20 SpeakOut
April 2014
SpeechPathology Australia
BRANCHnews
Newsouthwales
In2013
, Liverpool Hospital celebrated
200 years of service as Australia’s
second oldest hospital. The original
sitewas located onwhat is now the
neighbouringTAFE on the banks of
theGeorgesRiver, andwas used as
an infirmary for soldiers and convicts.
Whilst the speech pathology department
can’t claim to have existedback then,
the hospital’s 200 year anniversary
ignitedour interest in the department’s
heritage. Plus, with the launch of the
International CommunicationProject
2014, it was decided a celebrationwas
in order to highlight and celebrate the
role of speech pathologists and the
differences theymake to the lives of
some of themost vulnerablemembers of
the community.
On1March2014 the current department
hosted the Liverpool Hospital Speech
PathologyReunion. Over 60people
attended, representing four decades
from the 1980s to now. It was a
wonderful turnout and a fun night was
hadby all. Many people commented that
their years at the hospital equipped them
with a strong notion of the importance of
family and client-centredpractices. They
recalled the department’s commitment
toworkingwith vulnerablemembers of
the community using innovativemodels
of care. Educationwas another theme
withmany recalling the early days of
competency development, the value of
robust training and themore recent new-
graduate program.
Dr TeresaAndersonwas a guest
speaker and reflected on the early years.
She commenced at Liverpool Hospital
in 1981 as a sole clinician andmanaged
the department until 1998. She is now
theChief Executive of Sydney Local
HealthDistrict. Teresa is known for her
vision and leadership. AsDepartment
Manager shewas a strong advocate
for patientswith swallowing and
communication difficulties and ensured
the Liverpool community had a quality
and sustainable speech pathology
service. Under Teresa’s leadership the
department was set on a trajectory of
incredible growth tobecome one of the
country’s largest andbusiest speech
pathology departments. In honour of
Teresa’s achievements, the department’s
annual award has been renamed ‘The
TeresaAndersonSpeechPathology
Award for Clinical Excellence’.
From humble beginnings Liverpool
Hospital is now the largest hospital
and tertiary referral centre inNSW.
The speech pathology department
has approximately 28 full time
clinicians providing services across
the lifespan from neonatal intensive
care, developmental paediatric and
physical disability services, through
to adult acute, neurosciences, head
and neck cancer, traumatic brain injury
rehabilitation, aged care andpalliative
care services. The department’s
commitment to innovation, partnership,
research and education has remained,
as has our focus on vulnerable
communities. One highlight is the recent
growth in services for theAboriginal
communitywith two speech pathologists
employed in partnershipwithKARI
Aboriginal Resources Incorporated as
well as employingour first Aboriginal
speech pathologist.
Whilst we’ve come a longway, our
work is far fromdone. There are still
far toomany individuals livingwith
communication and swallowing
difficulties that need us tobe their
advocate.
We acknowledge staff past andpresent
and thank everyone for their contribution.
We’re proud of our past and excited
about the future.What a great profession
anddepartment tobe a part of!
TiaCroft
Headof Department, SpeechPathology
Liverpool Hospital
LiverpoolHospital SpeechPathologyDepartment
celebrates itsheritageduring ICP2014
Above, the Liverpool Hospital SpeechPathology
Reunion had a great turnout, and right, Dr Teresa
Anderson reflectedon her timewith the department
during the celebrations.
