Speak Out OCTOBER 2019 V3 DIGITAL EDITION

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OCTOBER 2019

THE MAGAZINE FOR AUSTRALIAN SPEECH PATHOLOGISTS

Special feature: 70 years of Speech Pathology Australia

Making a world of difference in Vietnam and Peru 2020 NATIONAL TOUR ANNOUNCED

FEEDBACK SOUGHT ON CBOS Meet the Innovation Award winners SPEECH PATHOLOGY WEEK

Conte n ts

October 2019 in focus...

National Office Level 1/114 William Street Melbourne VIC 3000 T 1300 368 835 F 03 9642 4922 E office@speechpathologyaustralia.org.au Chief Executive Officer Gail Mulcair T 03 9642 4899 E execassist@speechpathologyaustralia.org.au Speech Pathology Australia Board Tim Kittel - President

Belinda Hill – Vice President Communications Brooke Sanderson – Vice President Operations Maree Doble – Director Chyrisse Heine – Director Kathryn McKinley - Director Eddie Ong - Director Follow Speech Pathology Australia via:

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President's report

Copyright © 2019 The Speech Pathology Association of Australia Speak Out is the official bi-monthly magazine of The Speech Pathology Association of Australia Ltd. Speech Pathology Australia (SPA) owns the copyright to Speak Out and no part of this magazine may be reproduced without the explicit permission of SPA. Write to us Letters can be sent to publications@speechpathologyaustralia.org. au Letters may or may not be published in future issues of Speak Out magazine at SPA’s discretion. Advertisements Please refer to the “Publications” menu at www.speechpathology australia.org.au to view the 2019 Speak Out ad kit. Any queries may be directed to SPA Publications Manager T 1300 368 835 E pubs@speechpathologyaustralia.org.au Advertising booking dates for December 2019 Speak Out . The official booking form must be received at National Office by New South Wales – Jamie Summerfield Northern Territory – Rebecca Amery Queensland – Leanne Sorbello, Catherine Hicks, Erika Campbell and Rebecca Sexton South Australia – Cathy Clarke Tasmania – Rachael Zeeman Victoria – Shane Erickson Western Australia – Jamaica Grantis Please see the website for Branch Editor contact details. Disclaimer To the best of The Speech Pathology Association of Australia Limited’s (‘the Association”) knowledge, this information is valid at the time of publication. The Association makes no warranty or representation in relation to the content or accuracy of the material in this publication. The Association expressly disclaims any and all liability (including liability for negligence) in respect of use of the information provided. The Association recommends you seek independent professional advice prior to making any decision involving matters outlined in this publication. Print Post Approved PP349181/01711 Print ISSN 1446-053X Digital ISSN : ISSN 2208-7125 COB 12 November 2019 . Speak Out Branch Editors ACT – via pubs@speechpathologyaustralia.org.au

70th Anniversary celebrations

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August Board meeting report

CBOS review stakeholder consultation

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Innovation Award winners

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Speech Pathology Week - It's a wrap

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Early Career Reference Group

Professional education events and news

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Aged care update

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Speech pathologists abroad

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National Conference Darwin

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Professional practice

Conversations about DLD

Ethics news

Branch news

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From the President

So, news just in: SPA is upgrading to Platinum Status. 70 years is quite the anniversary. The Australian Association of Speech Therapists and the Australian College of Speech Therapists came into being as a result of incredible determination and perseverance, over a number of years. In this edition of Speak Out we outline the history of Speech Pathology Australia, and it’s a shared and inspiring journey to be celebrated, with many milestones reached along the way over the past seven decades, with the most recent decade of achievements highlighted. But let’s time travel, right back to the beginning: I wonder what unsaid hopes were held by the founders in 1949. Establishing a formal, professional association during a time in history when the world was so weary must have seemed daunting from the outset. Especially when we consider that in 1929, Ms Elinor Wray was informed through official channels that there was “no opening in the entire country for the practice of speech therapy”. The sheer amount of advocacy and lobbying that would have been sustained over that decade leading up to 1949, firstly to prove the value of speech therapy, and then to form a National Association! Well, it must have been phenomenal. And with the only resource at hand being determination, spirit, and a strong sense of collaboration between various professionals. That’s impressive. It’s these pioneers who we have to thank for the robust shape and esteem the profession is in today. What would they make of SPA, circa 2019? I’d like to think that they would read the article, and be so proud of what we’ve accomplished over time. This sense of spirit and determination has carried through the profession over the past seven decades. In this issue you can catch up on SPWeek 2019, and the myriad of ways in which the notion of ‘Communicating with Confidence’ was engaged. There were a lot of members who volunteered their time and energy this past August, and thanks to all of them for this contribution of time and effort. You’ll see, especially as you read through the Branch News section, that we continue to make loads of in-roads and connections with the Australian public, and these local efforts strengthened the impact of the Nation-wide launch of various case study videos. Also take some time to read about the provision of speech pathology services beyond our shores. While we have a well-established professional association here, it’s inspiring to also learn about sustained efforts to develop services and courses in parts of the world still charting the significant benefits of communication and mealtime therapy. I have to admit that I wasn’t aware that almost a third of Speech Pathology Australia’s members are in their first three years of practice. Nathan Cornish-Raley, Cara Probert, Tayla Brown, and Grace Schofield outline supervision services that SPA offers for all professionals, as well as suggesting ways to establish healthy habits for a good work-life balance. (As a sidenote, I’m also intrigued by the work-life balance activities that the Conference Planning Committee is hinting will take place in Darwin next year). This statistic, about early career professionals, is also incredibly thrilling. There’s so much capacity to challenge ourselves with new ideas, visions, and “blue sky thinking” (I’ll hate myself for using a corporate-buzzword, but I reluctantly have to admit the phrase does fit in this instance). I would like to challenge this third of the profession in particular to watch the Webinar on 9 October (or catch up online!), and also self-nominate for the upcoming Focus Group Sessions around the professional standards being developed. These standards will define who we are, and how we approach our work, and so it’s vital that a range of members with various experiences and from distinct points in the career journey make their opinion known. So, if you haven’t done so already, go pour yourself a coffee (or other suitably invigorating beverage) and take some time to leaf through this issue. Use a Platinum blend, you’ve definitely earned it.

