Speak Out April 2016

From the President

forget the opportunity to celebrate the achievements of your colleagues with our awards ceremony at the AGM. In March, Suze Leitao represented the Association at an Early Literacy Summit in Canberra. The summit was the start of a conversation, but thanks to Suze for representing us so ably, and for clearly iterating the fundamental importance of speech and language competence for literacy (and numeracy) development. April is the month for Speech Pathology 2030 Imagining Possible Futures workshop. These workshops pick up and expand on the themes that came out of the Conversations about the future. More information about the workshops is in this edition of Speak Out and on the SPA website home page. The final workshop for the SP 2030 project will be held at the conference– another great reason to attend! I look forward to hearing the outcomes of the workshops. Meanwhile the Association is continuing to investigate credentialing for advanced and extended scope of practice; having early discussions with some Chief Allied Health Officers looking at frameworks and possible directions. We are meeting with the Australian Institute for Teaching and School Leadership to investigate ways that we can further quality teaching as it intersects with speech language communication needs. We have also been investigating a Continuing Professional Development Framework, one that will meet member needs in the 21 st century. Thanks to Kate Bridgman, Lucie Shanahan, Brooke Sanderson and the NO team (particularly Sharon Crane) for your continuing work with this. I look forward to meeting you next month in Perth and talking more about all the initiatives that your Association is working on. Until next month–go well!

I am writing this article from the airport in Adelaide, having just presented to the South Australian Legislative Council Select Committee on Access to the South Australian Education System for Students with Disabilities with Tim Kittel and Gail Mulcair. It was a great opportunity to promote the role of language competence and access to safe eating to ensure that all students can access and participate in education. Congratulations to the South Australian team who gathered information for the submission and to Ronelle who put it all together to form a coherent narrative. Worth my pre-dawn get-up and dawn flight! This month I have also travelled to Perth, together with Gail Mulcair to attend the Western Australian branch Consumer Forum for parents of children with speech and language needs. The forum was a great opportunity to hear what parents are wanting, and the voice that they would like to have in advocating for their children’s needs. Congratulations to Jodi Lipscombe, Shelley Vivian, Brooke Sanderson and the WA Branch team for this event. Travelling for the Association has given me a great opportunity to talk with members across the country. I have loved hearing about the work that is happening across Australia, the innovative solutions to problems and the perspectives on the future that are being stimulated by the Speech Pathology 2030 project. It is a great honour to have the opportunity to learn so much from my colleagues. Still in WA, the conference team is ramping up those 'waves' ready for May. Bring your (virtual or real) surfboards. Don’t forget that the Early Bird rates finish on 13 April so sign up soon to get a great rate, for a world class conference with fabulous speakers, just as fabulous networking and a chance to keep up with the latest resources through our trade display. And, don’t

Gaenor Dixon President

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Speak Out April 2016

www.speechpathologyaustralia.org.au