10 Speak Out
December 2014
Speech Pathology Australia
Does simulated learning
provide speech pathology
students with competency outcomes comparable to those
observed in traditional clinical placements?
Simulated Learning Environments are recognised as a valuable
learning method, enabling students to develop technical and non-
technical skills that prepare them for future clinical practice. Recent
research in physiotherapy has determined that a proportion
of traditional clinical time could be replaced by simulation
experiences without undermining students’ development of
knowledge and skills (Blackstock et al., 2013; Watson et al., 2012).
Phase 1 of the “Embedding Simulation in Clinical Training
in Speech Pathology” project was funded initially by Health
Workforce Australia then transferred to the Department of
Health (Commonwealth), with full support of Speech Pathology
Australia. The overall aim of this project is to determine if students
in accredited speech pathology programs achieve a comparable
level of competency in placements when an average of 20% of
the placement time is replaced with simulated learning activities
compared to traditional clinical placements.
Phase 1 involved consultation with all Australian universities
training speech pathology students (15 universities) across
19 undergraduate and graduate entry training programs.
The purpose of the Phase 1 stage was to develop the
design of a randomised controlled trial methodology and
the framework for simulation interventions appropriate for
facilitation of speech pathology students’ competency
in adult clinical practice in a range of settings, including
acute, rehabilitation, disability and aged care. Through this
consultation and development phase, the team has identified
university programs able to implement the trial (Phase 2) and
a large scale multisite funding application was submitted in
October to the Department of Health to seek support for this
exciting initiative. Watch this space for future updates!
The “Embedding Simulation in Clinical Training in Speech
Pathology” Phase 1 project was led by a Project Team from
five Australian universities.
Members of the project team (
pictured
):
•
Dr Anne Hill, The University of Queensland (Project Leader)
•
Prof Liz Ward, The University of Queensland
•
A/Prof Bronwyn Davidson, The University of Melbourne
•
Dr Ruth Nicholls, The University of Melbourne
•
Assoc Prof Tricia McCabe, The University of Sydney
•
Dr Alison Purcell, The University of Sydney
•
Dr Sally Hewat, The University of Newcastle
•
Ms Joanne Walters, The University of Newcastle
•
Assoc Prof Elizabeth Cardell, Griffith University
•
Ms Simone Howells, Griffith University
•
Ms Stacey Baldac, Speech Pathology Australia
•
Mrs Adriana Penman (0.4FTE) and Ms Daniella Cain
(0.4FTE), project officers.
If you would like further information about this project, please
contact Dr Anne Hill at
Simone Howells
on behalf of the The “Embedding Simulation in
Clinical Training in Speech Pathology” Project Team
References:
Blackstock, F.C., Watson, K.M., Morris, N.R., Jones, A., Wright,
A., McMeeken, J.M., et al. (2013). Simulation can contribute
a part of cardiorespiratory physiotherapy clinical education.
Simulation in Healthcare, 8
(1), 32–42.
Watson, K., Wright, A., Morris, N., McMeeken, J., Rivett, D.,
Blackstock, F., et al. (2012). Can simulation replace part of
clinical time? Two parallel randomised controlled trials.
Medical
Education, 46
, 657–667.
At this year's
ASHA convention, Professor Mark Onslow and Ann Packman were
awarded the most prestigious ASHA Journal Award, the Alfred K. Kawana Award for Lifetime
Achievement in Publications. Mark and Ann are colleagues at the The Australian Stuttering
Research Centre at the University of Sydney, and this is the first time that a team has
received this award.
The Alfred K. Kawana Award is reserved for outstanding researchers who have a sustained
history of exemplary publications in ASHA journals. You can read more about the Award
via
Speech Pathology Australia congratulates Mark and
Ann on what is a very significant and well-deserved achievement, and thanks them for their
contribution to the speech pathology profession both in Australia and internationally.
association news
Embedding Simulation in Clinical Training in Speech Pathology
research update (Phase 1)
Prof Mark Onslow and Ann Packman receive ASHA journal award