Tim Kittel

Tim Kittel National President

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Association news

Speech Pathology Australia 70 years young - a focus on the last decade

“To say we live in changing times is something of a cliché. However, it is truer now than ever before in the (then 60 year) history of our profession in Australia. From the policy and funding environment, to emerging technologies and techniques, the regulatory context and workforce demographics. Everything is changing and it is changing at an unprecedented pace.” Chris Stone, National President Report, Speak Out, August 2011

There are few certainties in life, but change is one of them. And in the past ten years the pace of change has been unrelenting. Speech Pathology Australia, as the peak body for the speech pathology profession in Australia, has not been immune.

space in Bank Place, still owned by the Association, is now rented out to commercial tenants, providing a source of income for the organisation. While the profession has grown exponentially in the last ten years, what does the profession look like? Late in 2014, Health Workforce Australia (now subsumed within the Federal Department of Health) produced a publication “Speech Pathologists in Focus”, that brought together all the available data at the time about the speech pathology workforce. It found that a “typical” Australian speech pathologist was female, working part-time (about four days a week), in her late 30s, Bachelor’s Degree educated, living and working in a major city area, Australian born, and working in private practice. International As the Association has grown over the last decade it has endeavoured to spread its wings and influence beyond Australia. In 2013, along with representatives from American Speech-Language Hearing Association (ASHA), New Zealand Speech-Language Therapists’ Association (NZSTA), Royal College of Speech and Language Therapists (RCSLT), Irish Association of Speech and Language Therapists (IASLT), and Speech-Language and

In February 2010, 3250 speech pathologists were proud to be members of Speech Pathology Australia (the Association). Now, 10 years on, that number has soared to 9,302 (September 2019).The 10,000 member hurdle beckons. Not bad for a fledgling profession born in the 1930s

pioneered by Elinor Wray. For more than 18 years the Association’s national office

was at Bank Place in the heart of Melbourne’s CBD. However, in May 2015, bursting at the seams, the Association moved its operations 200 metres up the road to a new, leased professional office at 114 William Street. The office

Pioneer of the profession, Elinor Wray.

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Audiology Canada (SAC), Speech Pathology Australia, became a founding member of the International Communication Project 2014 (and in 2015, simply the International Communication Project). The International Communication Project 2014 made its presence known by launching itself online via a “Google Hangout”. The hangout – titled Raising Awareness of Communication Disorders as a Global Health Issue – launched a year of activities in support of the project. In turn, in August, the Association’s Speech Pathology Week was themed Nation for Communication and highlighted communication as a basic human right. Presentations on the objectives and work of the International Communication Project were also made at the International Association of Logopaedics and Phoniatrics Congress in 2016 and 2019. In June 2018, following a formal application to the United Nations, Speech Pathology Australia secured Non-Government Organisation (NGO) Accreditation status to the Conference of States Parties (CoSP) to the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disability (CRPD). This new status enabled the Association to send delegations to the CRPD CoSP, participate in UN meetings and the Civil Society forum concerning the implementation of the Convention, and host side events at future CRPD Conferences of States Parties. It was with this newly established status that the Association was able in June 2019, in cooperation with the RCSLT, ASHA and the ICP, to co-host a side-event as part of the activities surrounding the 12th session of the Conference of State Parties to the Convention of the Rights of Persons with Disabilities at the United Nations’ headquarters in New York. Due to the Association’s lead role, the side event titled 'People with Communication disabilities Speak Up for Inclusion and Participation: How the implementation of the CRPD and SDGs can support this right', was sponsored by the Australian Government. The Association’s international activities have not been limited to engagement through the forum of the ICP. The Association is a member of the International Association of Logopedics and Phoniatrics and attends the Association’s triannual congress every three years. The Mutual Recognition of Professional Association Credentials Agreement was first agreed upon in November 2004 including the signatories of, Speech Pathology Australia, ASHA, SAC and the RCSLT. Subsequently in 2008, the agreement was re-negotiated to include both the IASLT and NZSTA. At the ASHA Congress in Los Angeles in 2017, a further revised Mutual Recognition Agreement was signed by the six-member country associations. The Agreement remains dynamic, with ongoing review of each countries’ standards and training, alongside beneficial collaborations and sharing of resources. Structure The Australian College of Speech Therapists was inaugurated in 1949 as the official national body to represent and train the speech pathology profession in Australia. For most of its history since the late 1940s, the Association was served by the same organisational and governance structure. While gradual refinement and specific changes have occurred, it was in 2011 that the Association’s Board of Management or Council (the precursor to the Board of Directors) identified the

