Speak Out April 2016

association news

Swallowing Awareness Day 2016

Like breathing, swallowing is a reflex and essential to everyday life. Humans swallow at least 900 times a day: around three times an hour during sleep, once per minute while awake and even more often during meals. Swallowing; everyone is doing it but no one is talking about it. It’s why Speech Pathology Australia in 2016 will host the inaugural Swallowing Awareness Day on Wednesday 11 May. People who have trouble swallowing are at risk of poor nutrition and dehydration, while babies and children may not take in enough nutrients to support growth and brain development. Did you know that one million Australians have a swallowing difficulty? For people with dysphagia consuming food and drink is problematic. It can lead to life threatening medical problems such as pneumonia, choking, poor nutrition and dehydration if not managed properly. Swallowing problems can occur at any stage of life. However, knowledge of dysphagia and its implications remain largely unknown for most Australians. For this reason, the Association and its Board felt a designated day to promote the effects and management of dysphagia was warranted. Swallowing Awareness Day 2016 is an opportunity to bring attention to swallowing disorders and to connect people with the professionals who can help. Swallowing Awareness Day 2016 needs your help. 1. Engage on social media by using #dysphagia and by including @SpeechPathAus in your Twitter and Instagram posts. 2. Download the free A4 information posters and materials from the SPA website and display them around your workplace. Help make this Swallowing Awareness Day 2016 a very successful initiative to promote swallowing awareness within Australia.

Name our mascot

All is in readiness for the inaugural Australian Swallowing

Awareness Day, Wednesday 11 May 2016. The only thing missing is a name for our pelican mascot!

Send in your suggestions (meeting the criteria below) to National Office. Naming competition criteria: • open to SPA members only • name must be relevant to Swallowing Awareness Day • one word in length • something easy to spell, read and pronounce. By participating in this competition you’ll automatically enter the draw to win free access to a CPDLive event. Please submit your suggestions before COB April 15 to National Office via email on marketing@ speechpathologyaustralia.org.au

Spa welcomes Sandy Fowler

On March 7 Sandy Fowler joined the SPA National Office as a policy officer. Originally from the UK Sandy holds an MSc in Health Policy, Planning and Financing and has worked as a policy

Speech Pathology Australia Chief Executive Officer Gail Mulcair with Speech Pathologist Jeremy Raquel from the Philippines.

Speech Pathology Australia CEO Gail Mulcair recently met with Jeremy Raquel a Speech Pathologist from the Philippines. Jeremy visited National Office as part of the Rotary Foundation–Vocation Area of Focus program. Jeremy was keen to learn about the profession in Australia and spoke with Gail about the Philippine Association of speech pathologists (PASP)–the aim of which is to ensure that Speech Pathologists practising in the Philippines are qualified, equipped with proper training and knowledge to provide quality service to their clients. Knowledge exchange

adviser, health services researcher and health advocate in the UK, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa and India. Her most recent role was at the Royal College of Nursing in London which represents over 420,000 nursing staff/student members. Sandy loves to travel, enjoys good food and is currently attempting to write a screenplay - she is looking forward to settling into her new role and new city.

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Speak Out April 2016

Speech Pathology Australia