SpeakOut_April2014_FINAL_eCopy

associationnews

Inquiryof theSenateCommunityAffairs ReferencesCommitteeUpdate

Prevalenceof different types of speech, languageand communicationdisorders and speechpathology services inAustralia

TheSenate Inquiry has achieved agreat deal of interest and responseon behalf ofmembersof theprofession, consumersof speechpathology services, andawidenumber of alignedcolleagues andorganisations. Todate, weareaware therehasbeenover 310 submissions. Unfortunately, due to some technical issues and the volumeof submissions, theseare still beinguploaded to the SenateCommitteewebsite . SpeechPathologyAustralia’s submission to theSenate Inquirywasdelivered to theSenateon21February 2014. It is a comprehensive responsewhichextends to116pages, comprisinga90page report plus references, and incorporates 55 recommendations. Youcanaccess thedocument on the Association’s website . The submission covers a broad range of issues anddescribes the known prevalence, impact of communication and swallowingdisorders and services available (or not available) for specific client groups across the lifespan. The submission also outlineswhat is not known and requires further investigation. The submission is introduced in terms of communication needing tobe recognised as a basic human right, followedby an outline of the economic impact of communication and swallowingdisorders. It then discusses communication and swallowing disorders across the age spectrum of: Infants; Toddlers andPreschoolers; Primary School AgedChildren; Adolescents andYoungAdults; Adults; andOlder Adults and theElderly. Certain issues that occur across the lifespan are outlined including those relating to Mental Health; ComplexCommunication Needs; Access to justice for people with complex communication disability; andAccess to systematic support [through funding] across the lifespan.

We believe the submission strongly presents the value andbenefit of speech pathology services, aswell as the significant impact of untreated communication disability and swallowing difficulties on both individuals and society. Wewould like to thank themany members and clientswho contributed their expertise, insights and stories to theAssociation’s submission. In particular I would like to thankDr JemmaSkeat for her expertise and clear presentation of material as principal writer of the submission, before she resigned from theAssociation. I am aware shewas ably assistedby a number of contributors as clinical area experts. I would also like to thank certain memberswho contributed specific material, including JadeCartwright, Leanne Togher andProfessor Linda Worrall. And significant thanks is also extensive proofing and editing of the final report. Finally, I would like to thank the National Office team for their dedicated efforts inmeetingwhat was a very tight timeline to complete our submission by the due date. TheSenators are now finalising their plans for holdingPublicHearings across the country. They havewelcomed suggestions fromSpeechPathology Australia on potential site visits and key people and organisations tobe invited topresent at the hearings. Once plans are confirmed, thesewill be circulated tomembers. It is intended that theAssociationwill also invite media coverage of the hearings to raise greater public awareness of the reasons for the inquiry and the needs of those with communication and swallowing disability. GailMulcair Chief ExecutiveOfficer extended toDr Cori Williams and Gaenor Dixon, whoboth provided

Submission to the Inquiry into theprevalence of different types of speech, language and communication disorders and speechpathology services inAustralia

February2014 SenateCommunityAffairsReferencesCommittee

Data sources (and gaps in data) are discussed in relation to communication and swallowingdisorders inAustralia and the speech pathologyworkforce. Each section contains a range of recommendations, whichwithin the ExecutiveSummary are grouped under the following themes: • Recognising communication as a human right • Strengthening community awareness and responses to communication and swallowing disorders • Identifyingproblems • Strengthening support and services • Ensuring access to rights and justice for vulnerableAustralians • Ensuring access to fair, equitable and adequate services • Data resources –Building foundations for decisionmaking in the future Throughout the document we incorporated client andmember stories toprovide a ‘human’ element to the impact for people not receiving adequate services.

4 SpeakOut April 2014

SpeechPathology Australia