need for a comprehensive review of the organisation’s constitution to ensure it reflected best practice. Consultation was undertaken with governance experts and the Association’s membership throughout 2012. It resulted in a set of specific recommendations for changes to underpin a modern and responsive governance structure for the organisation going forward. The most fundamental of the proposed changes related to the way the Board

of Management (Council) was appointed and how it governed the Association, along with important changes to remove procedural and operational matters from the constitution that could be better dealt with through by-laws and/or the Association’s policies and procedures. At the Association’s Annual General Meeting on 24 June 2013, members endorsed all the recommended changes. In summary, the Council became the Board, Councillors became Directors,

and the Association’s governance structure was replaced by a skills-based model, founded on the Australian Institute of Company Directors best practice principles. Other amendments, as part of this historic reform, included changes to voting and proxy instruments, voting and non-voting members, clarification of definitions, and a simplification of the language of the constitution. While the calendar year was retained as the basis for the membership year, flexibility was introduced to allow a move to a financial year in the future (something that subsequently occurred in 2018). Communication From February 2010, the Association’s member magazine, Speak Out , became bimonthly, with National eNews keeping members up-to-date between publications. As an aside, in 2019, just over 75 per cent of Association members choose to receive Speak Out digitally – a huge shift considering that in December 2009 every member was receiving their one colour (Blue) copy of the publication by post. Over time, Speak Out has been supplemented by new and different communication channels. In June 2013, the Association launched eight online “closed” member-only Facebook communities - created with the purpose of providing members receive support from their peers. There are today, more than 4100 members actively engaged across 17 communities. While Speak Out has gone from strength to strength (e.g. the number of pages, growth of advertising, and with a forum to share information and views, collaborate their professional networks and

The handwritten minutes of the 1959 AGM of the Australian College of Speech Therapists. And below, the changing logo through the decades.

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the introduction of colour), the Association has become an active player in the social media sphere. Today, the Association has more than 10,700 followers on Twitter, more than 6,000 followers on Instagram, and more than 4,700 followers on LinkedIn - proof, if any was required, that speech pathologists understand the need to remain agile and adaptive to the introduction of new technologies as a means of communication. Over the course of the last 10 years members have seen the growth in the use of video, podcasts and webinars by the Association to deliver information to members and the wider community. Publicity comes in many forms. On Boxing Day 2010, the Academy Award winning film, The King’s Speech was released in Australia, putting Lionel Logue, stuttering, and the speech pathology profession “front-and-centre” in the public eye. Indeed, many of the Association’s Branch’s used the occasion to hold special screenings of the movie to raise money for the Speak Easy Association. While Dr Caroline Bowen AM was also honoured for her historical work concerning Lionel Logue and was invited to Canberra to visit the Australian National Archive to view Lionel Logue’s personal papers, including some of his notes and diaries. National Inquiry In August 2010, the Association’s then National President, Christine Stone, outlined that one of the Association’s, “key objectives is to influence and inform government policy on all matters relevant to communication and swallowing difficulties”. An objective that would dominate the Association’s advocacy agenda over the following years. At this time a central focus of the Association’s advocacy agenda was the conduct of a national inquiry into the availability of speech pathology services, “including the social and economic impact of speech disorders, projected future service demands and the identification of service gaps”. In 2012 the Association was able to progress its call for a national inquiry when it had the opportunity to address the Australian Senate’s Community Affairs Reference Committee on the need for such an investigation. The Association was eventually successful with the Australian Senate’s Community Affairs Reference Committee conducting a national inquiry, throughout 2014, into the “Prevalence of different types of speech, language and communication disorders and speech

