Speak Out August 2016 Low Res

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8 Speak Out August 2016
Association news
The Association recognises the pioneering
leadership and outstanding contribution
that Alan Howarth has made to the
profession of speech pathology in Australia,
particularly in the state of Victoria.
During his almost sixty years of practice as
a speech pathologist and educator, Alan
has contributed outstanding service to
Speech Pathology Australia. Alan has been
a past National President of the College
of Speech Therapists and President of the
Victorian Council of Speech Therapy. He
has contributed significantly to the speech
pathology profession through clinical and
administrative leadership, academic and
clinical education, government liaison,
promotion of speech pathology and service
to the community.
As a qualified and experienced teacher,
Alan completed his speech therapy training
in 1956 in Melbourne, commencing
employment with the Victorian Department
of Education as its first full time speech
therapist in Geelong, tasked with
developing the clinical services in that
region. Alan played an integral role in
building staff, resources and a strong,
highly respected presence in the schools
and medical community of the regional
city of Geelong and its satellite towns and
communities.
Alan’s passion for language development
and its effect on literacy acquisition has led
to many years as an authority in this area
of clinical services. His enthusiasm and
ability to inspire excellent clinical skills in
his peers and undergraduate students has
been a hallmark of his working life, as has
the pathway he created for clinicians in the
treatment of language and literacy issues
in school aged children. He has been a
member of the Association throughout his
career as a practising speech pathologist
for 59 years, and he is currently working in
private practice in Geelong.
Alan played a significant role in the clinical
education of speech pathologists. As part
of a growing Department of Education
speech pathology team, Alan was
responsible for organising in service training
for all Victorian therapists. He has made a
significant contribution to undergraduate
clinical training over all levels, providing
structured training and supervision to
students from Melbourne, many of whom
still recall their Geelong clinic placements.
Alan’s quest to help his clients achieve
the best outcomes meant that he had a
continuous thirst for knowledge which
he translated into pioneering treatment
regimens for example in the area of verbal
dyspraxia.
Alan was a member of the Australian
College of Speech Therapists committee
that was responsible for assessing final
year undergraduate students prior to the
establishment of the state based training
schools. He represented the college in
setting and marking exam papers.
As a Government employed therapist,
Alan has had a rich history of Government
liaison and was involved in many innovative
practices and roles whilst responsible for
the development and management of
comprehensive clinical service delivery
according to the model of the time. Alan
was at the forefront advocating for career
pathways for speech pathologists in the
Education Department.
Alan has always been an important
promoter of speech pathology in his
local community as a representative
on committees, in his role as a school
principal, as a fundraiser for equipment and
as a member of a multidisciplinary team.
As a private practitioner Alan accepted a
caseload of adults and children so he has
made a substantial contribution to the lives
of many people. He is regularly contacted
or stopped in the street by parents keen
to relate success stories of their children
graduating, working overseas, completing
apprenticeships and relaying special
thanks for the change his intervention and
guidance has had on their lives.
During the process of researching Alan’s
professional history, many of his colleagues
made similar comments in awe of his
extensive experience and his interest in
new research and how it might translate
into current practice. There was an overall
appreciation of Alan’s pioneering role
for the profession. In the opinion of one
speech pathologist, “we coasted in his
slipstream to a positive public profile”.
Life Membership is the highest public professional honour
the Association awards to members and is awarded to speech
pathologists who have demonstrated outstanding leadership and
committed service to the Association and profession over many years.
In 2016 the Association awarded Life Membership to two exceptional
members of the Association, Alan Howarth and Dr Suze Leitao.
Life Membership
Alan completed
his speech therapy
training in 1956
in Melbourne,
commencing
employment with
the Victorian
Department of
Education as
its first full time
speech therapist.
Alan Howarth
life member