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June 2016 Speak Out 27
“Thank you for asking us to appear before you today.
My name is Dr Jade Cartwright and I am a speech
pathologist who works in aged care. I also hold an
academic position at the University of Melbourne.
Today I am representing Speech Pathology Australia
as the Association’s National Aged Care Advisor. I am
also joined by Dr Michelle Bennett who is a member of
the Association’s National Aged Care Advisory Group
and an academic at the Australian Catholic University. I
know that many of you are familiar with our profession
through your 2014 inquiry into communication
impairment and speech pathology services. For
the Hansard record however, Speech Pathology
Australia is the national peak body for speech
pathologists, representing nearly 7000 members.
Speech pathologists are university trained allied health
professionals with expertise in the assessment and
treatment of communication and swallowing problems.
Today we want to focus our statement on the issues
that are very specific to our profession, and in particular
regarding access to our expertise for older Australians.
In order to achieve quality participation in all aspects
of life, effective communication is essential. Whilst
communication and swallowing problems can emerge
Key Messages
for the Aged Care
Workforce Senate
Inquiry
In April Speech Pathology
Australia representatives
Dr Jade Cartwright and Dr
Michelle Bennett appeared
before the Senate Community
Affairs References Committee
at a hearing in Melbourne for
the inquiry into the Future
of Australia’s Aged Care
Workforce. To follow is their
opening statement.
Ronelle Hutchinson
Manager, Policy and Advocacy
at any point in a person’s life, the prevalence and
complexity of these problems increase with age.
Both communication and swallowing functions are
vulnerable to the natural ageing process and are
highly prevalent in people living with conditions such
as Dementia, Parkinson’s Disease, and stroke. Even
subtle age-related changes in communication skills
have a significant impact on a person’s everyday
life and social participation. This has serious
repercussions for the ability of people to remain in
their homes and in community based settings. It has
serious repercussions for consumer directed care
approaches if an older person is unable to effectively
communicate their wishes, preferences and decisions.
Speech pathologists should be an essential member
of the care and support team for older Australians.
Unfortunately,our services are spread very thinly in
commonwealth funded services—and when we are
involved, it is usually only to provide assessments of
swallowing.
Our profession was encouraged by your Committee’s
bi-partisan recommendations relating to our role in
the aged care workforce though your former inquiry.
Specifically, your committee recommended that the
Dr Michelle Bennett and Dr Jade
Cartwright at the Melbourne Hearing of
the Inquiry into Aged Care Workforce.
Policy & Advocacy