Speak Out February 2016

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Speak Out February 2016 15
In 2016 five award categories will be contested including:
• Birth to 3 years of age
• Three to 5 years of age
• Five to 8 years of age
• Eight to 10 years of age
• Indigenous Children
As in 2015, the Birth to three years category is strongly
supported by Let’s Read Australia.
Call for nominations
Do you have a favourite children’s book that you believe
should be nominated for this year’s awards?
The Association is seeking nominations for children’s
books that speech pathologists feel promote oral language
development and literacy skills in the five award categories.
A book needs to be exciting and stimulating, and satisfy the
eligibility criteria:
• written by an Australian author;
• readily available in Australia;
• published in 2015 or 2016;
• retail for no more than $30;
• facilitate interaction and collaboration;
• appeal to children; and
• maintain high production standards (graphics, design,
paper stock, etc.)
The nomination form is available from the Book of the
Year page on the Association’s website. The deadline for
nominations is 18 March.
Hall of fame nominations
When warranted, Speech Pathology Australia presents
its Children’s Language and Literature Award. This is the
Association’s ‘Hall of Fame’ award.
The award recognises authors who have contributed
significantly to children’s language and literature. The award is
not presented every year and only when a stand-out
candidate is nominated by a member. The relevant nomination
form and selection criteria are available from the Book of the
Year page on the Association’s website. The deadline for
nominations is 15 March. There was no award in 2015.
Seeking judges
Each of the five categories of the Book of the Year uses the
services of eight volunteer judges. All judges are asked to read
and critique the shortlisted books according to a pre-prepared
judging template. Once the judging process is complete all the
reviewed books are donated by a judge to an organisation that
will benefit from receiving them.
If you are interested in judging the Book of the Year Awards in
2016 you will need to satisfy the following criteria:
• have an interest in children’s language and literature,
• some paediatric experience (this may be through work or
family experience),
• the time over June to August to read and critique
approximately 12 shortlisted books,
• the ability to work to a strict time deadline.
If that sounds like you, please email marketing@
with the following details:
• your name,
• postal address,
• contact details,
• the category you would prefer to judge (one only)
a very brief description of why you would be a good
judge.
The closing date for expressions of interest for judging is 15
April.
Please note that preference is given to members who
were Book of the Year judges in 2015.
MICHAEL KERRISK
Marketing and Communications Manager
ye ar Book of
the
awards 2016
The Book of the Year Awards raise awareness of
the role speech pathologists play in assisting
people of all ages to develop their language
and literacy skills.