Speak Out April 2019

Association news

Dysphagia Interest Group of Victoria student event For the second year the Dysphagia Interest Group (DIG) of Victoria and the Speech Pathology Australia Victoria Branch Student Group partnered to run a student-focused event on Swallowing Awareness Day. This event aims to foster networking between students and clinicians, and for students to learn about career pathways in dysphagia. This year’s speakers included Associate Professor Michelle Ciucci (University of Wisconsin), Claire Stanley (Monash Health), Katelyn Gervasoni (Ballarat Health) and Olga Birchall (The University of Melbourne). The event was attended by 80 students and professional members interested in dysphagia research and practice. DIG wishes to thank the SPA Student Group (Kate Cohn, Eleanor Barry, Stephanie Verga, Bronte Fraser, Aashna Vazirani and Natasha Arulananda and Camille Paynter), Dr Lucette Lanyon (La Trobe University), Dr Megan Keage (The University of Melbourne), and Danielle Czapnik (Australian Catholic University). DIG Executive Kelly Belnick (Western Health), Kate McCullough (Western Health), Sarah Osmond (Melbourne Health), and Megan Keage (The University of Melbourne)

Annual student challenge

To mark Swallowing Awareness Day, Master of Speech Pathology students at The University of Melbourne took on the annual Thickened Fluids Challenge. Students were required to adhere to thickened fluids for the day to develop some awareness of the experience of dysphagia. Well done to all of the students who participated! Thanks to Nicholas Georgakopoulos and Phil Lane from Precise for donating the thickened fluids used in the challenge, and to the students for embracing the opportunity. Dr Megan Keage Lecturer in Speech Pathology, The University of Melbourne

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April 2019 www.speechpathologyaustralia.org.au

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