speaking to the tabling of the report, noted that “before I start on outlining some of those recommendations and our findings, I want to make sure that I have time to acknowledge the work that Speech Pathology Australia has put into this inquiry”. It was strong confirmation of the significance of the inquiry to the Association. Indeed, the inquiry provided the platform for many and various conversations with ministers, shadow ministers, departmental officials and other key stakeholders. Today, it remains a very useful reference point. NDIS Around the same time as the Association was making submissions about a national inquiry, it was also keeping “watchful eye” on the creation of a new government initiative – the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS). Initially rolled out from 1 July 2013 in specific locations, the NDIS’s implementation has remained a central focus of the Association’s advocacy and policy agenda. The introduction of the NDIS has not been smooth and the Association has – on a number of occasions – had to go “into bat” to strongly advocate on behalf of members’ interests and those of their clients. The Association has made numerous submissions on matters pertinent to the NDIS and/or NDIA, provided input on clinical guidelines and other documentation, and raised directly with relevant ministers, state and federal, on matters impacting directly on the businesses and practices operated by members. Regulation In 2008, the Council of Australian Governments formed an intergovernmental agreement for a National Registration and Accreditation Scheme for the Health Professions, with the scheme to commence in July 2010. As a partially registered profession at that time (with registration in Queensland), in consultation with the profession as a whole, the Association actively pursued an agenda to have speech pathology included in the National Registration and Accreditation Scheme (NRAS). A formal submission and campaign was mounted in 2008, and while the formal submission was rejected on the perceived assessment of a low risk of speech pathology services not outweighing the cost of registration, the profession has continued to argue that the public deserves protection and assurances across all health professions. The unintended consequences of a profession not being included in NRAS has also been reinforced. While the Association continued to make its case for inclusion in the scheme, the Australian Health Workforce Ministerial Council announced in 2012 that no further professions were to be considered for inclusion until there had been further investigation of the future direction of national registration of the unregistered professions. Despite more recent reviews of NRAS, and the Association's continuted position for inclusion, there remains limited likelihood, at this time, that the government will extend registration to a broader range of professions, including speech pathology. Meanwhile, the National Alliance of Self Regulating Health Professions (NASRHP) was formed in 2008 as an informal alliance under the auspices of Allied Health Professions Australia. NASRHP has now evolved to be an independent body that provides a framework for self-regulating health professions in Australia, and

pathology services in Australia”. Once the inquiry was underway, the Association made a formal written submission in the form of a 116 page document and followed this up by addressing one of the committee’s public hearings. On 2 September 2014, the Community Affairs Reference Committee tabled its final report in the Australian Senate; and for 35 minutes, communication disability and the value of speech pathology

were “front-and-centre” in the national parliament as Senators spoke to the importance of the inquiry and its recommendations. Senator Rachel Siewert, the Chair of the committee, in

Senator Rachel Siewert.

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Publications The International Journal of Speech Language Pathology transitioned in 2008 from the previously titled Advances in Speech Language Pathology , and has continued to strengthen its international profile and academic status as a leading journal in the area of human communication sciences. Notably, there have been a range of excellent special issue editions, including: Scientific Forum: World Report on Disability and people with communication disability (Vol 15; No 1; Feb 2013), and Communication is a human right: Celebrating the 70th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (Vol 20; No. 1; Feb 2018). In 2012, the clinical journal, ACQuiring Knowledge in Speech , Language and Hearing (ACQ), successfully transitioned to the Journal of Clinical Practice in Speech-Language Pathology (JCPSLP), and continues to produce a range of excellent issues within topical clinical and practice themes. Released in November 2017 by the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS), the document Australians Living with Communication Disability followed a prolonged advocacy effort by the Association to convince the ABS of the value and need for strong data in regard to the needs of those with communication disability. The publication’s release also confirmed the Association’s estimate that 1.2 million Australians have a communication disability. With research highlighting more than 46 per cent of youth offenders having a “language impairment” the Association supported the ground- breaking Speech Pathology in Youth (Justice) Custodial Education (SPyce) Project. Collaborating with a group of experts, and working closely with Parkville College, the Association funded a project office to assist with gathering the information and resources needed to support this project. This work was formally launched in August 2013 as Back on track: Speech Pathology in Youth (Justice) – Custodial Education (SPyce) Project Report. Two other notable resources 1995

