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February 2017 Speak Out 37
Most Outstanding Clinical Performance from Edith Cowan
University Bachelor of Speech Pathology was awarded to Hannah
Dillon:
“Hannah was a highly professional valued member of our
team. She displayed a high level of theoretical knowledge
and integrated this seamlessly within session plans and
informal discussion with staff and parents. Hannah’s ability
to absorb new information and her commitment to lifelong
learning was commendable.”
Community Awards
The 2016 Speak Easy Award is for students who have shown
an outstanding commitment to helping individuals with stuttering
difficulties in Western Australia.
The Curtin University award winners were Kerianne Bloch, Asha
Bodycoat, Alice Carter and Tarryn Jones. The winner for the Edith
Cowan University award was Clare Andrews.
The winner of the Dr Anthea Masarei Memorial Award was Sarah-
Jane Dymond:
“This student always considered the needs of the clients
and families and was always willing to put them first…those
children thought they were the most important person in her
world when they were with her…Both her clinical educators
sincerely hope she works in rural WA – her compassion in her
practice would be an asset to a rural community.”
Thank you to all clinical educators for all your support of students
in 2016
In the first two weeks of July, Therapy Focus supported
four therapists (physiotherapists Emily Brock and Nicky Scott,
occupational therapist Caitlin Williams and speech pathologist
Caitlin O’Meara) to volunteer their time to work with people with
disabilities in Vanuatu. This was through a not-for-profit charity
organisation called Joint Therapy Outreach (JTO).
JTO send a team of health professionals to remote islands
in Vanuatu each year. JTO work closely with Wheelchairs for
Kids, which is a charity organisation based in Perth. JTO ship
wheelchairs, along with other mobility equipment, to Vanuatu
so that the team can provide these to people with disabilities
in remote communities in Vanuatu. JTO works closely with
the Vanuatu government to promote disability awareness and
encourage inclusion and participation of people with disabilities in
their communities.
We visited Port Vila, Santo, Malekula and Ambae and worked
with children with club feet, hydrocephalus, autism, cerebral
palsy, Down Syndrome and other birth defects. We also worked
with adults who had suffered strokes and other degenerative
conditions.
As a team we were able to meet and work with lots of amazing
people and we have so many stories that we will cherish forever.
During the first week while we were working on Malekula Island
we met a 6-year-old boy. He presented with bilateral club feet
restricting his ability to walk, attend school and participate in
village life. We were able to spend two hours with him and with
the help from Wheelchairs for Kids we were able to provide him
with a customised wheelchair to enable him to participate and
support his inclusion in village life.
The following week we were on Ambae Island and we met a
17-year-old. He presented with undiagnosed Autism and was
also completely blind. His family did not understand his disability
and did not know how to support him within the community.
We learnt he had never left his hut. We discussed with his family
how to provide him with more predictability as well as sensory
strategies to help with his regulation. A representative from the
Disability Services Commission in Vanuatu was able to explain the
importance of including him in village life.
It was an incredible trip and we are so very grateful that we were
able to be a part of it. This opportunity reinforced to us how
important the work we do to maximise an individual’s quality of
life.
Caitlin O’Meara
Volunteering experience in Vanuatu