Speak Out April 2017

Association news

Swallowing Awareness Day

THANK YOU TO everyone who participated in the campaign to promote Swallowing Awareness Day 2017. There was huge amount of activity in the lead up to and on the actual day. The Association’s hosting of Swallowing Awareness Day, followed closely on the heels of the European Swallowing Awareness Day on 6 March. There was interest from the media during the awareness day, with the Association’s National President Gaenor Dixon, doing a series of radio interviews. She was ably supported by a number of other Association members who were also able to secure their own local media, regional radio and newspapers. The Swallowing Awareness Day Campaign Kit was well used and there was lots of evidence that Dizzy, our mascot for the day, was busy promoting the campaign. Activity on social media was very strong with a number of members and their clients actively using #900swallows and #dysphagia. The day’s social media campaign received a strong following on Twitter, with a good showing on both Facebook and Instagram. If you haven’t seen it visit speechpathologyaustralia.org.au/swallowing and check out our Swallowing Awareness Day animation!

Michael Kerrisk Communications and Marketing Manager

West Moreton team celebrates Swallowing Awareness Day!

The team at West Moreton Hospital and Health Service arranged a number of activities for Swallowing Awareness Day. Some of the activities included: • the team screen printed the Swallowing Awareness Day logo on to the back of pink shirts which speech pathologists wore on the day; • the West Moreton design team put the logo on the screen savers on all computers in West Moreton Hospital and Health Service; • the West Moreton communications team created a facebook post on West Moreton Hospital and Health Service’s page of our team’s activities on the day; • a stall at the main entrance of the hospital with a game to “guess that food or thickened fluid”, which included sampling thickened fluids, a give- away of cupcakes and information sheets; • the Ipswich Hospital Foundation had a one page spread promoting Swallowing Awareness Day to the Ipswich community; and • cupcakes were baked with different sensory input (e.g. gooey, chewy texture, dual texture) at the Ipswich Health Plaza’s Community Based Rehabilitation Team service. The day was a huge success with staff, patients and visitors to West Morton Hospital Health Services incredibly engaged in the day’s events. Congratulations to all involved.

7

April 2017 www.speechpathologyaustralia.org.au

Speak Out