Speak Out Digital Edition June 2016

Policy & Advocacy

“Thank you for asking us to appear before you today. My name is Dr Jade Cartwright and I am a speech pathologist who works in aged care. I also hold an academic position at the University of Melbourne. Today I am representing Speech Pathology Australia as the Association’s National Aged Care Advisor. I am also joined by Dr Michelle Bennett who is a member of the Association’s National Aged Care Advisory Group and an academic at the Australian Catholic University. I know that many of you are familiar with our profession through your 2014 inquiry into communication impairment and speech pathology services. For the Hansard record however, Speech Pathology Australia is the national peak body for speech pathologists, representing nearly 7000 members. Speech pathologists are university trained allied health professionals with expertise in the assessment and treatment of communication and swallowing problems. Today we want to focus our statement on the issues that are very specific to our profession, and in particular regarding access to our expertise for older Australians. In order to achieve quality participation in all aspects of life, effective communication is essential. Whilst communication and swallowing problems can emerge Key Messages for the Aged Care Workforce Senate Inquiry In April Speech Pathology Australia representatives Dr Jade Cartwright and Dr Michelle Bennett appeared before the Senate Community Affairs References Committee at a hearing in Melbourne for the inquiry into the Future of Australia’s Aged Care Workforce. To follow is their opening statement. Ronelle Hutchinson Manager, Policy and Advocacy

Dr Michelle Bennett and Dr Jade Cartwright at the Melbourne Hearing of the Inquiry into Aged Care Workforce.

at any point in a person’s life, the prevalence and complexity of these problems increase with age. Both communication and swallowing functions are vulnerable to the natural ageing process and are highly prevalent in people living with conditions such as Dementia, Parkinson’s Disease, and stroke. Even subtle age-related changes in communication skills have a significant impact on a person’s everyday life and social participation. This has serious repercussions for the ability of people to remain in their homes and in community based settings. It has serious repercussions for consumer directed care approaches if an older person is unable to effectively communicate their wishes, preferences and decisions. Speech pathologists should be an essential member of the care and support team for older Australians. Unfortunately,our services are spread very thinly in commonwealth funded services—and when we are involved, it is usually only to provide assessments of swallowing. Our profession was encouraged by your Committee’s bi-partisan recommendations relating to our role in the aged care workforce though your former inquiry. Specifically, your committee recommended that the

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June 2016 www.speechpathologyaustralia.org.au

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