ACQ Vol 10 No 1 2008

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28 Speech Pathology Australia
from a variety of people with aphasia who are sharing their
experience and knowledge.
The AAA in collaboration with the Talkback Association
For Aphasia Inc. (based in South Australia) has voted to
establish an Australian Aphasia Awareness Day (“Wednesday
Without Words”). It will be held on the first Wednesday of
September each year, to be launched 3 September 2008. It will
provide an opportunity to highlight aphasia and improve
community awareness.
The AAA is striving to address the continuing challenges
which confront it. Of importance is ensuring that the associ­
ation meets the needs, and is inclusive, of people
with aphasia (of all severity). This has proven
difficult particularly at a national level where the
complexities of legal, financial and logistical
issues dominate discussion. We are seeing people
with aphasia now becoming involved more
locally. They are well represented on the 2008
National Conference Organising Committee and
on the Victorian Branch of the AAA. The AAA is
in the process of establishing an expert reference panel (of
people with aphasia). This group will be consulted for their
opinion on matters which will affect people with aphasia.
The Australian Aphasia Association Incorporated (AAA)
was founded in 2000 by Professor Linda Worrall of the
University of Queensland in collaboration with people with
aphasia and family members (Linda’s contribution has since
been recognised through her appointment as the inaugural
life member of the AAA). The AAA was formed in response
to limited support offered to people with aphasia and the
recognition that significant achievements could be made by
working collectively.
It took some time before the AAA had a significant presence
outside of Brisbane where its foundations lay. Indeed the
logistics of consolidating an incorporated national
entity (with respect to legal, financial and
logistical considerations) is proving to be
extremely challenging and time-consuming.
Nevertheless, the AAA has made an invaluable
contribution to the aphasia community and plans
to continue to do so. This commitment is im­
pressive because AAA has very limited financial
resources (it receives no government funding and
few donations) and the association’s activities are undertaken
by a relatively small number of volunteers.
Each year has witnessed an increase in membership
numbers. As of 31 October 2007, the AAA has 320 members
with members concentrated in Queensland, New South Wales
and Victoria. We have also seen a steady increase in the
number of hits to our website and enquiries, via our email
and phone service.
In addition to producing The Australian Aphasia Guide ,
which you can read about in this issue of ACQ, the AAA has
been involved in numerous other activities aimed at
supporting people with aphasia and their families. Significant
have been the AAA national conferences. There have now
been a total of six national conferences which have grown
from strength to strength. The conferences are held every two
years – the next one, titled Not Just A Phase Ya Go Through.
Let’s Talk about Aphasia!, will be held in Brisbane on 29–30
September 2008. The conference will be held immediately
prior to the Aphasiology Symposium of Australia, also to be
held in Brisbane –an example of the Australian aphasia
community working together.
Significant too has been the development of an aphasia
logo. Many within the aphasia community lament the lack of
public awareness of the condition. The development of a
colourful, simple logo allows the branding of aphasia in this
fast-paced age where easily identifying a “product” is so
important. The logo will form the basis of our advertising,
public awareness and merchandising campaigns.
The Aphasia Link (the newsletter of the AAA) continues to
be a forum for updating the aphasia community and is
instrumental in fostering an “informed community”. It is only
when a community is informed that it can truly influence and
affect change. Increasing numbers of contributions are coming
Update on the Australian Aphasia
Association
Georgi Laney (National Chairperson) and Matthew Bradley (National Deputy Chairperson)
Georgi Laney is the National Chairperson of the AAA
and Matthew Bradley is the National Deputy Chair­
person.
Another challenge is how the AAA can best work with
other relevant organisations (such as the various state stroke
associations, the Talkback Association) to maximise our
effectiveness. This is not easy given our limited resources
(both fiscal and human resources) but is necessary if the
association is to make a significant contribution in supporting
the Australian aphasia community.
Despite the challenges it faces, the AAA is determined to
continue to support people with aphasia and their families by
building on the achievements already made. If you would
like to learn more about the AAA or if you are interested in
becoming involved please contact us (contact details on our
website .
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