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Speak Out October 2015 17
I am a 2012 speech therapy graduate of the two-year
course run at Pham Ngoc Thach University of Medicine
with the support of Trinh Foundation Australia (TFA). Since
my graduation I have worked at the Orthopaedic and
Rehabilitation Hospital in Ho Chi Minh City (HCMC) and have
established an early intervention service there.
I have just returned to Vietnam after a productive 10-week study
tour in Australia, the main focus of which was to learn more
about early intervention services and management. My study
tour was made possible by financial and practical support of
many organisations and individuals. Speech Pathology Australia
provided a free registration for me and supporters of TFA
covered my transport and accommodation costs, to allow me
attend the National Conference in Canberra. Professor Sharynne
McLeod at Charles Sturt University supported my week’s visit to
Bathurst to work on a test for the assessment of speech sound
disorders in Vietnamese children. In June I was supported by my
hospital and TFA to undertake a study tour of early intervention
services in Melbourne. In July, I spent two weeks at Central
Queensland University (CQU) observing early intervention and
AAC sessions with Judy Broadhurst. Dr Susan Morrison from
CQU supported this part of my trip. Christine Sheard hosted my
few days in Sydney at the beginning and end of my trip.
At the Speech Pathology Australia National Conference, I
presented a paper on the contributions of volunteer Australian
speech pathologists to the development of the speech therapy
profession in Vietnam. I also spoke at the TFA dinner for
returned volunteers and supporters. It was good to see again
several Australian speech pathologists who had lectured and
supervised me during the course at PNTU. The highlights of
the Conference for me were:
1. Seeing a variety of speech pathology research being
presented.
2. Learning about new approaches to the treatment of children
with autism: the Early Start Denver Model (ESDM) in a
group-based community childcare setting and reflections on
the role of the speech pathologist in this model.
3. Learning about early intervention: role release in team
treatment approaches, and supporting child-caregiver
relationships in improving developmental language
outcomes for children with special needs.
In June, I spent one week at each of four early intervention
services in Melbourne: Kalparrin Early Childhood Intervention
Service; Manningham Community Health Centre at Doncaster;
EPIC Early Intervention; and Noah’s Arc (who also provided
me with a home stay). My learning goals were to:
1. Develop knowledge regarding management and
development of client-centered groups and individual
intervention programs for children with autism and
disabilities, with involvement from speech pathology,
physiotherapy, occupational therapy, special education
and psychology.
2. Expand and improve my knowledge of assessment and
evaluation of children with autism and disabilities, in the
areas of speech pathology, physiotherapy, occupational
therapy, special education and psychology.
3. Develop knowledge regarding administration and
caseload management of early intervention program.
4. Increase my ability to work in a multidisciplinary team,
which includes other disciplines such as: occupational
therapy, speech pathology and special education,
pediatrics and psychology.
I achieved these goals and in addition learned other interesting
things at each site. For example, at EPIC I learned about a
transition group at primary school and observed a mainstream
class with communication resources (PECs, AAC) and
teachers trained to communicate and work with students
with autism. At Manningham, I sat in on a case conference
to understand parents’ perspectives, and integrated therapy
plans. As a result of my time at Noah’s Arc, I have a better
understanding of the interrelationship of therapists and
teachers, team leaders and key workers.
My plan now is bring together other speech therapists in
Vietnam to share what I have learned in Australia. I am also
implementing PECs, AAC and parent training groups in my early
intervention service. I am very grateful to all the organisations
and individual people in Australia for their support of my tour
and the development of speech therapy in Vietnam.
Le Thi Thanh Xuan
Head of Speech Therapy and Early Intervention Unit,
Orthopaedic and Rehabilitation Hospital, Ho Chi Minh City
Contact details:
From left: Xuan
Le visited EPIC
Early Childhood
Intervention Service,
and spoke at SPA's
2015 National
Conference in
Canberra.
Report on study tour to Australia May – July 2015
study tour insights