is achieving increasing government and employer recognition. Speech Pathology Australia now has full membership of NASRHP, an acknowledgement that its self-regulation processes meet the high standards of registration boards. Membership of NASRHP now provides an assurance to consumers that they are receiving a quality service from certified practitioners. In the case of the speech pathology profession, this means being able to meet the requirements of being a certified practising speech pathologist (CPSP). While the Association was advocating for national registration, in early 2013, the Association conducted a poll amongst Queensland members to ascertain support for the continued registration of the profession in that state. The poll highlighted overwhelming support amongst members for the continuation of the registration regime in Queensland. But, despite a submission from the Association in support of continued registration in the state, legislation subsequently passed through the Queensland parliament, bringing registration of speech pathologists to an end in Queensland from May 2013. The dissolution of the Registration Board in Queensland left a substantial amount of funds in trust from registration fees paid by speech pathologists. Over the period of transition to dissolve the Registration Board, the Queensland government expressed a strong desire for these funds to be managed and utilised in the interests of the Queensland speech pathology profession. Following negotiations with Queensland Health, the Association was tasked with managing these funds, including making available the Queensland Registration Board Legacy Funds for speech pathologists in Queensland across a range of grant programs. Awareness Speech Pathology Week and the Speech Pathology Australia Book of the Year awards have been constants over the last 10 years. In fact, the Association’s Book of the Year award is now in its sixteenth year and would not be possible without the efforts of numerous member volunteers to shortlist and judge the nominated books. In 2018 more than 200 books were nominated for the awards’ five categories. A new public awareness campaign was launched in 2016 with the introduction of the Association’s inaugural Swallowing Awareness Day, with the theme: ‘Everyone’s doing it... but no one’s talking about it’. The aim of the new day was to alert Australians to dysphagia, with most having no idea that speech pathologists are the professionals who assess and treat swallowing disorders. Swallowing was also at the forefront when the Association took an active role in the International Dysphagia Diet Standardisation Initiative (IDDSI). Commencing discussion in 2016, as part of a working party that included the Dietitians Association of Australia, the Association worked to ensure that the Australian Standardised Terminology and Definitions for Textured Modified Foods and Fluids (2007) was consistent with the new internationally endorsed IDDSI framework. The new IDDSI framework for labelling and testing modified texture food and fluids was adopted in Australia from 1 May 2019.

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produced by the Association in the past 10 years, include the Speech Pathology in Schools Resource and the Communication Milestone Poster Resource. Launched in October 2017, the Speech Pathology in Schools Resource is a resource for speech pathologists who work or wish to work in schools. The resource is designed to inform a speech pathologist’s practice and to assist with professional development and advocacy opportunities. The

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resource evolved out of a project commissioned by the NSW Department of Education in January 2017 to develop materials for principals, teachers and parents.

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The Communication Milestone Poster Resource, developed by the Association’s Queensland Branch with support from the Association’s National Office, has been one of the most popular materials developed for parents and carers. The resource aims to assist parents and carers to find a speech pathologist if they are unsure about whether their child is having difficulty with his or her speech, language and communication. First Nation In recent years the Association has made efforts to engage with its First Nation members and the wider Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community. In 2014, the Association was a signatory to the 'Close the Gap Statement of Intent' with regard to achieving equality of health status and life expectancy between Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and non-Indigenous Australians by 2030. In 2015, the Association was one of 117 non-government organisations to take part in the launch of Recognise Health, an initiative of the Lowitja Institute, to promote understanding about the important link between health, wellbeing, and constitutional recognition of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander People. In October 2017, the Association established, and then held, the first meeting of its Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Advisory Committee. Membership of the committee commenced with, among others, two speech pathologists with Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander backgrounds, a speech pathology student with Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander background, representatives and leaders from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander organisations and a consumer from an Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander background. Then, in February 2018, following cultural awareness training, the Association’s Reconciliation Action Plan Committee convened. Tasked with drafting the Association’s Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP). In June 2019, the Association’s RAP was approved by Reconciliation Australia and is to be formally launched in the last quarter of 2019.

The closing paragraph of the Apology notes that the Association looks “forward to contributing to a future where Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples have timely access to culturally safe and responsive speech pathology services, led and implemented by communities, and with equitable health, wellbeing and educated outcomes for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.” The future What is the future for the speech pathology profession in Australia? In November 2015, the Association commenced its ambitious Speech Pathology 2030 – making futures happen project with the clear aim of trying to answer that question. The year long, landmark project sought to define a vision for the future of speech pathology. This project actively engaged the speech pathology profession and its clients. Importantly, a perspective from beyond the profession was pursued from a range of thought leaders and consumers. Their perspectives were then married with input from speech pathologists (members and non-members) and clients. This view was supplemented by “conversations” (small gatherings) organised to discuss what the future looked like. A final forum was conducted at the Association’s 2016 National Conference, which helped to round out the process and refine the report. It is estimated that over 1000 speech pathologist were involved over the course of the 2030 project. On 11 August 2016, the then Federal Disability Discrimination Commissioner, Alistair McEwin, formally launched the Speech Pathology 2030 report at an event before 200 guests at the National Gallery of Victoria. The event was streamed live across the internet to several events organised by the Association’s state Branches. As the Association continues its growth trajectory and strengthens its work in advocating for and supporting the profession and its membership, we reflect on the words of one of the Association’s longest standing members, Ruth Porteous. Ruth Porteous was one of the first students to attend the Australian College of Speech Therapists (founded in 1949), Ruth attended the College’s first diploma course in 1950. Ruth died in 2015 but when addressing the Association’s national conference in 2003 said, “The past is not a foreign place, but the source of all our futures – not past historic, but present continuous.”

