December2013_SpeakOut_web

Continuing Professional Development News

National CPD update

than just a little reward. It means that we can also participate in learning more than we might have otherwise done. We would love to share these experiences more and welcome any volunteers as new portfolio members who can bring their clinical experiences to CPD planning and who also wish to become involved in this fantastic and necessary area of our professional growth. Queensland The Queensland Branch CPD Committee currently has 13 members from a varying range of employment backgrounds, Christine Sheard NSW CPD Leader

We echo the thanks of the Qld CPD committee in their article. On behalf of the Board, staff and members of Speech Pathology Australia, we would like to express our sincere thanks to Tricia for her immeasurable contribution and her continued service and dedication to SPA and the CPD program. Sharon Crane, SAPEC, and Gail Mulcair, CEO

Reflections on CPD Gail Woodyatt has retired from QLD CPD and reflects on her time as a committee member. T he Queensland CPD committee has been a part of my professional life for many years now. What will I

including the University of Queensland, Education Queensland, Montrose Access, Queensland Health, Disability Services and private practice. We are also lucky to have nine Regional

do on the last Wednesday night of the month now that I am retiring from the committee and shortly from the profession? That CPD date has been a permanent entry in my diary for approximately 30 years. I can’t even remember when I first became involved – records show I was there in 1985 – I just know it was from the start of formal CPD. So, just a few thoughts… In the early days, the Queensland Branch of SPA (formerly AASH) would have their regular monthly meetings with occasional guest speakers after the business meetings. As the profession grew, with more and more ‘new’ knowledge being added, the Branch became organised in about 1982, planning meetings for CPD events held at the University – sitting around on child-sized chairs in the uni clinic, I seem to recall. The Queensland portfolio has been a leader in CPD from those early days when Branches were independent from the national body to a certain extent, and CPD committees very much autonomous. • Queensland became the first state to employ a part- time, paid, CPD coordinator to oversee the growing number of events – too many for clinicians to organise within the constraints of their busy work schedules. Since then we have regularly scheduled 12–15 events per year on average, with a range of topics to try to satisfy all members. • In those early days, a low registration fee resulted in a surplus which was at the disposal of each state CPD committee to organise the following year’s events. Nowadays, a vastly different range of registration fee tries to ensure the CPD Portfolio is self-funded. • Queensland is a large state with many SPA members living and working in rural and regional areas with little or no easy access to CPD. The Queensland CPD Committee pioneered the video-teleconference delivery format to service those members and our role grew. We also have 11 regional representatives with regular teleconferences during our meetings to ensure all members’ PD needs are addressed. We are optimistic that the ever growing range of newer technologies can provide us with even more effective CPD alternatives for all members.

Representatives hailing from Mackay, Cairns, Toowoomba, Mt Isa, Townsville, Rockhampton, Wide Bay, the Sunshine Coast and the Gold Coast. The Branch tries its best to ensure that all regions in Queensland receive workshops in their area and values the regional input that is vital in ensuring the local SPs’ preferences and support needs are heard. The Qld CPD Committee has been lucky to have a stable base of members who are willing to take their turn in the Leadership role, currently ably co-shared by Stella Martin and Maureen Liddy. We are excited to announce that our treasured CPD Coordinator, Tricia Chardon, is celebrating her 25th year as QLD CPD Coordinator! She has done an absolutely amazing job over the years with organising national and international speakers to present to Queensland SPs. These speakers have not only been SPs, but also other professionals who have shared their expertise regarding speech pathology-related topics. Tricia is a committed Coordinator who does a lot of behind-the-scenes work to produce a well-oiled CPD program! Qld CPD Committee

Congratulations to Tricia Chardon, Queensland CPD Coordinator, on her 25th anniversary of working for Speech Pathology Australia

Speech Pathology Australia would like to acknowledge the 25th anniversary of Tricia Chardon in her role as Queensland Continuing Professional Development (CPD) Coordinator. Tricia commenced on 6 December 1988 and she has continued in the role for an uninterrupted span of 25 years. During this time, Tricia has provided dedicated service to the Queensland Branch and to the Association’s CPD program – both in Queensland and nationally.

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Speak Out December 2013

Speech Pathology Australia