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association news

2014 – A significant year in Lobbying, Policy and Advocacy

been significantly active in liaising with state governments and lobbying for improved or increased services to school aged children. Notable work has been done by the Tasmanian Branch leading up to their election earlier in the year, the Northern Territory Branch, the New South Wales Branch and the Victorian Branch. Along with activities associated with the ICP2014, these Branch-initiated policy and advocacy activities have been a great platform to raise awareness about communication and swallowing disorders with key decision makers in governments and education departments. Part of the Team – Speech pathology and mental health The current review of mental health programs and services being conducted has provided the opportunity for the Association to advocate for the importance of access to speech pathology services for patients with comorbid communication/ swallowing difficulties and mental illness. Several meetings were held with advisors to the Prime Minister and the federal Minister for Health, and with the National Mental Health Commission and the NSW Mental Health Commission. Thank you to Mary Woodward, Natalie Albores and Narelle Anger for sharing their expertise and representing the Association, alongside CEO, Gail Mulcair, in this advocacy work. Representation on Alliances/Networks – being the ‘speech pathologist’ at the table We have also seen an increase in the Association’s representation on cross-professional bodies such as the National Aged Care Alliance, the National Rural Health Alliance, the Allied Health Professions Australia and the National Alliance of Self-Regulating Health Professions. These opportunities ensure that the views and experiences of speech pathologists (and people with communication and swallowing difficulties) are represented in broader discussions about policy and planning that affect our members. Notable thanks goes to Jade Cartwright and Amanda O’Keefe for their representation on NACA and NRHA respectively throughout 2014. 2015 – We’re just getting started... One of the strategic imperatives of the Strategic Plan 2014–2016 is ‘influence’. With the commitment of our Board, the investment in resources to support this work through a new position of Manager, Policy and Advocacy, a ‘roadmap’ for government work outlined in the Senate Committee’s recommendations and through the contributions and efforts of members – we look forward to building on the momentum generated in 2014 to progress our goal to strengthen the profession’s standing and improve the lives of people with communication and swallowing difficulties. ronelle hutchinson Manager, Policy and Advocacy

This year has seen a significant increase in the lobbying, policy and advocacy work of the Association. Membership of the Association provides more than direct benefits to individual members – it provides a strong and unified voice to advocate to governments on issues that affect speech pathologists and the people we work with. The Senate Inquiry – Speech pathology in the spotlight Without a doubt, this has been a once- in-a-profession opportunity to draw national attention to the challenges faced It is a major achievement of the Association after many years of tenacious lobbying that an Inquiry was held. Work continues with advocating that the federal and state governments commit to enacting the recommendations made by the Senate Community Affairs Reference Committee. Written Submissions – Speech pathologists going on the ‘record’ A key policy and advocacy activity of the Association is preparing written submissions to a range of federal and state government consultative processes – going ‘on the record’ with the views of the Association (and its 6,000+ members). In 2014, over 20 written submissions were made – including diverse submissions to: • the Senate Inquiry • the review of the National Registration and Accreditation Scheme • the National Oral Health Plan • the National Review of Mental Health Programs and Services • the draft National Child and Youth Strategic Framework for Health • the Productivity Commission Child Care and Early Childhood Learning and • the National Code of Conduct for Health Workers. Thank you to the many members who provided advice for these submissions – their contributions ensure that what is ‘on the record’ accurately reflects the realities of speech pathologists working in Australia. Branch Policy and Advocacy – Focusing on state and local issues Whilst a main focus has been on national policy and advocacy work this year, a number of our Branches have February2014 SenateCommunityAffairsReferencesCommittee Submission to the Inquiry into theprevalenceof different typesof speech, language and communication disorders and speechpathology services inAustralia by people with communication and swallowing difficulties and the value of speech pathology services in Australia.

4 Speak Out December 2014

Speech Pathology Australia