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www.speechpathologyaustralia.org.au
Speak Out
August 2013
33
SA Branch at the National Conference
A new graduate’s perspective
The SPA National Conference in June 2013 was a jam-
packed three days of presentations, workshops, exhibits,
networking and information! As a recent Masters graduate
from Flinders University, the “SEA
change”
(Synthesise,
Evaluate, Act) theme to the Conference was everything it
promised and more!
For three days I was updated on the latest research
carried out across not only Australia but the world. I was
speechless (!) by the presenters’ drive to fill in the gaps in
order to help our profession achieve the best for the clients
we work with. The mix of presentations and workshops
allowed me to appraise information on a variety of topics.
A particular highlight was the final day workshop
presented by Dr Tiffany Hogan on “Increasing lower
and higher level language skills to improve reading
comprehension”. I have walked away from that workshop
empowered about the importance of the “building blocks” of
reading comprehension. These skills, I believe, will lead to
greater conversations between schools and myself and this
can only benefit children.
While I feel I am still processing (or evaluating) everything,
three words resound in my head; encouraged, inspired and
challenged. I am encouraged by the breadth of information
and research that is available to put into practice with the
children and schools I work with. I have been inspired to do
more, and grow more as a speech pathologist. But perhaps
most importantly I have been challenged to put all of this
knowledge into action.
Jodie Davis
Speech Pathologist
A presenter’s perspective
As a research higher degree student, I was enthusiastic about
attending the National Conference this year to present my
research for the first time.
My PhD is entitled “Perceptions and enactment of client-
centred speech-language pathology practice for adults with
aphasia across the rehabilitation continuum”. My supervisors
are Professor Elizabeth Armstrong and Associate Professor
Deborah Hersh, and I’m enrolled at Edith Cowan University
in Western Australia, although I‘m based in Adelaide and
work at The Queen Elizabeth Hospital and Repatriation
General Hospital.
T
here was a definite buzz in the office as a group of my colleagues returned from the Speech Pathology Australia
2013 National Conference, inspired by three days of learning and revived by some Queensland sunshine (causing
others to turn green with envy). In this
Speak Out
edition we present two different perspectives on the Conference; one
from a new graduate and another from a Conference presenter.
Rachel Trebilcock
SA Branch Editor
SA Branch members at the 2013 SPA National Conference.