Speak Out April 2019

Welcome events in NT

Northern Territory

SPA Northern Territory (NT) Branch members welcomed all NT speech pathologists, current and new SPA members as well as non-members to 2019 with a social engagement event in Darwin. An evening of food, drink, and rich discussion saw a turnout of more than 30 speechies from Darwin region, Katherine, and Remote community services (almost two thirds of the NT SPA member population). Some drove more than three hours to attend! Representative SPA members from a variety of settings shared presentations about their fields of work, research, and career journeys in the Northern Territory. Attendees had the opportunity to hear from members with a wealth of experience working in the NT and got to know members who have recently moved to the Territory. Presenters included speech pathologists from Royal Darwin Hospital (Celina Lai), NT Government Remote Disability Services (Jamiee Dutton), Carpentaria Disability Services (Edwina Pursehouse), NT Government Adult Allied Health Team (Kalee Dodd), a Private Practice in Katherine (Sue Lester) and Katherine Friendship and Supports (Sarah McBride). The discussions from presenters shared common themes of enthusiasm for the work that we do, thought provoking ideas for our profession moving forward, challenges faced by healthcare professionals and the population living in this unique section of Australia, and a strong sense of comraderie (which any NT speechie will advise you is a strength of the NT speech pathology community). There was also much discussion and excitement shared about the Speech Pathology Australia Conference which will be hosted in Darwin in 2020. This month, the branch also engaged members from the Darwin region, Katherine, and Alice Springs in a planning day with support from Gail Mulcair SPA’s CEO, who flew to Darwin for the event. Topics of discussion included Speech Pathology Australia’s Reconciliation Action Plan and its meaning for the Northern Territory

NT 68 members

as at March 2019

context, advocacy, and support for Speech Pathology Australia members. The well attended inaugural welcome event for all speech pathologists and SPA planning day events have provided a positive and exciting start to 2019 for the Northern Territory branch. Keep a look out for future events because there’s more to come! Joanna Fitzgerald and Louise Studds

Above: SPA CEO Gail Mulcair (left) with NT speech pathologists at the inaugural New Members Welcome Event. Below: The inaugural welcome event started the year in the NT with a positive start for all who attended.

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April 2019 www.speechpathologyaustralia.org.au

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