Speak Out April 2017

Professional Practice

Opportunities to improve outcomes for practice and clients

THE OPPORTUNITIES FOR SPEECH PATHOLOGISTS TO REPRESENT THEIR PROFESSION, ADVOCATE FOR BEST PRACTICE AND PROMOTE IMPROVED OUTCOMES FOR CLIENTS HAVE NEVER BEEN GREATER.

National Year 1 Literacy and Numeracy Check project In May 2016, the Australian Government released Quality Schools, Quality Outcomes (QSQO) a package of school reforms to improve learning outcomes for all Australian students. A key proposal of QSQO, was to introduce a National Year 1 check of all children in the areas of reading, phonics and numeracy (Some states and territories already deliver their own early year’s assessments but there isn’t a nationally consistent approach.) On 29 January 2017, Senator Simon Birmingham, Minister for Education and Training, announced the establishment of an Expert Advisory Group to advise the government on how best to develop and implement a national Year 1 check. We are very pleased that Pam Snow is on the panel as she will be a wonderful advocate for the profession and for the need for strong oral language competency to underpin future literacy development. As part of the panel’s consultation process individuals and organisations were able to submit responses to an online survey. SPA’s responses can be accessed here. As I write the recommendations of the panel are unknown with their report to the government due in April 2017. I will keep you updated via SPA’s Speech Pathologists in Education and Learning Member Community and in National eNews. You can also follow the latest news from the panel on the National Year 1 Literacy and Numeracy Check (Year 1 check) webpage, look up the FAQs doc, or ask a question by emailing Literacyandnumeracypanel@ education.gov.au Chris Lyons WorkPlace PLUS

Two such opportunities are the Guideline for ASD Diagnosis in Australia project and the National Year 1 Literacy and Numeracy Check project. Guideline for Autism Spectrum Disorder Diagnosis in Australia project The Cooperative Research Centre for Living with Autism (Autism CRC) has been commissioned by the National Disablity Insurance Agency to develop a National Guideline for the Diagnosis of Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) in Australia. The guideline is due for release in September 2017.

Speech Pathology Australia is pleased to be involved in the project in several ways.

• Robyn Stephen is representing SPA on the project’s Steering Committee • A group of members with extensive experience in diagnosing ASD (many of whom were involved in the development of SPA’s current ASD Position Statement and Clinical Guideline) have been nominated by SPA to take part in the next phase of the project, a Delphi Study.

They include: Christine Kendall David Trembath Gloria Staios Marleen Westerfeld Michelle de la Perrelle Rebecca Sutherland Veronica Rose Bea Staley Teena Caithness

SPA will also be providing a submission to the project. You can have your say by: • writing a submission; • attending a workshop; • signing up to receive updates about the project;

• encouraging adolescent or adults clients you work with who have ASD (and their family members and/or carers) to write a submission or complete a survey.

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April 2017 www.speechpathologyaustralia.org.au

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