The finalisation of the Reconciliation Action Plan follows the Association’s Formal Apology to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples at the Speech Pathology Australia National Conference in Brisbane in May 2019. A formal apology arising from the aspiration outlined in the Association’s landmark Speech Pathology 2030 report. The report chartered a future where the speech pathology profession provided access to timely services for all, delivered client and communities driven services, collaborated on professional partnerships, and had a diverse and dynamic workforce. In striving to reach these aspirations, the Association recognised that the profession could not achieve these goals without partnering with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Island Peoples. In

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The Association's formal apology was conducted at the 2019 National Conference in Brisbane.

recognising that truly collaborative partnerships are based on shared decisions and power, the Association acknowledged the harms caused by past ways of working and committed to forging a future that is truly collaborative of all Australians.

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Gail Mulcair Chief Executive Officer

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The National Tour OVER THE YEARS THE NATIONAL TOUR HAS HIGHLIGHTED THE DYNAMISM AND THE COMMITMENT OF SPEECH PATHOLOGY AUSTRALIA TO COVERING THE DIVERSE ARRAY OF AREAS WITHIN THE SPEECH PATHOLOGY SCOPE OF PRACTICE. A PROUD HISTORY AND A STELLAR GROUP OF SPEECH PATHOLOGISTS HAVE PARTICIPATED ACROSS THE DECADES.

2005 Dr Caroline Bowen Children’s speech sound disorders: A practical update

2013 Dr Elise Baker

Best practice in the management of speech sound disorders in children: Making every session count

2006 Mellanie Sherwood

2014 Dr Julia Starling

BLADES – Adding meaning and interaction to language therapy for 2–5 year olds

Supporting upper primary children and adolescents with language and literacy difficulties: Time for some creative thinking!

2007 Dr Elizabeth Cardell Psycholinguistic therapies unplugged: Principles, processes, parameters and practicalities 2008 Dr Sharynne McLeod Sound management: Working with children with speech impairment 2009 Dr Jacqueline Roberts Autism spectrum disorders: Understanding, treating and managing autism

2015 Dr Jane McCormack

Kids, communication and context: Providing holistic and evidence-based care to children with speech and language difficulties

2016 Dr Jade Cartwright Dementia is our business: Speech pathology services for people living with dementia across the continuum of care 2017 Dr Tanya Serry Speech pathology in the literacy domain: From prevention to intervention

2010 Dr Cori Williams

2018 Dr Natalie Munro

Working with children from multilingual backgrounds

Preschool and early school-age language update: Assessment and Intervention Intensity & Pragmatic language assessment and intervention: A contemporary approach (co-presentation with Associate Professor Reinie Cordier)

2011 Dr Leanne Togher Recent advances in

2019 Julie Cichero

aphasia rehabilitation & novel approaches to the assessment and treatment of communication problems following traumatic brain injury (TBI)

Cervical Auscultation for Infants, Children and Adults with Dysphagia: A Practical Workshop; and Paediatric dysphagia: The A-Z of the IDDSI Framework, fussy eating and medication administration in babies and children The 2020 National Tour speakers will be Dr Gayle Hemsley and Dr Alison Holm.

2012 Dr Roslyn Neilson

Literacy: Learning to read & Literacy: Reading to learn

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Association news

Grant winners 2019 Queensland Registration Board Legacy Fund

IN 2019, SIX APPLICATIONS FOR QUEENSLAND REGISTRATION BOARD LEGACY GRANTS WERE RECEIVED. THIS GRANT IS OPEN TO SPEECH PATHOLOGISTS LIVING AND WORKING IN QUEENSLAND. THE WINNERS ARE:

