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Speak Out
April 2016
Speech Pathology Australia
BRANCH news
new south wales
NSW Branch hosted
a 'Conversation about the Future' in
March as part of the Speech Pathology 2030–Making Futures
Happen project (SP2030). The evening was one of 37 events held
across NSW, with conversations hosted at universities, hospitals,
aged care residences, private practices, community health and
disability services across metropolitan, rural and regional settings.
As Branch Chair, I am incredibly proud to see the number of
conversations being hosted in NSW and the overwhelming level of
engagement from speech pathologists across the state.
Eighteen people from a variety of backgrounds attended, facilitating
diverse and valuable discussion. Students from the University of
Sydney, Australian Catholic University and Macquarie University
brought fresh ideas to the table while speech pathologists
with more than 35 years of practicing experience brought rich
perspectives of the history of the profession. Everyone applied
Young Futures Project Leader–Gretchen’s suggestion of “loving
it for just one minute” when new ideas or concepts were raised
and explored. Time was spent thinking about the past, pondering
Conversations in NSW
Professor Penny Cooper
recently visited Australia
to provide training to our children’s champions, judges,
legal practitioners and police to facilitate implementation of
the Child Sexual Offence Evidence Pilot. Professor Cooper
is a former practising barrister specialising in children’s
cases and is considered the leading and most widely
published expert in the world on the development and use
of intermediaries in adversarial justice systems. Professor
Cooper was accompanied to New South Wales by
assistant trainer Dr Michelle Mattison whose trip was
funded by an early career research grant. Michelle is
an experienced registered intermediary specialising in
supporting communication with vulnerable children.
Victims Services NSW hosted a morning tea to welcome
Professor Cooper and allow her a chance to meet the
stakeholders involved in the pilot. NSW Branch Chair
Harmony Turnbull attended the morning tea on behalf
of Speech Pathology Australia. Harmony sits on the
Witness Intermediary Registration Panel, which provides
expertise, advice and guidance to Victims Services in
the administration of the Child Sexual Assault Evidence
Pilot. Other members of the panel include The Australian
Association of Social Workers, Australian Psychology
Society and Occupational Therapy Australia.
Harmony Turnbull
NSW Branch Chair
Training in evidence pilot
NSW Branch Chair
Harmony Turnbull,
Professor Penny Cooper,
OT Australia Frances
Dobson, Victims Services
Mahashini Krishna, Victim
Services Kristi Crepaldi,
Registered Intermediary,
Assistant trainer Dr Michelle
Mattison.
the present and imagining the future of the profession.
The passion in the room from people with all levels of
experience was invigorating and will surely contribute to a
rich product at the conclusion of SP2030.