JCPSLP Vol 14 No 1 2012

Professional issues

It is exciting to present the first issue of this journal

(formerly known as

ACQuiring Knowledge in Speech, Language and

Hearing

) under its new name

Journal of Clinical Practice in Speech-

Language Pathology (JCPSLP)

. It is fitting that the change of name is

introduced in the “Professional issues” edition of this journal. We

believe the new name,

Journal of Clinical Practice in Speech-

Language Pathology

, reflects the changing nature of this publication

over time, from a magazine to its current format of a “journal”, and

reinforces its clinical relevance. Caroline Bowen, in her longstanding

column “Webwords”, gives us an insight into the history of the journal

and the evolution of its name.

Whether our speech pathology background brings us to work

clinically, in research, in academia, or in management, professional

issues are relevant and impact all of us. Speech Pathology Australia

is an invaluable resource with its website, publications, and various

documents and position statements. You can find more information

about the Association’s resources in this edition’s “Top 10” column.

A range of professional issues are highlighted in the peer-reviewed

articles. Lincoln starts by discussing the 10 key challenges facing our

profession in regards to clinical education and universities. Ciccone,

Priddis, Lloyd, Hersh, Taylor, and Standish continue with the theme of

clinical education by presenting a paper on interprofessional clinical placements. The three

peer-reviewed articles that follow deal with “assessment”, another important professional

issue. Swift, O’Brian, Onslow, and Packman focus on the assessment of fluency using

parent questionnaire, whereas Cimoli and Sweeny address service delivery models and

approaches to training in relation to the assessment of swallowing. The final peer-reviewed

article (by May and Williams) reports on a study investigating the assessment of the first

language of English language learners.

Professional issues are highlighted in every edition of our journal in the two regular

columns of “Ethical conversations” and “What’s the evidence?”. In this edition’s “Ethical

conversations” the Ethics Board of Speech Pathology Australia lists a number of

professional and ethical issues for us to consider and states that “[it] is the specifics of the

current financial situation, the changing world economy, and the fast emerging newer types

of technology that influence the current emerging issues” (p. 33). The “What’s the evidence?”

column by Cartwright follows on from the “Ethical conversations” column by seeking “to

review the current evidence for ‘evidence translation’ and to equip clinicians with some ideas

for demonstrating and proactively addressing evidence-practice gaps in practice” (p. 37).

The

JCPSLP

prides itself on publishing up-to-date, evidence based, and clinically relevant

information. It is also a forum where a wide range of members of the profession can publish

their work. All papers undergo a stringent review process, either by double-blind peer review

or by the editors. At all times we welcome feedback from the readers on papers or columns

published. In this issue the

JCPSLP

publishes a discussion on the language assessment of

Indigenous children. This includes two letters to the editor addressing some issues raised

in a paper published in the last edition of this publication (November 2011) as well as a

response to the letters by one of the authors.

The assessment of clients from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds

is definitely a professional issue that requires further discussion and research within

our profession. In addition to the last edition dedicated to working with culturally and

linguistically diverse populations (November 2011), the peer-reviewed paper in this issue

by May and Williams deals with the assessment of the first language of English language

learners (mentioned above). Furthermore, Coleman presents some clinical insights on

service delivery for Aboriginal people and Parsons gives us a research update on university

students working in rural and remote areas.

We would like to thank all the authors for their contribution to the first edition of the newly

named

Journal of Clinical Practice in Speech-Language Pathology

, one of many issues

to come. Furthermore, we would like to acknowledge the peer reviewers for 2011 whose

names are listed in this edition; we appreciate your constructive feedback on papers in the

area of your expertise, which enables us to publish quality, evidence based, and clinically

relevant articles.

From the editors

Kerry Ttofari Eecen and Marleen Westerveld

From the editors

The diversity challenge for

universities and clinical educators

–

Michelle Lincoln

Interprofessional clinical placement

involving speech pathology and

counselling psychology:

Two

students’ experiences –

Natalie

Ciccone, Lynn Priddis, Amanda

Lloyd, Deborah Hersh, Ashleigh

Taylor, and Georgina Standish

Checklist of parent Lidcombe

Program administration

–

Michelle

Swift, Sue O’Brian, Mark Onslow,

and Ann Packman

Fibreoptic Endoscopic Evaluation

of Swallowing (FEES):

Models of

service delivery and approaches

to training –

Michelle Cimoli and

Joanne Sweeney

Using parent report for

assessment of the first language

of English language learners

–

Aria May and Cori Williams

Clinical insights:

Strategies to

enhance effective service delivery

for Aboriginal people –

Gwendalyn Webb

Emerging ethical and professional

issues

–

Suze Leitão, Trish Bradd,

Lindy McAllister, Alison Russell,

Belinda Kenny, Nerina Scarinci,

Helen Smith, Peter Dhu, Noel Muller,

Grant Meredith, and Christina Wilson

What’s the evidence for translating

EBP into clinical practice?

–

Jade Cartwright

Webwords 42:

Professional issues

–

Caroline Bowen

Speech Pathology Australia’s Top

10 resources

speechBITE:

Answering the need

for better access to evidence

Research update:

Andrew Dean

Fildes Foundation for Language-

Learning Disabilities – Increasing

student experiences with children in

rural and remote areas –

Carl Parsons

Around the journals

Peer review:

(January –

December 2011)

Resource reviews

Letters to the editor

Contents

www.speechpathologyaustralia.org.au

JCPSLP

Volume 14, Number 1 2012