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16 Speak Out October 2017
Association news
International Literacy Day on Friday 8 September. In 2017, the
theme for International Literacy Day was “Literacy in a digital
world”.
September 8 was declared International Literacy Day by
UNESCO in 1965. The day aims to highlight the importance of
literacy to individuals, communities and societies.
The ICP is a strong supporter of the UNESCO International
Literacy Day because literacy, like communication, is a basic
human right.
Commencing on 1 September and in the days leading up
to Friday 8 September the ICP, via its various social media
platforms, highlighted issues relating to literacy. This included
information about the size of the world’s illiteracy problem, the
gender bias associated with illiteracy, the world’s shortage of
teachers, and the importance of reading and writing in a child’s
development.
The aim of the various social media was to heighten awareness
of the importance of literacy, to drive people to the ICP’s
website, and encourage visitors to the site to sign the online
ICP pledge.
The communication and marketing team at Speech Pathology
Australia played a central role in initiating and supporting the
ICP’s social media campaign. This included designing all the
campaign’s graphics and infographics, scheduling the various
social media posts, and crafting content for the ICP’s website.
Thanks also goes to the team at ASHA that developed a
short video to help promote the ICP’s International Literacy
Day campaign. The video along with many of the campaign’s
*The International Communication Project was formed in 2014 by
Speech Pathology Australia, Speech-Language & Audiology Canada,
New Zealand Speech-language Therapists Association, Republic of
Ireland: Irish Association of Speech & Language Therapists, Royal
College of Speech Language Therapists (RCSLT), and the American
Speech-Language-Hearing Association.
“Illiteracy and poverty constitute a mutually reinforcing
vicious cycle that is difficult to break.” UNESCO
The International Communication Project (ICP)* resolved
in 2017, as part of a wider communication action plan, to
undertake a series of social media campaigns in support of a
number of international days.
The first of these was conducted around UNESCO’s
Leading the way on International
Literacy Day
Michael Kerrisk
Manager Communications and Marketing
As a member of AGOSCI
• Receive twice yearly editions of AGOSCI in Focus
magazine
• discounted rate for AGOSCI events such as the National
Tour, Biennial conference and state based events
• Access to the AGOSCI listserve and members only
section of website
• Network & share information about complex
communication needs at a state and national level.
THERE IS AN ANNUAL FEE FOR AGOSCI
MEMBERSHIP
(January to December).
Australia’s
AAC
Community
AGOSCI is an inclusive group interested in enhancing the
participation of all people with complex communication needs.
Membership
On-line payments via website: or
by direct debit to AGOSCI bank account. See website for details.
Full time undergraduate student - $55
Non-practicing membership - $55
Parent/guardian or unpaid carer of a
person with complex
communication needs - $55
Person with complex communication
needs - $55
Organisational Membership - $110
Standard Membership - $110