SpeakOut_August2014_FINAL_eCopy

BRANCH news western australia

End of an era: Celebrating 59 years of Speech Pathology Service at Royal Perth Hospital – Shenton Park Campus

The Speech Pathology Department at Royal Perth

Hospital – Shenton Park Rehabilitation Campus, celebrated nearly 60 years of service in May with an afternoon soirée to mark the end of an era. The Shenton Park Campus will close in October this year and move to the new state of the art State Rehabilitation Unit at the new Fiona Stanley Hospital in Murdoch, Western Australia. Current staff and former speech pathologists attended, including Audrey Baker, the first ever Head of Department. Audrey joined the Department in 1955 and was awarded lifetime membership to Speech Pathology Australia in 1977 for services to the profession. Many guests made a special effort to be part of the celebrations including former Head of Department Helen Sjardin from Tasmania, and Professor Ann Zubrick who sent a video-recorded message from Europe. Shenton Park neurologist Dr Rob Edis spoke of the contribution of the Department to the hospital over the years. Former patient Mrs Gillian McRae gave a speech to highlight the many positive experiences and benefits she took from her speech pathology treatment at Shenton Park. To show the developments speech pathology has made in more than 50 years the organising committee created a 1970s-style speech pathologists workstation and created a timeline of key events.

Above: Current and former speech pathology staff (from left) Rebecca Kingston, Elysha Cummins, Natasha Dodd, Jodie Ballingall and Sinead Hartnett.

The Shenton Park Speech Pathology Department has played a significant role in developing adult speech pathology services in Western Australia and it was important to highlight and celebrate just how far the profession had come. The event was a wonderful opportunity to reminisce and the great turnout shows the high regard staff have for the time they spent at the Shenton Park rehabilitation hospital. Jan Zach Senior Speech Pathologist RPH – Shenton Park Campus Above, from left: Peta Lithgo, Noelle Dawson, Jonathan Kester, Caroline Silver in front of the timeline.

Above: First Head of Department Audrey Baker with current Head of Department Melita Brown.

Call for 2016 Conference Convenor Speech Pathology Australia is now calling for expressions of interest from WA members for the position of 2016 Conference Convenor. Expressions of interest should include a covering letter stating relevant experience and a curriculum vitae to support the application. The application should be submitted to Pamela Richards, National Conference Manager, via email conference@speechpathologyaustralia.org.au . Applications close Monday 8 September 2014 .

Speak Out August 2014

33

www.speechpathologyaustralia.org.au