Speak Out October 2017 LOW RES

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October 2017 Speak Out 3
From the President
Gaenor Dixon
Gaenor Dixon
National President
AND SUDDENLY IT IS OCTOBER – It feels such a short time ago that I was
looking towards cooler, shorter days, and here we are with the heat building,
jacarandas blooming in Brisbane and mangoes on the supermarket shelves.
This month marks 14 months since we launched the Speech Pathology 2030
report, and it is timely to reflect on how we are travelling towards reaching our
aspirations.
This year we have had a focus on communication access. Towards this goal
we held a Communication Forum during Speech Pathology Week with a range
of stakeholders, to develop a strategy to work together towards developing
communication access. A second meeting with stakeholders is being held later
this month. We have met with representatives of ISAAC and AGOSCI to start
planning communication access activities centred around the Gold Coast for
the ISAAC conference next year.
Speech Pathology Week focused on communication access and this edition
contains some of the activities that happened around the country to raise
awareness of reducing barriers to communication in the community. It was
exciting to see the social media posts of the various individual practices
making their practice communication accessible. We have also continued to
work with the International Communication Project partners (NZ, UK, Ireland,
Canada and US) to increase awareness of communication internationally.
We have continued to advocate for communication access (and access to
timely services), through submissions on the NDIS (3), submission to an inquiry
on the national disability strategy, submission to the law reform office, and
submissions to the UN.
Several branches have held strategic planning forums, using the SP 2030 as a
framework for their planning.
In other news, next month marks one of my favourite Association activities –
Book of the Year, which is being held on 2 November. All members are invited
to attend – it’s a great opportunity to promote language and literacy, and the
importance of collaborating with families, authors, libraries, childcare and
schools.
Next month I will also be attending the ASHA convention where I will be signing
the Multilateral Recognition Agreement update on behalf of the Association.
We will also be meeting with the other ICP associations for a face-to-face
meeting to further our work together. Looking at the program, it is exciting to
see many Australians are presenting. I look forward to seeing you there.
Enjoy this month’s update on Association activities, information on new
initiatives and answers to Frequently Asked Questions.
Until December.