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20 Speak Out October 2016
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