Speak Out October 2017

THE AUSTIN APHASIA INTEGRATION PROGRAM (AAIP) was awarded the HESTA Primary Health Care Team Excellence Award at the Allied Health Research Conference Dinner in August. The program was recognised for its contribution to supporting people living with chronic aphasia in the community. The AAIP is an intensive comprehensive multidisciplinary group program which aims to improve mood, functional communication, community integration as a well as provide carer support. The program was successfully piloted through clinical research conducted in partnership with La Trobe University (Lauren Kovesy, Associate Professor Miranda Rose, Michelle Attard and Gillian Steel) in 2015. Management support was then gained to rollout the program within the existing Health Independence Program rehabilitation services budget 2016–2017. The AAIP is comprised of an Intensive Comprehensive Group Program (four hours a day, two days per week for eight weeks) followed by a Transition and Community Integration Program (four weeks), to bridge the gap from community rehabilitation services to community–based networks. The AAIP participants engage in pre-assessment and individual goal-setting. Goals are addressed through group program activities, including: conversation, technology, music, art, carer support/ training, aphasia advocacy and community connections (leisure/recreation). The program is led by two speech pathologists, Lauren Kovesy and Emma Burns, with the assistance of a dynamic team of social workers, music therapists, art therapists, community integration and leisure workers; and trained volunteers (which also included people with aphasia in the role of peer supporters). Aphasia Integration Program recognised

Victoria

31 people with aphasia and their families have participated across three iterations with the following outcomes: • participants achieved the majority of their goals; • positive change in formal measures of mood, Upon completion, participants commenced their own social aphasia support group, were linked in with community services, and were successfully discharged from community rehabilitation services. The AAIP translated research into clinical practice, achieving an effective cost-neutral approach to the major challenge of supporting people with chronic aphasia. The AAIP team has collaborated with the research team at the Aphasia Hub at LaTrobe University; clinical education schools at LaTrobe University and Australian Catholic University; and the Stroke Association of Victoria Stroke Hub (Kew). The team also acknowledges the generous initial research funding support from the Becher Foundation, Eireen Lucas Foundation and the Royal Talbot Research Fund. The AAIP team are delighted that the experience of people living with aphasia has been highlighted through the HESTA Primary Healthcare Award. The prize money will be reinvested into further social participation, community integration, communication skills and carer burden. development of the program with the view of promoting the model to other community rehabilitation services. For further questions regarding the Austin Aphasia Integration Program do not hesitate to contact Lauren Kovesy (lauren.kovesy@austin.org.au) or Emma Burns (emma.burns@austin.org.au)

VIC 2066 members as at September 2017

37

October 2017 www.speechpathologyaustralia.org.au

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