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Speak Out April 2015 5
The first Board meeting for 2015 was held on 27–28
February.
Some highlights from the meeting include:
• The Board discussed the need to host a Board
Election to elect two of the three candidates, from the
State of Victoria, to Speech Pathology Australia’s Board
of Directors. (Information regarding the voting process
was circulated, via email, to all Voting Members of the
Association.)
• Student engagement and membership is being
considered, as the number of university programs
and students increase across Australia.
• The Association remains committed to the
International Communication Project , with
work currently underway to produce a project brief with
a strategic advocacy focus on world health policies.
• Community Representatives continue to be sought
to join Speech Pathology Australia’s Ethics Board.
• The Association’s appointed auditors, E Passaris
and J Szafraniec, of Grant Thornton, joined the meeting
to discuss the 2014 Financial and Audit Reports.
The Financial Report for the end of 2014 was approved
by the Board.
• The Association continues to seek support from
Ministers, Shadow Ministers and Advisors, at a
Federal and State/Territory level, as we await the
Government’s response to the Senate Inquiry
Recommendations .
• A Lobbying and Policy Strategy Development Breakfast,
aimed at developing advocacy capacity within the
membership, is planned for the 2015 National Conference.
• A Stakeholder Engagement Reception (involving
politicians and key invited guests), hosted by the ACT
Chief Minister and scheduled to occur prior to the National
Conference dinner, was confirmed.
• With a growing staff, the National Office premises has
been of inadequate size for some time. Following significant
consideration over the past twelve months, the Board
approved the lease of new premises, while renting out the
Speech Pathology Australia-owned offices in Bank Place.
• The Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Framework
was discussed, with the Board indicating that they envisage
implementation of a broad Reconciliation Action Plan, with
wide-ranging impacts, not limited to accreditation. Given
the size of the project, this will need to be considered for the
next Strategic Plan.
• The CBOS 2011 Transferability Report is currently in the
process of being finalised, with a well-received presentation
given by project officer, C Brebner, at the University
Accreditor’s Training Day.
• The timeline for Speech Pathology Australia’s Research
Grant Program is being reconsidered, with the current
timeline not well suited to undergraduate research.
The Board will next meet on Friday 15 and Saturday 16 May
2015, ahead of the National Conference, Challenge, Broaden,
Revolutionise, Canberra 2015. Gail Mulcair
Chief Executive Officer
Board of Directors – February meeting report
On 5 March, Gail Mulcair, as Chief
Executive Officer of Speech Pathology
Australia, attended the launch of
‘Recognise Health’ in Canberra.
Recognise Health is an initiative of the
Lowitja Institute that aims to promote
understanding of the important link
between health, wellbeing, and
constitutional recognition of Aboriginal
and Torres Strait Islander people. The
initiative brings together more than
117 non-government organisations
across the Australian health system.
More information and photos of
the Recognise Health launch can
be viewed at
'Recognise Health' initiative launched in March