Speak Out April 2019

APRIL 2019

THE MAGAZINE FOR AUSTRALIAN SPEECH PATHOLOGISTS

SPA Innovation Awards see p4

ADVOCACY IN AGED CARE Grow your private practice SWALLOWING AWARENESS DAY Branch news & more...

Conte n ts

April 2019

National Office Level 1/114 William Street Melbourne VIC 3000 T 1300 368 835 F 03 9642 4922 E office@speechpathologyaustralia.org.au Chief Executive Officer Gail Mulcair T 03 9642 4899 E execassist@speechpathologyaustralia.org.au Speech Pathology Australia Board Gaenor Dixon – President

Belinda Hill – Vice President Communications Brooke Sanderson – Vice President Operations Chyrisse Heine – Director Tim Kittel – Director Marleen Westerveld – Director Maree Doble – Director Follow Speech Pathology Australia via:

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Copyright © 2019 The Speech Pathology Association of Australia Speak Out is the official bi-monthly magazine of The Speech Pathology Association of Australia Ltd. Speech Pathology Australia (SPA) owns the copyright to Speak Out and no part of this magazine may be reproduced without the explicit permission of SPA. Write to us Letters can be sent to pubs@speechpathologyaustralia.org.au Letters may or may not be published in future issues of Speak Out magazine at SPA’s discretion. Advertisements Please refer to the “Publications” menu at www.speechpathology australia.org.au to view the 2019 Speak Out ad kit. Any queries may be directed to SPA Publications Manager T 1300 368 835 E pubs@speechpathologyaustralia.org.au Advertising booking dates for June 2019 Speak Out. The official booking form must be received at National Office by COB 7 May 2019 . New South Wales – Jamie Summerfield Northern Territory – Rebecca Amery Queensland – Leanne Sorbello, Catherine Hicks, Erika Campbell and Rebecca Sexton South Australia – Cathy Clarke Tasmania – Rachael Zeeman Victoria – Shane Erickson Western Australia – Jamaica Grantis Please see the website for Branch Editor contact details. Disclaimer To the best of The Speech Pathology Association of Australia Limited’s (‘the Association”) knowledge, this information is valid at the time of publication. The Association makes no warranty or representation in relation to the content or accuracy of the material in this publication. The Association expressly disclaims any and all liability (including liability for negligence) in respect of use of the information provided. The Association recommends you seek independent professional advice prior to making any decision involving matters outlined in this publication. Print Post Approved PP349181/01711 Print ISSN 1446-053X Digital ISSN : ISSN 2208-7125 Speak Out Branch Editors ACT – via pubs@speechpathologyaustralia.org.au

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President’s report

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Innovation Awards

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Membership Renewal Update

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Celebrations for Swallowing Awareness Day

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Reform and change in aged care

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Joint Conference 2019

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Spotlight on professional support

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Professional Practice - help and support

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Coaching for business growth

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Professional Practice- Ask SPA?

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Professional education

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Branch news

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From the President

I am excited about welcoming many of you to my hometown of Brisbane in two months for the joint conference. Early bird for the conference closes on 17 April, but it still will not be too late to register for conference after that day. Come to Brisbane, enjoy our early cool-dry season weather, the beautiful bougainvillea on Southbank, and participate in an exciting, packed international program with our New Zealand colleagues. I was pleased to hear the announcement early this month of the establishment of the Royal Commission into Violence, Abuse, Neglect and Exploitation of People with Disability; the Association will prepare a submission addressing the Terms of Reference. There are a range of documents available on the attorney-general’s website including an Easy Read text which explains the purpose of the Commission and its Terms of Reference. As we know more information, we will keep you updated. In May, the Board, Branch Chairs and some members will commence strategic planning for the next 3-year plan 2020-2023. We will be looking closely at where we are, how are we going on our 2030 journey, and what we need to do to continue in the right direction. We will look at the political, global and local changes that are happening and determine how we need to stay ahead, and make a future of our choosing. Members will have the opportunity to provide input through a range of means, but you are very welcome to email me to share your thoughts about where we need to be going and any ideas of how we might get there. As we progress through our strategic plan we are continuing to roll-out a review of our core documents - the CBOS and have recently commenced a review of the Code of Ethics. This is a great opportunity to check-in that our Code of Ethics supports us in our work today and in 2030. I encourage you to have your say in the review process. Last month we joined with the Royal College of Speech-Language Therapists to raise awareness of dysphagia, and the importance of safe and enjoyable eating and drinking. Congratulations to all the members who participated in events raising awareness throughout the country - a snapshot of some of the imaginative activities can be found later in this issue of Speak Out . Enjoy this issue of Speak Out - catching up with the activities of members from around Australia, and your Association’s “news”. I look forward to seeing many of you in a couple of months in Brisbane.