Chloe Walton PhoRTE: Let’s get loud! A feasibility study investigating a low intensity treatment approach for the management of hypophonia in progressive neurological diseases Progressive Neurological Diseases (PND) can affect the neurological function of the larynx resulting in the diagnosis of a voice disorder known as hypophonia. Traditionally the management of hypophonia recommends intensive voice treatment to restore vocal fold closure by applying principles of motor learning and neuroplasticity. However, several patient clinician and service factors limit the suitability of intensive voice treatment in the progressive neurological disease population. This pilot study aims to determine the feasibility of using Phonation Resistance Training Exercises (PhoRTE) a low intensity voice therapy treatment in the management of hypophonia resulting from a progressive neurological disease. Outcomes will be measured across a range of criteria. It is anticipated that patients will demonstrate improvements in vocal loudness, pitch range and quality of life following the treatment. Special Purpose Project Grant Applications The Special Purpose Project Grant is one of four schemes, funded from the legacy funds remaining at the closure of The Registration Board of Queensland, in 2013. Recognising that the needs of the profession with respect to research and education opportunities can change over time, this grant program provides the ability to support a specific project or initiative with one-off funding up to a maximum of $25,000. Applications must demonstrate that the project is substantial in scope and of significant interest and benefit to the profession in Queensland. Applicants must demonstrate the significant value of the project to the profession against one or more of set criteria. These include: • will contribute to the enhancement of professional practice of speech pathologists in Queensland; • relates to, or supports the research and/or education needs of the speech pathology profession; • will have outcomes that will enhance speech pathology services for the Queensland public;

Rebecca Nund Food Service Industry Workers’ Perspectives of Dysphagia Previous qualitative research has demonstrated that dysphagia can have a broad ranging impact on everyday life, including difficulties accessing dysphagia friendly meals when eating outside the home. The support and attitudes of people working in the food service industry has the potential to act as an important facilitator or barrier to accessing dysphagia friendly meals. Despite the recognition of this issue from the patient and carer perspective, there are no research studies that have directly explored the perspectives of people working in the food service industry. The current study will use qualitative methods to elucidate the key issues regarding knowledge, experience, and perceptions of dysphagia and texture modification from a range of professionals working in the food service industry. The results of this study will provide the foundation for the development of a new education and training package for food service industry workers in order to enhance food provision for people with dysphagia living in the community. • is a significant project of strategic value to the profession which has wide application and high impact. The successful applicant (or applicants where multiple projects are deemed appropriate for funding) will be required to provide a report or deliver a piece of work that is documented and disseminated to Queensland speech pathologists for the benefit of all. Please note that applicants are not required to be members of Speech Pathology Australia. The Association's membership is encouraged to circulate this information within broader networks within Queensland. Download the application form (and further detail) www.speechpathologyaustralia.org.au/news#qrblf Applications close – Friday 11 October 2019 (Late applications will not be accepted).

Queensland Registration Board Legacy Fund

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October 2019 www.speechpathologyaustralia.org.au

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Association news

Speech Pathology Australia’s Board of Directors met in Melbourne on 9 – 10 August 2019. Following are some of the highlights of the Board’s discussions. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Advisory Committee The Association’s Reconciliation Action Plan continues to progress, with a draft of the narrative and artwork, commissioned for the Plan, presented to the Board. Once finalised the Reconciliation Action Plan, will be submitted to Reconciliation Australia to be approved. The Terms of Reference of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Advisory Committee were amended, with the composition of the Committee broadened. In addition, a number of potential initiatives were discussed, in line with the Association’s commitment, with these to be progressed through the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Advisory Committee. Association Branches The ability for all members to get involved in the activities of their local Branch, utilising Zoom technology, was discussed. Members are encouraged to make contact with their Branch, through the details listed on the Association’s website. Ethics Dr Susan Block was appointed for a further three-year term as a Senior Member on the Ethics Board, while Ms Gaenor Dixon was appointed to the Ethics Board Reserve Pool. International representation The Association will be represented at the both the upcoming IALP Congress in Taipei, Taiwan, and the ASHA Congress in Orlando, Florida. The ASHA Congress will also feature a meeting of signatories to the Mutual Recognition Agreement (MRA). Majority World Countries and Developing Communities Grants The Board reviewed the final reports of two Majority World Countries and Developing Communities Grants. In 2017 Karen Wylie, was successful in obtaining a Majority World Countries and Developing Communities Grant, in the stream “support development or extension of speech therapy training and service delivery”. Karen presented a comprehensive report on her project aimed at supporting and delivering an integrated e-mentoring program, including a framework, structure and set of tools, for volunteer mentoring clinicians in Ghana. In 2018 David Rochus was successful in obtaining a Majority World Countries and Developing Communities Grant, in the stream, “Support of attendance at relevant conferences and seminars, internationally or within the applicant’s majority world country”. David utilised this grant to attend the 2019 Speech Pathology Australia and New Zealand Speech-language Therapists’ Association Joint Conference. David’s report outlines his experiences throughout the conference as both a delegate and presenter. Further information on these two projects will be made available on the Association’s website. Policies and procedures A number of key policies were reviewed and will be made available on the Association’s website shortly, including: 4.14 Director Nomination Review Committee 5.01 Association Branches Board Meeting Report AUGUST 2019

