Speak Out October 2017

From the President

AND SUDDENLY IT IS OCTOBER – It feels such a short time ago that I was looking towards cooler, shorter days, and here we are with the heat building, jacarandas blooming in Brisbane and mangoes on the supermarket shelves. This month marks 14 months since we launched the Speech Pathology 2030 report, and it is timely to reflect on how we are travelling towards reaching our aspirations. This year we have had a focus on communication access. Towards this goal we held a Communication Forum during Speech Pathology Week with a range of stakeholders, to develop a strategy to work together towards developing communication access. A second meeting with stakeholders is being held later this month. We have met with representatives of ISAAC and AGOSCI to start planning communication access activities centred around the Gold Coast for the ISAAC conference next year. Speech Pathology Week focused on communication access and this edition contains some of the activities that happened around the country to raise awareness of reducing barriers to communication in the community. It was exciting to see the social media posts of the various individual practices making their practice communication accessible. We have also continued to work with the International Communication Project partners (NZ, UK, Ireland, Canada and US) to increase awareness of communication internationally. We have continued to advocate for communication access (and access to timely services), through submissions on the NDIS (3), submission to an inquiry on the national disability strategy, submission to the law reform office, and submissions to the UN.

Gaenor Dixon

Several branches have held strategic planning forums, using the SP 2030 as a framework for their planning.

In other news, next month marks one of my favourite Association activities – Book of the Year, which is being held on 2 November. All members are invited to attend – it’s a great opportunity to promote language and literacy, and the importance of collaborating with families, authors, libraries, childcare and schools.

Next month I will also be attending the ASHA convention where I will be signing the Multilateral Recognition Agreement update on behalf of the Association.

We will also be meeting with the other ICP associations for a face-to-face meeting to further our work together. Looking at the program, it is exciting to see many Australians are presenting. I look forward to seeing you there. Enjoy this month’s update on Association activities, information on new initiatives and answers to Frequently Asked Questions. Until December.

Gaenor Dixon National President

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October 2017 www.speechpathologyaustralia.org.au

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