SpeakOut_Feb2015_FINAL_web

spotlight on professional support

Call for mentees and mentors

him to making play-dough and encouraging independence. And to see change and growth in these children, as well as the work of the teachers and parents, was so gratifying. And the lifestyle? I always felt prepared as the program was well supported from Australia and within the Philippines. There was also an excellent network of volunteers in Albay and the Philippines. I was lucky enough to climb volcanoes, island- hop, trek rice terraces and try some delicious foods. Filipino people were so friendly and would always say good morning or good afternoon – not just my colleagues but people in the neighbourhood like the owner of the Sari-Sari store (corner shop) I would pass every day. It's amazing how much you can quickly establish a routine in a new place. I had a regular supermarket, favourite restaurants and market stalls. I caught jeepneys to work which were an iconic part of my time in the Philippines. Jeepneys are vibrantly painted, shiny commuter vehicles found around the Philippines. No windows, no doors, no seat belts, no suspension but a whole lot of fun! They really have a community feel; I'd often find myself having a chat or a sing-along (to whatever love ballad was playing on the radio) with fellow passengers. I'd sit on my jeepney on the way to work with my 3 cent pandesal (bread rolls) squeezing my tube of Vegemite onto them. I learnt many lessons in my time in the Philippines. Like that I don't need electricity to be able to function, giving things a go nearly always results in a new and pleasant experience, I can cope without fresh cheese and that corn can go really well in dessert! A powerful lesson for me was realising what affordable and accessible healthcare means for us in Australia. Most children I met did not have this luxury. Many children had cleft lip and palate that had still not been repaired at 8 years old. As well as very unintelligible speech, these children lacked confidence, as a result had poor engagement with education and often had related health issues. I saw several children with autism whose toe walking had not been managed and now had permanently arched feet, falling over often and requiring unaffordable surgery. Despite these challenges, the children show the true Filipino spirit and resilience – when they fall down, they pick themselves up again and keep smiling. Their positive attitude is inspiring, and it certainly helps me to put my ‘problems’ into perspective. After a typhoon hit my region, several colleagues had their houses badly damaged and many possessions destroyed. They were back at work the next week, and still smiling. Their attitude is "we'll just have to get on with it" and "it happens, but it could have been worse" (and believe me, it has been much worse). So what now? I returned in November and in a few weeks I start a new job in Perth. But the long term plan is to be able to return for visits to the Philippines, and work to support children post cleft repair. While my colleagues and the community indicated they got a lot out of my time there, I think at the end of the day I was the one who learnt the most.

We have had a great response to our previous calls for mentors and currently have a good number registered under the Find a Mentor search. So, consider the mentoring program if you are: • new to an area of clinical practice • new to a geographical area • a sole therapist • returning to the profession after a break • wanting support to work towards some particular career goals. Or, if you simply recognise how much you could benefit from having someone to reflect upon your practice with, go to the SPA Mentoring Program page and follow the steps to entering into a mentoring partnership. Go to this page if you are interested in signing up as a mentor. It is quick and easy to register, and your name will then appear in a Find a Mentor search for mentees who are looking for a mentor who may be suitable to support them to meet their learning goals. Remember that mentoring is not a substitute for supervision and all speech pathologists can benefit from both. For any questions regarding mentoring or supervision contact psa@speechpathologyaustralia.org.au .

Meredith Prain Professional Support Advisor

2015 Online Resource Guide now available!

Speech Pathology Australia’s 2015 Online Resource Guide provides members and the public with a reference manual of products and services which may be of use. The Online Resource Guide is an interactive resource, complete with links

to websites and email addresses, and enabled to be conveniently viewed on portable devices such as mobile phones and tablets. To view the 2015 Online Resource Guide, click on the Publications menu on our website.

Larissa Ashton Speech Pathologist

Speak Out February 2015

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