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association news

The Senate Inquiry Recommendations – Government Action Required!

“In June 2011, the Speech Pathology Australia National President Ms Christine Stone first contacted the Community Affairs References Committee. At that time, there was a request for more consideration of the need for speech pathology services across Australia. There was also a desperate plea for coordinated research into the need and location of speech therapy services so that our country can respond with an effective plan to address that need and to ensure that we maintain the highest quality of speech pathology in our nation. I want to put on record my absolute admiration of and appreciation for the tenacious efforts of SPA, who never let up. From June 2011 to when we finally got this inquiry on the road in December 2013, there was regular contact. Case studies and information were forwarded by SPA to reassure the committee that there was a need for this work and also to highlight the professional qualities of the industry in Australia. Through the committee, we saw the fruits of that work. Over the period of the hearings, we saw the lifelong impact of the need for communication.” Senator Claire Moore speaking of the Committee’s report in the Australian Senate on 2 September 2014 The Senate Community Affairs Reference Committee’s final report for the inquiry into the prevalence of different types of speech, language and communication disorders and speech pathology services in Australia was tabled in Parliament on 2 September 2014. For 35 minutes, communication impairment and the value of speech pathology were centre stage in our national Parliament as Senators spoke to the importance of the inquiry and the recommendations they made. The Committee made ten detailed recommendations – which direct government to progress work that will provide for better planning and access to speech pathology services in Australia.

Recommendations for government include:

Work to be undertaken to improve the availability of

53 2 4 The current service delivery model for speech pathology services in aged care residential homes is reconsidered as part of the federal government’s ongoing aged care reforms Mapping of language support services across Australia against the Australian Early Development Index information about vulnerable children The impact of the National Disability Insurance Scheme on the demand and supply of speech pathology services is investigated An immediate audit of the current speech pathology services for children in Australia

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national data about current and future needs for speech pathology services

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4 Speak Out October 2014 7 9 8 10 6 A strategy be developed to broaden the opportunities for speech pathology students to undertake clinical placements that satisfy the competency based occupational standards The most effective models of speech pathology services be described for: a) Early childhood intervention services b) The educational system c) The justice system d) The health system e) The residential aged care environment An investigation into the geographical and demographic clustering of speech pathology services in Australia with a focus on new graduate positions and opportunities A study of the costs and benefits of public funding of speech pathology positions and various service delivery models on individuals, the speech pathology profession and the Australian community Government at all levels work to develop policies that acknowledge and recognise the need to increase access to speech pathology services for people with speech and language disorders Speech Pathology Australia