Speak Out February 2019

Association news

SPA Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Advisory Committee Report - January 2019

THE ABORIGINAL AND TORRES STRAIT ISLANDER ADVISORY COMMITTEE was formed in October 2017 to ensure that the values of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples in relation to culture, language, land and history are embedded in the values and business of Speech Pathology Australia now and into the future. The committee held its first meeting for the year on 21 January, 2019 from10am–4pm. This first meeting was a face-to-face meeting, hosted at the SPA National Office in Melbourne with two teleconference meetings and a second face-to-face meeting planned for the year. There was a full agenda, with productive discussions and specific actions to further the work of the committee of the Advisory Committee: Review of the Competency Based Occupational Standards for Speech Pathologist (CBOS): Young Futures, the consultants undertaking the review have sought input from the Committee. Tara Lewis is the Committee representative on the CBOS Advisory Committee.

underpinnings of Indigenous Research Methodologies, two 20-minute presentations highlighting research or clinical projects which provide models of good practice in the area, and a panel discussion and open comment session, ‘Where to for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Island research in speech pathology?’ This is an important session for the Association as it moves to focus on increasing cultural awareness in the membership, and in ensuring culturally appropriate services for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. Cultural awareness and cultural safety/responsiveness training: Feedback was provided to the Advisory Committee on the roll-out of the free face-to-face cultural responsiveness training that was sponsored by SPA and delivered by Indigenous Allied Health Australia in 2018. While feedback from the workshop participants was highly positive, attendance numbers were disappointing. The Association remains committed to delivering Cultural Responsiveness training to remaining states in 2019. Discussions took place around the need to differentiate between the concepts of cultural awareness and cultural responsiveness

and the need for different levels of

The Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Advisory Committee discussed the need for a dedicated focus group for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples as part of the CBOS review, to ensure cultural safety for participants in open communication. This was subsequently

training for members. Possible options for how members could access different levels of training into the future were suggested, and will be further investigated. Communication Plan: The Advisory Committee

raised with the consultants and National Office Staff, and a dedicated focus group will be convened. A second dedicated focus group will also be convened with the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Curriculum. Reconciliation Action Plan (Reflect RAP): A report was provided to the Advisory Committee on the recent work of the RAP Committee. The RAP Committee has collected and reviewed feedback on the draft RAP from relevant external organisations, SPA branches across Australia and through an online survey available to both Association members and non-members with an interest in the area. The Plan has been refined based on the feedback and was shared with the Advisory Committee. The draft plan will now be submitted to Reconciliation Australia before the end of January 2019. The subsequent process involves iterative feedback and revisions, until a final plan is endorsed. The Reflect Reconciliation Action Plan is on track to be launched during the Speech Pathology Australia National Conference 2019, which fortuitously takes place during Reconciliation Week. 2019 National Conference Workshop: Aligned with the launch of the Reflect RAP, the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Advisory Committee has developed a workshop entitled Working Proppa Way: Engaging, Collaborating and Empowering at this year’s Conference. The workshop will focus on culturally sensitive approaches to working with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, and aims to engage both researchers and clinicians. It will include a 30-minute presentation on the theoretical

recognised the need for development of a communication plan to promote good practice in working with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples as well as to demonstrate the Association’s commitment to cultural safety in the profession. A number of strategies were discussed for action including a recommendation from the Committee that the Association consider a specific strategic statement around its commitment to Reconciliation with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. Draft Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Research Grant: Aligned with the Association’s Strategic Plan, which calls for a focus on the needs of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, the Association has proposed introducing a research grant to focus on communication and swallowing issues in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. The application guidelines for the research grant were discussed and recommendations made for the revision of the draft. Details of the grant will be released once approved by the committee. The committee looks forward to another productive year in working with the Association to meet its objectives and commitments.

Eddie Ong Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Advisory Committee Representative

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February 2019 www.speechpathologyaustralia.org.au

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