Annual Report 2017

Policy and Advocacy In 2017, the Association met with over 14 elected Members of Parliament and/or their advisors, held a number of other meetings with government department representatives, and the NDIA. Meetings focused on specific federal and state based advocacy issues, including disability, aged care, justice and mental health services. Of particular note throughout 2017 was the continuing impact of the NDIS, specifically the provision of mealtime support and Augmentative and Alternative Communication – Assistive Technology (ACC AT). Other advocacy highlights in 2017 include: • Attendance at the Joint Standing Committee on the National Disability Insurance Scheme’s Inquiry into Provision of services under the NDIS Early Childhood Early Intervention Approach • Attendance at the Joint Standing Committee on the National Disability Insurance Scheme’s Inquiry into the Transitional arrangements for the NDIS • Attendance at the Senate Community Affairs References Committee’s Inquiry into the delivery of outcomes under the National Disability Strategy 2010- 2020 to build inclusive and accessible communities • Attendance at the House of Representatives Standing Committee on Health, Aged Care and Sport’s Inquiry into Hearing Health and Wellbeing of Australia • The Australian Bureau of Statistics formally released its thematic publication Australians Living with Communication Disability in November • South Australia’s Department of Education and Child Development announced additional funding for literacy which includes hiring an extra ten speech pathologists to work in schools and preschools • South Australia’s Child & Adolescent Mental Health Service announced a reversal of intent to remove speech pathology from the service and will retain a specialised speech pathology service at 3.0 EFT senior level positions • The NDIS specified that a number of professions (including speech pathology) must hold current membership of their relevant professional association Our voice Our key areas of advocacy will be championed.

Submissions A key focus of the Association’s policy and advocacy activity in 2017 was making submissions to a range of federal and state government inquiries and consultative processes. This activity included a range of submissions on a diverse range of issues, including: • Consultation Paper on Disability Rights, AHRC, February 2017 • Elder Abuse Discussion Paper, Australian Law Reform Commission, February 2017 • Inquiry into the NDIS Costs, Productivity Commission, March 2017 • Inquiry into the delivery of outcomes under the National Disability Strategy 2010-2020, Australian Senate, April 2017 • Department of Social Services, NDIS Code of Conduct, June 2017 • DPO Australia, Speech Pathology Australia comments, June 2017 • UNHR Office – Persons with Disabilities, Draft General Comment No. 5 (2017) Article 19, June 2017 • Joint Standing Committee on the NDIS, Provision of services under the NDIS (Early Childhood), August 2017 • Law Council of Australia, The Justice Project: A National Blueprint for Justice for All, September 2017 • Victorian Government, Registration and accreditation scheme for the Victorian disability workforce, October 2017 • Australian Government Department of Education and Training, Achieving Excellence in Education, November 2017 • Australian Government Department of Health, Redesign Dementia Consumer Supports, November 2017 • Northern Territory Government - Starting Early for a Better Future, Northern Territory Governments’ Draft Plan, November 2017 • Australian Commission on Safety and Quality in Health Care, Patient Safety & Quality Improvement in Primary Care, December 2017.

i.e. speech pathologists must hold practicing membership with Speech Pathology Australia, in order to register as an NDIS provider.

At the Parliamentary Inquiry into Hearing Health and Wellbeing are SPA representatives Cathy Olsson and Dr Chyrisse Heine with Chair Mr Trent Zimmerman MP and Mr Tim Wilson MP.

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2017 ANNUAL REPORT Speech Pathology Australia