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INTERVENTION: WHY DOES IT WORK AND HOW DO WE KNOW?
representatives. In addition there are three student members.
The Executive Committee is responsible for general super
vision of the affairs of the association. It consists of the presi
dent and four portfolio leaders. The portfolios are Publications
and Area Representative Liaison, Professional Development,
Professional Standards and Public Relations. The NZSTA
Constitution specifies the rules and regulations of the Associ
ation related to requirements for membership, publications,
finance, meetings, election of executive board and officers,
standing committees and amendments to the constitution.
NZSTA has a Code of Ethics to which members must adhere
and a formal, documented Ethics Complaint Procedure.
There are 600 current members of NZSTA (NZSTA, 2006).
This represents about 60% of the number of speech-language
therapists practising in New Zealand. The membership is
made up of a majority of full-time members as well as
provisional members, non-practising members, student
members, associate members, and life and honorary members.
In addition to program accreditation and qualification
approval, the NZSTA supports its membership with the
publication of a quarterly newsletter, an annual academic
journal, and position papers; and the development of special
interest groups and provision of professional development
opportunities including a biennial conference. NZSTA is also
the “face” of the profession for the public. NZSTA keeps the
public informed of the profession through a website, media
activities (e.g., articles in the paper), maintaining repre
sentatives on community boards (e.g., Speak Easy), promotional
activities (e.g., speech-language therapy awareness day) and
publication of educational pamphlets about common
communication and swallowing disorders.
therapists. The Programme Accreditation Framework (PAF;
NZSTA, 2002) outlines key standards for accreditation of
frameworks. These include: the New Zealand Context
(programs will demonstrate cognisance of and responsiveness
to New Zealand culture and current political and quality
initiatives); Programme Structure (programs will meet NZQA
and international standards); Programme Curriculum
(programs will meet specific curriculum and clinical
requirements); and, Competency-Based Practice (programs
will ensure that students can achieve competencies outlined
in the Competency-Based standard). Currently the University
of Canterbury, the University of Auckland and Massey
University are NZSTA accredited.
The qualifications, standards, and competencies outlined
by NZSTA have been accepted by tertiary institutions and
service providers such as district health boards (DHBs) under
the Ministry of Health and group special education (GSE)
under the Special Education section of the Ministry of
Education. Employers such as DHBs and GSE state that their
employees must be eligible to be members of NZSTA. Only
individuals who have graduated from an accredited NZ
program or individuals who have their overseas qualifications
approved by the NZSTA Qualifications Approval Committee
are eligible to be members of NZSTA.
NZSTA
The New Zealand Speech-Language Therapy Association was
established in 1946 and adopted its constitution in May 1982.
The Association has an Executive Board and an Executive
Committee. The Executive Board consists of twelve members,
including the president, four portfolio leaders and seven area