5.02 Branch Elections 9.04 Conference Media 9.05 Promotional Material 10.06 Professional Self Regulation and Certified Practising Speech Pathologist Requirements 11.02 National Conference 11.04 Elizabeth Usher Memorial Lecture 11.05 Sponsored Student Conference Registration 12.02 Special Interest Groups 13.01 Research Grants 13.02 New Researcher Research Grant (prev. Clinician Research Grant) 13.04 Clinician-Researcher Partnership Research Grant (prev. Research, Higher Degree Student Research Grant) Practice documents A range of Practice Documents relating to Speech Pathology in Justice, including a Fact Sheet, Position Statement and Clinical Guideline, were approved by the Board. Once finalised these documents will be made available through the Association’s website. Strategic plan In reviewing the 2016-2019 Strategic Plan the significant amount of work undertaken was acknowledged, with several items highlighted for consideration within the next plan. Discussions were also held in relation to an early draft overview of the 2020-2022 Strategic Plan, following a successful Strategic Planning Workshop in May 2019. The Board will next meet on Friday 15 and Saturday 16 November 2019. This meeting will include consideration of the Association’s 2020 financial budget.

New Staff Member Speech Pathology Australia would like to welcome Jane

Delaney to the role of Senior Advisor, Early Childhood and Education. Jane brings with her a wealth of knowledge and experience in the paediatric field. She has worked within public and private health services and has experience working within the higher education sector. Jane is responsible for leading and managing identified projects and opportunities in the areas of early childhood and education.

Jane provides information and advice to enable members to support the provision of high quality supports across these sectors. “I am very pleased to have been appointed to this role and look forward to working with members. As a speech pathologist I have always held a passion for early intervention, to improve outcomes for children, families and communities. This includes working with families, educators and other professionals to support children on their educational journey”. You can contact Jane at jdelaney@speechpathologyaustralia. org.au.

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October 2019 www.speechpathologyaustralia.org.au

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CBOS review stakeholder consultation We need your feedback!

The review of the Competency Based Occupational Standards for Speech Pathologists – Entry Level (CBOS) is an important initiative of Speech Pathology Australia. It will support the development of a future ready workforce capable of delivering best practice and fulfilling the vision and aspirations articulated in Speech Pathology 2030: making futures happen project . Importantly, the revised standards will be relevant to all speech pathologists wishing to work in Australia, throughout their career. The CBOS Review Project began in mid-2018 and has involved an extensive consultation and research process. Draft standards, currently titled 'Professional standards for speech pathologists in Australia' have been developed. To learn more about the review process and consultation approach used to develop the draft please refer to the Speech Pathology Australia website. SPA is now seeking feedback on the draft standards from stakeholders including: • speech pathologists (SPA members and non-members). The purpose of the consultation is to further refine the standards. This will inform their completion by late December 2019. The consultation process will run from Monday 7 October until Friday 25 October 2019. There are three different ways for stakeholders to contribute to the consultation being facilitated by Young Futures. 1. Online feedback The draft standards and a link to provide online feedback will be available from 7-25 October 2019 on the Speech Pathology Australia website. 2. Webinar - 9 October 2019, 2-3pm AEDT The webinar will be live (accessible via computer or phone) but will also be recorded and made available through the Speech Pathology Australia website. The webinar will include a presentation providing an overview of the draft standards and will include an opportunity to ask questions and provide feedback using a written chat function (available by computer or smart phone only). Questions can be sent to Young Futures before or during the webinar. Following the presentation, responses to the main question themes will be provided. Pre-registration will not be required. Just dial or link in at the scheduled time. Details will be provided on Monday 7 October 2019. 3. Focus Groups The focus groups will contribute to the refinement of terminology and/or specific components of the draft standards. Each focus group will be limited to 10 participants. Self-nomination for focus groups will close at 5pm AEDT on Tuesday 15 October. You will receive confirmation of whether or • ssers of speech pathology services; • employers of speech pathologists; • professional associations; • universities; • organisations; and

ABOVE: The CBOS review project consultation sessions were facilitated by Gretchen young of Young Futures. BELOW: The sessions included a range of particpants.

not you have been selected for a focus group by 5pm AEDT on Thursday 17 October. Selection will focus on ensuring a mix of perspectives and experiences relevant to the key issue being discussed. Self-nominate via the SPA website from Monday 7 October 2019.

Focus group sessions

Topic

Time (AEDT)

Date

Applying the professional standards from graduation onwards

2:00-3:30pm Monday 21 October 1:00-2:30pm Saturday 26 October 2:00-3:30pm Tuesday 22 October 7:00-8:30pm Wednesday 23 October 7:00-8:30pm Tuesday 22 October 2:00-3.30pm Wednesday 23 October 1:00-2:30pm Thursday 24 October 2:00-3:30pm Friday 25 October

Applying the professional standards to students and at the point of entry to the profession Review of content about communication Review of content about communication Review of content about swallowing and mealtime participation Review of content about swallowing and mealtime participation Review of content about community and population speech pathology practice Review of the visual model representing speech pathology practice

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October 2019 www.speechpathologyaustralia.org.au

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