4 Speak Out
December 2014
Speech Pathology Australia
association news
This year
has seen a significant increase in the lobbying,
policy and advocacy work of the Association. Membership of
the Association provides more than direct benefits to individual
members – it provides a strong and unified voice to advocate
to governments on issues that affect speech pathologists and
the people we work with.
The Senate Inquiry –
Speech pathology
in the spotlight
Without a doubt, this has been a once-
in-a-profession opportunity to draw
national attention to the challenges faced
by people with communication and
swallowing difficulties and the value of
speech pathology services in Australia.
It is a major achievement of the Association after many years
of tenacious lobbying that an Inquiry was held. Work continues
with advocating that the federal and state governments
commit to enacting the recommendations made by the Senate
Community Affairs Reference Committee.
Written Submissions – Speech pathologists
going on the ‘record’
A key policy and advocacy activity of the Association is
preparing written submissions to a range of federal and state
government consultative processes – going ‘on the record’
with the views of the Association (and its 6,000+ members).
In 2014, over 20 written submissions were made – including
diverse submissions to:
•
the Senate Inquiry
•
the review of the National Registration and
Accreditation Scheme
•
the National Oral Health Plan
•
the National Review of Mental Health Programs
and Services
•
the draft National Child and Youth Strategic Framework
for Health
•
the Productivity Commission Child Care and
Early Childhood Learning and
•
the National Code of Conduct for Health Workers.
Thank you to the many members who provided advice for
these submissions – their contributions ensure that what
is ‘on the record’ accurately reflects the realities of speech
pathologists working in Australia.
Branch Policy and Advocacy –
Focusing on state and local issues
Whilst a main focus has been on national policy and
advocacy work this year, a number of our Branches have
been significantly active in liaising with state governments
and lobbying for improved or increased services to school
aged children. Notable work has been done by the Tasmanian
Branch leading up to their election earlier in the year, the
Northern Territory Branch, the New South Wales Branch and
the Victorian Branch. Along with activities associated with
the ICP2014, these Branch-initiated policy and advocacy
activities have been a great platform to raise awareness about
communication and swallowing disorders with key decision
makers in governments and education departments.
Part of the Team – Speech pathology
and mental health
The current review of mental health programs and services
being conducted has provided the opportunity for the
Association to advocate for the importance of access to speech
pathology services for patients with comorbid communication/
swallowing difficulties and mental illness. Several meetings were
held with advisors to the Prime Minister and the federal Minister
for Health, and with the National Mental Health Commission
and the NSW Mental Health Commission. Thank you to Mary
Woodward, Natalie Albores and Narelle Anger for sharing their
expertise and representing the Association, alongside CEO, Gail
Mulcair, in this advocacy work.
Representation on Alliances/Networks –
being the ‘speech pathologist’ at the table
We have also seen an increase in the Association’s
representation on cross-professional bodies such as the
National Aged Care Alliance, the National Rural Health Alliance,
the Allied Health Professions Australia and the National Alliance
of Self-Regulating Health Professions. These opportunities
ensure that the views and experiences of speech pathologists
(and people with communication and swallowing difficulties)
are represented in broader discussions about policy and
planning that affect our members. Notable thanks goes to Jade
Cartwright and Amanda O’Keefe for their representation on
NACA and NRHA respectively throughout 2014.
2015 – We’re just getting started...
One of the strategic imperatives of the Strategic Plan
2014–2016 is ‘influence’. With the commitment of our
Board, the investment in resources to support this work
through a new position of Manager, Policy and Advocacy,
a ‘roadmap’ for government work outlined in the Senate
Committee’s recommendations and through the
contributions and efforts of members – we look forward
to building on the momentum generated in 2014 to progress
our goal to strengthen the profession’s standing and improve
the lives of people with communication and swallowing
difficulties.
ronelle hutchinson
Manager, Policy and Advocacy
2014 – A significant year in Lobbying, Policy and Advocacy
February2014
SenateCommunityAffairsReferencesCommittee
Submission to the Inquiry into theprevalenceof
different typesof speech, language and communication
disorders and speechpathology services inAustralia
