Speak Out August 2017

Conference app The Conference app was popular this year. Delegates were able to view the sessions, speakers, their bio, social events, ePosters, exhibitors and keynote speaker handouts. The CPC enjoyed seeing so many delegates tweeting about sessions and making contact with others at the conference and they would like to thank Colleen Moloney, Rebecca David, Lisa Petrov and Rebecca Faltyn for doing a great job to produce the app. Pre-registration Many delegates took the opportunity to register, enjoy a cocktail and catch up with friends and colleagues while visiting the exhibitors’ stands.

The consumer panel (pictured above); also conducted at the 2016 conference in Perth was a valuable addition to the program, so the 2017 CPC worked to include this special session in the busy program again this year. Presenters on the panel came from diverse backgrounds and shared their stories about their journey and experiences of speech pathology services. The 2017 CPC would like to sincerely thank the panellists – Wallace Clark, Jim Egan, Caitlin Hall, Henry Harding, Tansy Mayhew, John Steggles, Alison Vella and Rachel Vella. Special thanks to Brigid Kitchin for expertly conducting the panel session, Dr Andy Smidt for her oversight of the session preparation and to Cathie Matthews, Chrissy Edwards and Fiona Littlejohn for helping us to include the voices of rural and remote consumers. Pep talks and posters (ePosters) The response to the 2017 Call for Papers almost doubled that received in previous years and as it was not possible to accept all submissions, the CPC, rather than reject many, found an innovative way (in line with the conference theme) to include as many as possible. This was as a Presented ePoster (PeP) Talk. The CPC modified the types of sessions on offer so they could keep concepts together and give more time to the best quality papers (as judged by two independent reviewers). PeP Talk presenters were given three minutes (included within a conference session) to present their work. This format was very well received by the PeP Talk presenters and conference delegates. The 2017 CPC also decided to introduce ePosters instead of the traditional posters displayed on a board. ePosters were available for view on large monitors in the exhibition hall, or alternatively delegates could view them at leisure on the Conference app. Congratulations to all authors on the high calibre of the work presented. However, a special congratulations goes to the Best Pep Poster Award prize winners – ‘Fast mapping and word learning in children with developmental language disorder – Exploring the impact of increased exposures to a new word’ - Stephanie Sullivan, Suze Leitao, Mary Claessen; ‘Unheard voices: The patient experience of people with communication disability’ Robyn O’Halloran, Madeline Cruice, Kathryn McKinley, Bronwyn Davidson, Jacinta Douglas, Chris Bigby; and the Best Poster Award prize winners ‘Cocktail party effect in alaryngeal speech of Cantonese’ – Manwa Ng, C. K. Tsang, Ka Man Karen Yu; and ‘The role of speech-language pathologists in food services: A survey’ – Kate Swan, Rachel Wenke, Marie Hopper, Melissa Lawrie. Best student presentation award This year the CPC would like to congratulate Eleanor Sugden for her presentation ‘The value of home practice for speech sound disorders: What do parents think?’ ~

Welcome reception Luna Park What a way to welcome delegates to Sydney and to the 2017 SPA conference! With Vivid Sydney Festival in bright, full swing delegates were treated to some of the most spectacular views of the city and the harbour. Delegates also indulged in some frivolity, enjoying rides on the famous ferris wheel, the nostalgic carousel and the adrenaline-pumping dodgem cars. Delegates all left with grins as large as the famous Luna Park smile! Delegates who had entered the Bridge Climb gift

voucher competition went into the draw and the lucky winner was Yogeshni Rao (pictured right). We hope she enjoyed the view.

Annual general meeting Congratulations to all the deserving award winners announced at the AGM. It is always a wonderful occasion to share the amazing achievements of our colleagues. To those recipients of awards, our most sincere congratulations. Conference proceedings Under the co-editorship of Dr Kate Crowe, Dr Sarah Masso and Suzanne Hopf, the keynote presentations and selected research papers will comprise the Conference Proceedings to be published in the International Journal of Speech-Language Pathology . The special issue is the third issue each year. The papers from the 2017 conference will appear in the 2018 Volume 20 Issue 3; articles will appear early online as soon as they have been accepted.

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August 2017 www.speechpathologyaustralia.org.au

Speak Out