Gaenor Dixon

Gaenor Dixon National President

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Association news

NEW Innovation awards

TO REWARD INNOVATION AND CREATIVITY IN THE PROFESSION, SPEECH PATHOLOGY AUSTRALIA HAS ANNOUNCED THE CREATION OF THE INNOVATION AWARDS.

Category 1 Innovation in Professional Practice

AS A PROFESSIONAL BODY , Speech Pathology Australia is committed to promoting innovation in the speech pathology profession in Australia. The Association’s current strategic plan states that “Speech Pathology Australia and members embrace innovation and are ‘on the forefront’ of emerging trends and opportunities,” and strive to “explore new opportunities for innovative practice, support knowledge and skill development, and showcase examples of success.” There are two award categories: Innovation in Professional Practice, and Innovation in Research. Each award is to the value of $2500 and covers one year’s membership of the Association, registration, airfares, accommodation, transfers and incidentals to attend the Association’s 2020 National Conference in Darwin. This is an ongoing award and will be awarded in subsequent years. Nomination/self-nomination The awards are open to all members of Speech Pathology Australia, including those who self-nominate. Nominations from teams, which include non-members, will be accepted. While the team effort will be recognised, the award’s benefits will only go to the one nominated member of Speech Pathology Australia. Members may nominate for both awards in the same year. A separate nomination form must be completed and submitted for each innovation being nominated. A member may only hold one award in any one year.

For the purposes of this category, innovation is the process of translating an original idea, invention, service approach, or research finding, to create or add value, providing a better outcome or benefit for clients, Association members or key stakeholders of the speech pathology profession. Innovation is not only the development or utilisation of technology. Innovation can include improvements in processes or workplaces, employee engagement and productivity, client satisfaction or outcomes, approaches to student training, or development of professional competence or collaboration. For example, innovation may include a new process in a workplace that has resulted in greater efficiency, or development of a student placement, which uses novel approaches or provides experience within an underserved population. Innovation includes refinement, enhancement or extension of an existing process, service, or use of resources. Category 2 Innovation in Research For the purposes of this category, innovation is the conception and execution of novel research, which delivers high quality findings in a hitherto under-researched population or area of practice. Innovation in research includes the use of new ways to approach new or existing questions. Innovation in research results in findings that challenge knowledge and lead to discussion, critical analysis and a questioning approach. For further information Nominations for the Speech Pathology Australia Innovation Awards opened on 18 March and close on 31 May 2019. The winners will be announced publicly during Speech Pathology Week (15-21 August). Further information and conditions of entry are available on the nomination form, which may be download from the Association’s website: www.speechpathologyaustralia.org.au/ innovation

Important dates 31 May - Nominations close Winners announced during Speech Pathology Week in August

The Innovation Awards are proudly supported by Guild Insurance.

TBC

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Association news i i

Board meeting report for March 2019

Competency Based Occupational Standard (CBOS) The review of CBOS continues to progress well. The Competency Standards Advisory Committee recently met to discuss the feedback received from the focus group meetings held. A further member consultation forum will be held at the Joint Conference in June 2019. See page 10 for further details. Research grants Approval was provided for the development of a Clinician- Researcher Partnership grant, with selection criteria and budget parameters to be determined. Communication access In 2018 Speech Pathology Australia, on behalf of the Communication Access Alliance (CAA), commissioned a literature review to determine the current legislative and policy context for communication support needs and to inform and guide the development of national communication access standards. The literature review report, finalised in December 2018, was recently ratified by the Communication Access Alliance and will be made available on the Association’s website in coming months. Work towards national standards for communication accessibility continues, with a recent meeting held with Standards Australia to further explore the process and discuss the potential of hosting a roadmap forum. The Board acknowledged that the process, involving a collaboration of key organisations, is progessing steadily, however the formation of national standards is likely to occur within a future strategic plan. 70th year anniversary of Speech Pathology Australia Consideration was given to celebrating and promoting the Association’s 70th Year Anniversary in 2019, with a range of ideas formulated and member engagement opportunities to be promoted. The Board will next meet on Friday 17 and Saturday 18 May 2019.

