10 Speak Out
August 2014
Speech Pathology Australia
association affiliation updates
2014 was expected
to be a busy year for Allied Health Professions
Australia (AHPA) with a new government to work with, and several
reports from the National Commission of Audit pending. It has indeed
proven to be so, and there has been a buzz of activity in AHPA related
to Government advocacy and relations, and the National Disability
Insurance Scheme (NDIS).
Closing the Gap
Thursday 20 March 2014 was a momentous day in the allied health
sector in Australia. Not only was it national ‘Close The Gap Day’, but it
was also the day that Indigenous Allied Health Australia (IAHA), AHPA,
AHPA’s 18 member organisations and four affiliate organisations signed
a Statement of Intent to work together to achieve equality in health status
and life expectancy between Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples
and non-Indigenous Australians by year 2030. It is based upon the Close
The Gap Statement of Intent and has been adapted to align with the
core business of the signatories. This is the first time such an innovative
undertaking has occurred within the Australian allied health sector.
Government Advocacy and relations
Following the completion of the National Commission of Audit and the
delivery of the 2014 Budget, AHPA has developed key position papers
in consultation with our members. While individual organisations make
their own connections with government and opposition representatives,
it is important that the core allied health messages are delivered by a
united voice across many allied health professions. These messages
were effectively delivered when a contingent of AHPA member
organisations [including Speech Pathology Australia] recently attended
a day of meetings in Canberra. Eight meetings were attended, including
various Senators and Ministers, and the Chief Allied Health Officer and
Advisor. AHPA’s position papers included: Retaining best practice is
crucial to the success of the NDIS; Important access to update electronic
health records; Prescribing rights for allied health professionals; Ensuring
quality care in the new Primary Health Networks; Preventative health and
health workforce measures: retaining important data, knowledge and
networks; Streamlining direct referrals to medical specialists; Improving
mental health outcomes through allied health; and AHPA-NDIS activity.
Member organisations with allied health professionals working in the
disability field have formed an AHPA-NDIS Reference Group. The group
is meeting each fortnight, and AHPA has funded a Project Officer position
to provide the group with some resources to achieve their objectives.
This part-time position is shared by Natasha Layton (OT) and Cathy
Olsson (SP). The group is also working closely with Lynne Adamson
(Director, Research Market, Innovation, Quality and Pricing, NDIA).
Submissions and Representation
AHPA has arranged for representation on IHPA’s Mental Health Costing
Study (Steering Committee), the Australian Telehealth Conference
Strategic Advisory Committee and the NDS Working Party looking at
Support Workers in the NDIS Workforce Strategy. Representatives
have also attended the Victorian Allied Health Research Conference
and the National Forum on inter-professional education. Submissions
were made to the NDS Project Team on Forming a National Disability
Workforce Strategy, and to IHPA’s Mental Health Costing Study.
Lin Oke
Executive Officer, AHPA
Allied Health Professions Australia
The National Rural Health Alliance
(NRHA)
believes that all Australians, wherever
they live, should have access to comprehensive,
high-quality, accessible and appropriate health
services, and every opportunity for equivalent
health outcomes.
The NRHA is Australia’s peak non-government
organisation for rural and remote health. The
Alliance’s vision is good health and wellbeing in
rural and remote Australia. It works to:
•
identify priority needs in rural and remote
health and promote appropriate action;
•
research key issues in rural and remote
health;
•
disseminate relevant information and
knowledge to those with an interest in rural
and remote health; and
•
provide feedback to governments on the
health impacts of their policies and services
in rural, regional and remote communities.
The NRHA is highly influential and produces
many valuable documents including fact sheets,
position papers and submissions as well as
managing the National Rural Health Conference
and the
Australian Journal of Rural Health
(
AJRH
). Information about these documents
and events, and other useful links, can be found
at
Speech Pathology Australia is one of the 36 other
Member Bodies who comprise the National Rural
Health Alliance. Amanda O’Keefe (Seymour), who
many of you may recall was a NT Councillor for
SPA for a number of years, is SPA’s representative
on the NRHA. Amanda will take part in a NRHA
teleconference on August 18 and then will be
gearing up for the five-day NRHA Council Fest
to be held in Canberra in September. Members
wishing to discuss issues with Amanda (and
others) can post questions and comments on
SPA’s
SPA’s Rural and Remote Member Community
Members wishing to keep up-to-date with rural
and remote news, share information of interest,
and network with colleagues working rurally
and remotely can join SPA’s Rural and Remote
Member Community. The member community
currently has almost 300 members and is a
great forum for providing and seeking support.
As mentioned above Amanda will be using the
member community to share information about
the NRHA. Information about joining the Rural and
Remote Member Community can be found on the
SPA's
National Rural Health Alliance
