4 Speak Out
October 2014
Speech Pathology Australia
association news
“In June 2011, the Speech Pathology Australia National President Ms Christine Stone first contacted the Community Affairs
References Committee. At that time, there was a request for more consideration of the need for speech pathology services
across Australia. There was also a desperate plea for coordinated research into the need and location of speech therapy
services so that our country can respond with an effective plan to address that need and to ensure that we maintain the
highest quality of speech pathology in our nation. I want to put on record my absolute admiration of and appreciation for
the tenacious efforts of SPA, who never let up. From June 2011 to when we finally got this inquiry on the road in December
2013, there was regular contact. Case studies and information were forwarded by SPA to reassure the committee that there
was a need for this work and also to highlight the professional qualities of the industry in Australia. Through the committee,
we saw the fruits of that work. Over the period of the hearings, we saw the lifelong impact of the need for communication.”
Senator Claire Moore speaking of the Committee’s report in the Australian Senate on 2 September 2014
The Senate Inquiry Recommendations –
Government Action Required!
Recommendations for government include:
The Senate Community Affairs Reference Committee’s
final report for the inquiry into the prevalence of different
types of speech, language and communication disorders and speech pathology services in Australia was tabled in Parliament
on 2 September 2014. For 35 minutes, communication impairment and the value of speech pathology were centre stage in our
national Parliament as Senators spoke to the importance of the inquiry and the recommendations they made.
The Committee made ten detailed recommendations – which direct government to progress work that will provide for better
planning and access to speech pathology services in Australia.
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10
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A strategy be
developed to
broaden the
opportunities for
speech pathology
students to
undertake clinical
placements
that satisfy the
competency based
occupational
standards
The most effective
models of speech
pathology services
be described for:
a) Early childhood
intervention services
b) The educational
system
c) The justice system
d) The health system
e) The residential aged
care environment
An investigation into
the geographical
and demographic
clustering of speech
pathology services
in Australia with
a focus on new
graduate positions
and opportunities
A study of the
costs and benefits
of public funding
of speech pathology
positions and
various service
delivery models
on individuals, the
speech pathology
profession and
the Australian
community
Government at
all levels work to
develop policies that
acknowledge and
recognise the need
to increase access
to speech pathology
services for people
with speech and
language disorders
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The current
service delivery
model for speech
pathology services
in aged care
residential homes
is reconsidered as
part of the federal
government’s
ongoing aged care
reforms
Mapping of
language
support services
across Australia
against the
Australian Early
Development
Index information
about vulnerable
children
The impact of the
National Disability
Insurance Scheme
on the demand and
supply of speech
pathology services
is investigated
Work to be
undertaken to
improve the
availability of
national data about
current and future
needs for speech
pathology services
An immediate
audit of the
current speech
pathology
services for
children in
Australia
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