The first Board meeting for 2019 was held in Melbourne on 15 - 16 March. A broad range of topics were discussed, with some of the highlights noted below. 2018 Financial Year Accounts and Audit outcomes The meeting featured a presentation of the 2018 Financial Year Accounts and Audit outcomes, by the Association’s appointed auditors HLB Mann Judd. The Financial Statements will be provided to all members within the 2018 Annual Report. Members are invited to attend the Annual General Meeting and Awards Ceremony, scheduled to be held at 6.00pm, Monday 6 June 2019 at the Brisbane Convention Centre. SP2030 The Association continues to embrace the eight aspirations identified through the SP2030 project, with these aspirations having informed the current strategic plan and many of the projects undertaken by the Association. Further member engagement with the aspirations is being sought, with new communications to be formed. Innovation Awards The Innovation Awards comprise of two awards aimed at recognising Innovation in Professional Practice and Innovation in Research. Further details regarding these awards will be advertised in the coming months. The inaugural recipient/s of Speech Pathology Australia’s Innovation Awards will be announced during Speech Pathology Week 2019. (See the previous page for more information.) Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Reconciliation The Association will further demonstrate commitment to reconciliation through the launch of a Reconciliation Action Plan (in June 2019) and the release of an apology to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander People. Resources to support cultural awareness training for members will be rolled out ahead of introducing the requirement to undertake training in order to progress from provisional to full Certified Practising Speech Pathologist status (for the 2020/21 renewal period). University Accreditation Model Speech Pathology Australia will introduce a new University Accreditation model aimed at ensuring the delivery of high- quality speech pathology programs, across the entire term of accreditation. The new model will also be accompanied by a revised fee structure.

Gail Mulcair Chief Executive Officer

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Association news

Vale Sue Morse 30.7.1959 – 10.3.2019

SPEECH PATHOLOGY AUSTRALIA WOULD LIKE TO SADLY ACKNOWLEDGE THE PASSING OF SUE MORSE. SUE WAS AN ADVOCATE AND A PIONEER FOR HER PATIENTS, THEIR FAMILIES AND THE PROFESSION. CURRENT AND FORMER COLLEAGUES PAY TRIBUTE TO SUE AND HER COMPASSIONATE AND INFLUENTIAL LIFE.

I t is with great sadness that we learned of the death of Sue Morse, an extraordinary woman, speech pathologist and mental health clinician. Sue died last month at the age of 59. She will be remembered as a fierce advocate for her patients and their families, as a clinical educator, a mentor and a much respected “trailblazer” for her profession. Sue started her career as a speech pathology graduate at the Ballarat Base Hospital in 1981 and moved to the Royal Children’s Hospital (RCH) in Melbourne in 1983 where she then worked for 35 years. The Children’s Hospital was a very special place for Sue where she had been a patient herself as a young child. Her early career interest was in brain injury, particularly the recovery of communication skills after complex illness. Sue thrived in the intellectual rigour of research and co- authored a number of research papers on language outcomes in the context of neurobehavioural recovery. She had a deep undersanding of developmental neurology as well as the emotional and psychosocial toll rendered by serious childhood illness.

