org.au.

Free in-clinic hearing test for children

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An estimated 1 in 10 school children suffer from hearing loss, which left undetected can lead to speech, learning and behavioural problems. The Sound Scouts hearing check is a simple way to identify if a child has a hearing issue, including listening difficulties in noise. The test incorporates the science of a hearing test in a fun interactive game. Evidence based, accessible and delivering immediate results, it’s the perfect in-clinic solution.

The Sound Scouts App is now free to test all Australian school-aged children. Download it today.

www.soundscouts.com.au

Branch News

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