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BRANCH news Victoria

All the happenings around La Trobe during SPWeek 2014

Brains, lips , and teeth . All bundled into plastic bags, stapled together, and lovingly branded with the ICP2014 message; ready for hungry students to devour. Yes, this is how the Speech Pathology Association of La Trobe University kicked off Speech Pathology Week 2014 – with lollies based on the practice areas that we look forward to working in. But imagine if you couldn’t tuck into those delicious treats? This certainly got people talking, as they bit into their gummy brains. Mid-week, our ‘Communication Problems in Pop Culture’ screening invited students to relax and unwind in between classes by watching some of the ways in which communication problems are wrongly depicted by the media. Episodes of Boston Legal and ER were screened as students discussed how pop culture representations measure up to the realities faced by those with communication disorders. The event included a clip of the inspiring TEDxTalk by singer Megan Washington; she discusses the stutter she has had since childhood, and the strategies she needs to employ in order to communicate effectively as a public figure. The end of the week brought a chance to interact with students, staff and university visitors more publicly with a barbecue in the main hub of La Trobe University, the Agora. Speech pathology students took the opportunity to talk with people

Speech pathology students promoted the aims of the Nation for Communication campaign in a number of creative ways during SPWeek 2014.

about communication and swallowing disorders, and how they may feel if either of these abilities were compromised. Motor Neurone Disease (MND) seemed to be a subject that regularly came up with visitors to our stall. With the myriad of ALS ‘Ice Bucket Challenges’ circling the web, little was known about the role of a speech pathologist in helping those with ALS lead a more comfortable life. The reactions from people were strong and personal, as we discussed how it would feel to not be able to eat their favourite foods, or communicate with those around them.

The Australian Nation for Communication ICP2014 campaign resonates deeply with our students, many of whom have a passion for advocating the importance of the profession. It was an absolute joy to promote awareness of communication disorders to our peers and wider student community. And if it means devouring brains, lips and teeth, we can’t wait for next year!

Roz Shand & Lillian Krikheli are currently in their third year of study at La Trobe University.

Introducing Operation Smile La Trobe!

impact we can make as speech pathologists.

to give to children receiving surgery around the world. We are looking for ways to involve speech pathologists and other health processionals into our exciting, fresh organisation. If you would like to know more, please contact operationsmile.latrobe@ gmail.com (Olivia) or visit and ‘like’ us at www.facebook. com/operationsmilelatrobe .

Operation Smile La Trobe University is a newly founded not-for- profit organisation run entirely by first to fourth-year speech pathology students. Our organisation aims to increase the profile on campus of cleft palate and other facial deformities in developing countries. Although our organisation is new, we have already raised

Operation Smile La Trobe began as a sub-branch of Operation Smile Monash (part of the Ignite Health Monash group) and plans to have events in coordination with them in subsequent years. We are currently in the process of collecting wool and knitting square patches to sew together small quilts

awareness and funds for Operation Smile Australia through various fundraisers. We are in the planning stages of organising educational events to inform our peers about global health and the

24 Speak Out October 2014

Speech Pathology Australia