Speak Out OCTOBER 2019 V3 DIGITAL EDITION

SPs Abroad

Giving back in Peru Mikaela at work in Peru with the help of an interpreter.

H ave you ever wondered what it might be like to work as a volunteer in a developing country? To give back to people who really need your help? Mikaela Bow and Kate Hanrahan, two speech pathologists who work at Southern Highlands Speech Pathology, in Bowral, NSW, have just returned from such an experience in Peru. They left their jobs, families and day to day lives for 12 days to volunteer with GLOBAL SMILE FOUNDATION, who help children born with cleft palate or cleft lip in underserved parts of the world, in this case it was in Trujillo, Peru. Their 12-day trip involved over 235 speech therapy sessions for children and adolescents, 45 feeding sessions alongside operations conducted by the Global Smile Foundation team, and daily education of local doctors and physiotherapists to help with ongoing care. A typical trip consists of working with children with a cleft palate, however, this trip was a bit different. The local hospital had invited a range of patients with complex feeding and communication needs to see the visiting speech pathology team. This meant Kate and Mikaela were always thinking on their feet as sessions ranged from developing an AAC system and training the family to use this, working on breath support for dysarthria, through to feeding management, and even supporting a patient with a tracheostomy. Mikaela has been on over 12 trips over three years with Global Smile Foundation, but this was the first trip away for Kate, who said she loved every minute of the experience. “We shared many special moments with the patients and their beautiful

families, which included many tears, but also much hope. It was wonderful being able to make a difference to so many families and to be a part of such an inspiring team of people”, Kate also said. “This trip enabled us to grow personally and professionally by exposing us to a huge range of clients with limited resources, and being forced to think on our feet making each session as practicable and meaningful as possible. It is also provided us with the opportunity to build strong connections with families and local health professionals with the aim to create a sustainable speech pathology program in the future”, Mikaela explained. If you have any further questions about Global Smile Foundation, or how to support this cause, please contact mikaela@shsp.com.au

Kate Hanrahan with a client during her work with the Global Smile Foundation.

30

October 2019 www.speechpathologyaustralia.org.au

Speak Out