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JCPSLP Volume 14, Number 1 2012 45
the Association. To find out more or to join, visit http://www.
Special Interest Groups are made up of members and
non-members and provide information to maintain and
advance current skills, provide opportunities for networking,
and discuss topical issues. For more information, go to
special-interests-groups
8 Seeking Employment
The Association’s website Job Board is an excellent
resource for those seeking employment or wishing to
advertise vacant positions. Various of the
Association’s publications also contain
advertisements for other positions or
overseas recruitment companies.
Those wishing to work overseas
in the USA, Canada, Ireland, United
Kingdom, and New Zealand may
also be assisted through the Mutual
Recognition Agreement (MRA) of
Professional Association Credentials.
SPA is a signatory to an MRA with five sister
associations: American Speech-Language-
Hearing Association, ASHA (USA); Canadian
Association of Speech-Language Pathologists and
Audiologists, CASLPA (Canada); Royal College of Speech
and Language Therapists, RCSLT (UK); Irish Association of
Speech and Language Therapists, IASLT (Ireland); and New
Zealand Speech-Language Therapists’ Association, NZSTA
(NZ). The MRA recognises that the six member countries
have substantially equivalent credentials so it is possible
for certified or full members of one association to become
recognised by the others. This does not ensure migration
to any of the other countries or employment, but the
possibility of professional recognition. Further information
can be found at:
au/membership/overseas-qualifications-assessment
Guidance and tailored information for new graduates
is also available, starting with the Graduate Information
webpage. Containing useful links and FAQs, the webpage
is designed to help new members of the profession
make the transition from student to fully fledged speech
pathologist!
education-and-careers/graduate-information
9 A national voice for lobbying and
advocacy
A key component of the Association’s vision is to be an
informed and influential peak body and to advocate for the
interests of those with communication and swallowing
difficulties. SPA does this actively by preparing submissions,
meeting with local and federal politicians, and providing
comment and information as expert spokespeople on
representative committees or in the media. Much of this
work is driven by the Association’s Strategic Plan 2011–
2013. All of the Association’s lobbying activities can be
found on the website, including current and past briefing
papers, our 2010 Federal Election Platform, supporting
media releases, and submissions.
An important part of our lobbying work is to have strong
and nationally consistent key messages, with all members
informed of these and the Association’s key objectives.
Members interested in lobbying at a state or federal level
will be supported through the Practice, Workplace and
the Competency Based Occupational Standards (CBOS)
are also available to provide guidance for the breadth
of professional practice. Clinical guidelines and position
statements provide information about scopes of practice,
theoretical models, and workplace applications for specific
topics and issues.
5 Ethics
The current Code of Ethics was launched in 2010, reflecting
the changes in professional practice, the nature and
complexity of issues raised, and an increase in the
lodgement of formal complaints. All ethics enquiries
and complaints are handled by the Association’s
Senior Advisor Professional Issues and
referred to the standing Ethics Board if
required. The Board then investigates
alleged breaches of the code and
provides recommended actions to SPA’s
National Council. The Board is active in
upholding standards of professional
practice and in applying principles that
inform ethical decisions. The Senior
Advisor Professional Issues can be
contacted on sapi@speechpathologyaustralia.
and the Code of Ethics can be found at
Ethics/CodeofEthics.pdf
6 Professional development
The Association offers a number of ways to access
professional development, including:
• attendance at SPA events at member rates including
Branch continuing Professional Development (CPD)
events, national tours, national videoconferences,
Private Practice Member Network (PPMN) business
seminars, and the annual national conference. A list of
upcoming events, with brochures can be found at http://
Core/Events/Events.aspx
• borrowing items – for members only – from the
CPD Events Library. More information at http://
professional-development-cpd/cpd-events-library
• access to the online Autism Independent
Study Resources. These self-directed learning
packages are free for members at http://www.
children-with-autism-package/education-a-resources
• discussion boards on a variety of topics, free for
members
• participation in the Professional Self Regulation (PSR)
program leading to certification – for further information
go to
membership/professional-self-regulation-psr
7 Mentoring Program, Member Networks,
and Special Interest Groups
SPA’s Mentoring Program helps practitioners new to some
aspect of their role develop their skills, knowledge, and
networks by matching them with a more experienced
practitioner. For more information, visit http://www.
program
Member Networks are designed to promote and
encourage different member groups, like rural and remote,
private practice, or education, to contribute to all aspects of