Speak Out April 2017

From the President

APRIL MEANS DIFFERENT things to different areas of Australia. In Western Victoria, the Gariwerd people name this season Gwangal moronn – the honey bee season – a season of warm still days, but cooler mornings with red sunrises and golden evenings. The Banbai people of the NSW Tablelands/New England describe April as Grass Cures time, a time when the weather is dry and becoming cool. The Nyoongar people of South West Australia call April to May Djeran – the season of adulthood. The Yanyuwa people of the Gulf country call this season Lhabayi – wet season; with wet season cyclones and heavy rainfall. The contrasts in climate across the country mirror the sometimes disparate needs of speech pathologists across Australia. In February, the Branch Chairs met and we worked together strategically on issues that are impacting people across the country. Some issues are shared between branches, and others are specific to the local area. Your branch is a great conduit to be able to tackle local issues, and gather information on issues to develop a strategic response. I had the opportunity to attend the ACT NSW branch forum in early March (Sydney’s start to Autumn was wet and cool!). It was great to be able to meet local members and to hear the work and priorities of the branch. My thanks to the Branch Chairs across Australia: Jayne Graham in NT, Belinda Morrell in WA, Cathy Clark in SA, Jane-Elise Cherry in Vic, Rosie Martin in Tas, Fiona Eastley in ACT NSW and Alison Smith in Qld for your work in supporting members. Congratulations to the many ways that people marked Swallowing Awareness Day in March, and used it as an opportunity to increase public awareness of swallowing difficulty. It is good to see the day grow, and it will be great to see its reach increase as more people become aware of the importance of eating and drinking safely and with enjoyment. April means that the National Conference is next month! Working and Investing in Future Innovations promises to be a vivid, colourful conference. Looking at the program, I wish that I had a way to be able to attend multiple sessions at once (but I am not Hermione Granger). I look forward to seeing you there. I hope that April means that you have an opportunity for some down time with the Easter public holiday weekend, and Anzac Day featuring at its end. A copy of Speak Out, and a preferred drink, will give you a great opportunity to pass the honey-bee days, the Grass Cure days, the days of adulthood or the end of the wet season (hopefully no more cyclones!) reflecting on; ethics, attending conference, and mentoring and supervision, updating your knowledge of the NDIS, reading about the advocacy that the Association is involved in, learning the outcomes of a research grant, reflecting on the speech pathologist’s role in literacy and school services, learning about employing people within your private practice, and updating where we are with advocacy for aged care.

Gaenor Dixon

Gaenor Dixon National President

3

April 2017 www.speechpathologyaustralia.org.au

Speak Out