August2013_SpeakOut_FINAL_lo_res

9 / 44

Speak Out August 2013 9
New SPA online Member Communities
SPeech pathology Australia’s new Member
Communities are open to all members with an interest in:
• Disability
• Education and learning
• Private practice
• Rural and remote issues
• Working with developing communities
• Being a student
• Apps and mobile devices.
These communities provide a general forum in which
members can share information and receive peer support.
They allow views to be shared, provide opportunities for
collaboration, support and the extension of professional
networks within the Association nationally and internationally.
Discussions have already started in all the groups and they
are already proving to be a valuable way of meeting and
interacting with your fellow speech pathologists.
They’re easy to join – just go to the ‘Guide to Member
Communities’ document via the website, follow the link to
the community/ies you are interested in and ask to join. We’ll
check you are a current financial member and, if you use a
different name on Facebook, check your membership name
and number before admitting you to the Community.
Why Facebook?
Facebook is one of the most well known and used
social networking sites. Member feedback, usage
statistics and ease of use show that Facebook is a
practical platform for an online Community that many members
are familiar with and already use. The use of a platform such
as Facebook wasn’t a decision taken lightly and many options
were explored. We understand that our Communities will not be
hosted on the preferred platform of all of our members, but in
weighing up options in terms of cost and accessibility, ease of
use and member feedback, it was the most viable platform.
We encourage you to join as many Communities as you
want and if you need help or would like to talk through the
platform or purpose of the Communities, email support@
or call 1300 368 835.
Felicity Burke
National Coordinator Member Networks
Communication Research Registry –
an exciting initiative for EBP!
One of the significant events of the 2013 National
Conference was the launch of the Communication
Research Registry, an initiative developed by the
University of Queensland and proudly supported by SPA.
The Communication Research Registry is designed to
support research in the area of communication disability by:
• facilitating recruitment of participants for research
projects nationally
• maintaining a register of children and adults with
communication disability
• providing information on current research projects in
communication
• providing a forum for researchers to suggest research
topics in areas of need
• promoting collaboration between clinicians and researchers.
The Registry is open to anyone who would like to be involved in
communication research including people with communication
disability, friends and family of people with communication
disability, the public and those who work in the field such as
speech pathologists and audiologists.
Importantly, the Registry will have a national focus as it
extends to include participants and researchers from all
over Australia. The Registry has already attracted much
interest, both at a local and national level, with many speech
pathologists expressing keen interest in its development.
As one of the key objectives of the Association is the promotion
of evidence-based practice within the profession, SPA has
committed to supporting the Registry with a $40,000 financial
contribution in 2013, with additional funding proposed over the
next two years. I urge all members to visit the Registry’s website
at for further information.
Michelle Foley
National Coordinator Scientific Affairs
ASHA and SPA CEO talk associations!
A recent opportunity to catch up with ASHA
CEO, Arlene Pietranton, as part of a delegation
of American Association Executives, was both
positive and informative. The delegation from the American
Society of Association Executives (ASAE) visited Sydney
to attend the Associations Forum National Conference and
to hold meetings with a range of Australian CEOs. Of
particular interest is that Arlene Pietranton of ASHA is the
incoming ASAE Chair
and was very interested
in the policies,
practices and issues for
Australian associations.
It was concluded
that while there are
legislative and political
differences across
our countries, there
were many common
issues, challenges
and opportunities
for associations
experienced by all.
As part of extensive
discussion on
governance, SPA’s recent change in constitution and
the move to a skills-based board was of interest to many
present, and we were congratulated on achieving this with
such a high level of support from members. Gail Mulcair
Chief Executive Officer
SPA CEO Gail Mulcair and ASHA CEO
Arlene Pietranton.
New online initiatives and ASHA meeting