SP 2030 Report

Making it happen

As we step into the future, the speech pathology profession will:

• partner with appropriate organisations to ensure family members, friends and carers have access to resources and supports to guide them in successful case management and advocacy; • partner with other relevant professions and consumer peak bodies to establish a system of client and family mentors for families with similar needs; • establish referral pathways and proactively assist families and carers to access relevant health and social supports for their own needs; and • establish employment opportunities for family members, friends and carers in a range of support and advisory roles in the speech pathology service system, to bring valuable knowledge and skills to the development and delivery of services.

• advocate for the introduction of funding models recognising the value of capacity building and support for families, friends and carers; • with client permission, communicate explicitly with families and carers to ensure they have a good understanding of the effects of the communication or eating and drinking difficulty, and the best ways to support the client’s goals; • develop and deliver comprehensive resources and group programs for family members, friends and carers to build understanding and develop strategies relevant to different needs, such as, infant feeding, autism spectrum disorder, learning disabilities, aphasia, acquired brain injury, progressive neurological conditions; • ensure these resources and programs are available in Easy English and languages other than English, and recognise cultural differences in responding to communication, eating and drinking needs;

Leading the way...

Allied health in children’s centres program, Department for Education and Child Development, South Australia

Parents and carers have reported that some of the benefits of this group program include opportunities to talk in an informal, non-stigmatised setting with professionals about their children’s development; learning and reflecting on their relationships with their children and how they can enhance their interactions; and connecting with other families in similar situations. Speech pathologists have noted that these programs provide a soft entry point for families into early childhood services, and often are successful in engaging

encouraged to attend the program. Information is provided to parents and carers about various aspects of child development and positive attachment relationships and how these difficulties can impact on children’s development. Speech pathologists also discuss the rationale behind activities, and how they can be repeated at home and other locations. Most of the time is spent supporting parents and carers to engage with their children in activities supported by the allied health staff who use modelling and coaching to build capacity. Families and carers then apply their learning at home and in other settings, and are able to discuss how this went and problem- solve with the speech pathologist when they next attend the group.

Children’s Centres for Early Childhood Development and Parenting are located across South Australia in areas where there are high numbers of vulnerable children and families. A key goal for speech pathologists working in the allied health program in children’s centres is to enhance families and carers’ skills and confidence in engaging with their children in ways that promote children’s healthy development and well-being. An example of this capacity building work is a group program facilitated by the centre’s speech pathologist and occupational therapist in Southern Adelaide. Families with children who have been identified as at risk of developmental difficulties are

families who find it difficult to participate in other services.

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www.speechpathologyaustralia.org.au/SP2030

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