Table of Contents Table of Contents
Previous Page  20 / 48 Next Page
Information
Show Menu
Previous Page 20 / 48 Next Page
Page Background

20

Speak Out

October 2016

www.speechpathologyaustralia.org.au

Speech Pathology Week

2016 will most likely be

remembered for the launch of the final report of the Speech

Pathology 2030 project (see page 4 ), but the week marked much

more than the formal completion of this exciting endeavour.

Feedback from members, and others, was that the week and

the surrounding campaign was very successful in making

more Australians aware of those in our community who have a

communication or swallowing difficulty.

The Association ran a dedicated social media campaign,

including advertising on Twitter and Facebook. The success of

the campaign can be seen from the 19.9 percent increase in

Facebook likes. The Association’s Facebook page now has more

than 11,500 likes. There was also an 8.4 percent increase in the

number of followers for the Association’s Twitter handle

@SpeechPathAus during the campaign period, it now has in

excess of 7,510 followers.

The distribution of 70,000 mini-mags nationally also heightened

interest, not only in Speech Pathology Week, but in the speech

pathology profession more generally. The mini-mags were a

postcard-sized 12-page booklet. Each page carried information

about the profession with a unique URL, linking the page with

more specific information on the Association’s website. The mini-

mags were distributed in every state and territory, and in a limited

number of regional centres.

Congratulations must go to the large number of Association

members who were able to generate local media interest in

Speech Pathology Week 2016. Using the template media release

produced by National Office, many members secured articles in

local newspapers, and a number of members secured airtime

on radio. WIN TV in Canberra also ran a story about Speech

Pathology Week.

Every state Branch was active during Speech Pathology Week

and more detail can be found on their respective pages in this

edition of

Speak Out

. Of note was the NSW Branch, which ran

their successful SPArty night and the Victorian Branch who had

more than 80 at their annual trivia night and more than 120 to an

evening organised by Victorian student members. The Western

Australian Branch had more than 50 to their Speech Pathology

Week launch; while “down south”, the Tasmanian Branch ran

successful market day stalls in Hobart and Launceston.

Campaign activity was also generated by Association members

who purchased one of the 240 Speech Pathology Week

Campaign Kits produced by National Office. The campaign

kits included posters, magnets, stickers, wristbands, posters,

balloons, and flyers with information about the profession and

communication and swallowing difficulties. In addition, each state

Branch received their own Speech Pathology Week Campaign Kit

with promotional collateral. In total, National Office packed around

75,000 items into these kits! Other digital campaign material

was also available for download from the Association’s website,

including the Speech Pathology Week logo, posters, and an email

signature.

Finally, a huge thank you to all the members who got involved

in Speech Pathology Week 2016 in one form or another. The

success of the week is directly related to your hard work and

endeavours.

SPWeek 2016 – “Creating Futures”

All over Australia speech pathologists celebrated Speech Pathology

Week. The week was a great success and highlighted the importance of

swallowing and communication issues to the broader community.

Speech Pathology Week

This page From top left are Victorian Branch members Addie

Robinson, Cluny Barnes, Karen Bloomberg, Jane-Elise Cherry,

Nathaniel Swain, Katherine Sanchez, Simone Arnott, Deb Mylne. Front

row Anastasia Spanos, Mia Simson, Debbie Phyland, Tammie Tun,

Britt King, Laura Darvas. Second from left Christi Boucher from Guild

Insurance, Suzanne Churcher from Winston Churchill Travel Fellowship,

Eva Butcher, Melissa Murphy and Alana Stewart from the Stroke

Foundation. WA Branch members Emma Corry, Jess Morrison, Kate

Green, Annie Heneghan, at the front is Nickee Priestman.

Michael Kerrisk

Communications and Marketing Manager