ACQ Vol 12 no 1 2010

Motor speech disorders

This is my last column as National President – a fitting time for reflection and thanks. The past three years have passed very quickly. It has been a busy time for me and for the Association. The range of activities of the Association in this time is wide, and it is not possible to mention them all here. I will mention some which are, to me, particularly important. The first steps into lobbying activity have been both exciting and demanding. We have much to learn, but I am confident that the profile of the Association and the profession is increasing, and that it will continue to do so. We are fortunate that our CEO, Gail Mulcair, is confident and skilled in this area. We have a re-vamped website to help us in our lobbying activities, and to provide a more efficient and informative service to members and the public. The Association has made a commitment to evidence based practice and to providing members with resources to assist them to access the very best in evidence. I believe it is crucial for the profession that we continue to position ourselves as scientist practitioners, and using the available evidence is integral to this. Our publications, the International Journal of Speech-Language Pathology (IJSLP) and ACQuiring Knowledge in Speech, Language and Hearing (ACQ) play an important role in this, as does the National Conference. Speech Pathology Australia depends on the dedication and professionalism of its paid staff, and of the many volunteers who give their time for the benefit of the profession. Members of Branch Executive guide activities in their state and provide invaluable input also at the national level. I have been privileged to meet members from across the country and to hear their plans for their local area, their achievements, and their challenges. The forums and meetings are an important means of communication within the Association, and also within the branches. Should an invitation come your way, be sure to take it up! I have also had the very great pleasure of working closely with members of Council to help to guide the strategic direction of the Association. Council members undertake an astonishing range of tasks, and do so with the very highest standards in mind. To all of you with whom I have shared time on Council, my thanks. Council meeting weekends can be (and have been) long – but I have admired the application From the president Moving on Cori Williams

(and perseverance) which has allowed us to work efficiently through often long agendas, and to maintain an element of sanity in it all. Thanks also to those staff at National Office, and paid staff in various parts of Australia, who make such a significant contribution to the functioning of the Association. Special thanks to Gail Mulcair, who has the difficult task of ensuring the smoothest possible functioning of National Office and the Association in general. She brings to the position of CEO a wealth of strategic and administrative knowledge. What is ahead for the Association? I hope for continued movement from strength to strength, with growth in membership and an increasingly strategic focus. I am certain that the push for national registration and accreditation will continue, as will lobbying and advocacy activities. We will inevitably continue to be influenced by the vagaries of government and funding, but the focus on building understanding of the profession, and the needs of people with communication and swallowing disorders will be maintained. I leave the position of National President with mixed feelings. I will certainly miss the inside knowledge of Association business, the involvement in strategic initiatives, and the interaction with staff and volunteers. At the same time, I look forward to the new enthusiasm and energy that will come with a new President. Chris Stone brings to the position valuable experience, having been a member of Council for a number of years. She holds a management position in the Victorian Health Department, and so will contribute a valuable skill set to Council discussion and to lobbying activities. I wish her every success, and trust that she will enjoy the position as much as I have. I have learned an enormous amount during the past three years. Perhaps the most important thing that I have learned is the value of accepting a challenge. Involvement with your professional association is a challenge well worth taking up, and one which I hope many of you will enjoy. So what is ahead for me? I hope to spend more time working in the vege garden, and sitting on my verandah watching the world pass by. But perhaps not straight away. I think I still have it in me to face another challenge or two.

Cori Williams

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ACQ Volume 12, Number 1 2010

ACQ uiring knowledge in speech, language and hearing