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32 Speak Out August 2013 Speech Pathology Australia
What do I need to do if I work with adults with
a disability?
You will need to apply to the Department of
Communities, Child Safety and Disability Services
for a Yellow Card or exemption notice. The Act provides
a period of three months from the cessation date of the
registration scheme to obtain a Yellow Card (http://www.
history-screening/forms/application-for-criminal-history-
screening-prescribed-notice-yellow-card-form-10-1).
Please check with your line manager to determine if a
Yellow Card is required. As an employee of a State
Government agency, your health service may undertake
this application on your behalf and meet the associated
costs. Please seek advice from your line manager
or human resource contact officer.
What do I need to do if I wish to obtain health
insurance rebates for eligible speech pathology
services?
You will need to obtain Practising membership
of SPA if you have not already done so. The
Commonwealth Department of Health has amended
the Health Insurance (Allied Health Services) Determination
2011 from 1 May 2012. This will allow a four month
transition period until 31 August 2013 in which
affected speech pathologists can obtain practising
membership.
Hospital and Health Services will be amending job
descriptions by:
• removing “proof of registration” as a requirement
for employment, and for speech pathologists insert
“The possession of a tertiary degree in Speech
Pathology providing eligibility for practising membership
to Speech Pathology Australia” as a requirement for
employment.
Other QLD organisations and employers may also
implement this.
Credentialing for Queensland Employers?
SPA does not provide this service for employers in
Queensland. This is not offered in any other state of
Australia. SPA can confirm if a speech pathologist is a
member, their member type and CPSP stauts but no
further details can be provided especially if they have
requested not to be displayed on our ‘Find a speech
pathologist’ search.
Further information can be obtained by contacting
SPA on 1300 368 835 or membership@speechpathology
T hank you to all the volunteers who gave up
their time to help out at our Speech Pathology
Australia stall at the Pregnancy, Babies and
Children Expo. It was a very successful event, with
over 4,000 people attending the expo each day. Our
colourful blue and white stand was very popular, with
many parents stopping by for a chat. Everyone who
volunteered was enthusiastic and ready to talk to parents
about a variety of topics such as how to find a speech
pathologist, language and literacy, speech development,
and how to join the speech pathology profession. A big
thank you to everyone who helped out – it would not have
been possible without your support, and I think I speak
for everyone when I say it was a pleasure to work with
such a lovely, happy bunch of people! Anna Follent
PA Portfolio Co-Leader
Pregnancy, Babies
and Children Expo
Volunteers at SPA’s stand at the QLD Pregnancy, Babies and Children Expo.