As a senior clinician Sue earned the utmost respect of her colleagues within and outside the hospital, and in 2010 was awarded the RCH Chairman’s Medal. The Chairman’s Medal is the most prestigious award that can be bestowed by The Royal Children’s Hospital upon a member of staff, and recognises exemplary achievement by an individual in her or his chosen field. It commemorates an outstanding contribution to the work and reputation of the RCH, and a significant impact by the individual on the hospital’s vision to be a great children’s hospital, leading the way. This award recognised Sue’s contribution to the development of speech pathology practices which are now considered essential to the multidisciplinary care of children with complex disorders, including videofluoroscopic swallow study and intervention with infants and young children with eating and drinking problems. Early intervention work with very young children and their parents sparked Sue’s passion for working closely with the pioneering Infant Psychiatry group at RCH. Her work as a mental health clinician was outstanding, as were her clinical skills with children of all ages. Her playfulness was balanced with a directness and a deep understanding of what was important to the child and the family. She was particularly influential in the development of an infant mental health culture at RCH and was a fierce advocate for the infant in the health care system. Sue’s tireless compassion, her capacity to inhabit the world of her patients, to honour their dignity and to guide her patients and colleagues through the language of therapy and its wonderful metaphors will be remembered. We will miss her very much. Libby Ferguson former colleague, MCRI Alex Giannini, RCH Bernadette O’Connor , RCH (and can be available for any enquiries in regards to Sue)

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Membership renewals 2019 Did you know that you can start to plan your SPA membership renewal now?

No fee increase There will be no fee increase on the standard membership fees for the 2019/20 membership period. Certified Practising membership will remain at $546 (and don’t forget to claim it on your tax return). Renewals open Monday 3 June Renewals will open on Monday 3 June and you will need to renew prior to Monday 1 July. Go to: www.speechpathologyaustralia.org.au > Member login (top right hand corner) > Input your username and password > Click on ‘View your name’s account’ (top of the page) Did you know simply by logging into your member account you can access receipts, certificates of attendance at events and you can update all your current information including logging your Professional Self Regulation (PSR) points. PSR Go online now and log into your member account. Under the ‘My PSR’ tab you can log your activities undertaken between 1 July 2018 to 30 June 2019. When you start the online renewal process all these activities will be transferred into your online renewal and you will simply have to review and confirm them. Workplace details If you opt in to be on the ‘Find a Speech Pathologist’ search engine it is imperative your details are up to date. Is there a telephone number and an email address listed? Are there any typos in your listing? Have you indicated your areas of practice? An email will be sent to all members with a unique login link but why wait until then to get ready…

The Find a Speech Pathologist page is the most visited page on the SPA website so make sure the information accurately reflects your professional status. If you don’t opt in to Find a Speech Pathologist then it is still incredibly important that all your details are up to date as this information is crucial to ensure we have accurate and comprehensive information about speech pathologists in Australia to bolster all the advocacy and lobbying activities undertaken on behalf of you and your clients. Going on parental leave? Don’t lose your Certified Practising status. If you’ve been a continuous, full member (for at least the last three years), the parental leave policy is available to you. If you match the following criteria you can claim this member benefit when you renew online and it means you do not pay the membership fee for the coming year. • You must have had three years continuous paid full membership (student membership is not counted) prior to applying for this benefit. • You have not or will not be working as a speech pathologist for a minimum of six months. • You cannot have more than one year parental leave benefit in any two consecutive membership periods. Have you been a Certified Practising member with provisional CPSP for at least a year? Ensure you have completed all the requirements to allow you to move from provisional to full CPSP status. Not sure what they are? Go to www.speechpathologyaustralia.org.au/psr

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Know the benefits

Stay informed about the profession, network via social media and face-to-face with your peers, access knowledge and have your say about the future of the speech pathology profession - know the benefits and plan your renewal now.

Networking

• Branch events – catch up with your peers and make new connections. • SPA member-only communities on Facebook – covering a wide range of areas of the profession. • Volunteer with your state branch – get involved and have some fun. • CPD where and when it suits you through SPA online programs and webinars, including free resources for members. • Pay lower rates on SPA workshops, National Conference and Private Practice Seminars – high quality, practical training for the profession. • CPD library – hire out a DVD to watch pre-recorded CPD events. • Access world class journals: covering academic, clinical and rural health. • Access to advice around professional practice, human resources, disability, NDIS, aged care, ethics and professional issues. • Be informed at national, state and international levels through Speak Out, National and Branch eNews and social media – keep up to date with what’s happening in your profession. • Advocacy and lobbying: Be part of the Branch working group and have your say! • Apply for a research grant – help enhance the clinical practice of speech pathologists. • Provide input when member feedback is sought to inform submissions and policy representation.

CPD

Access knowledge

* Renewals open 3 June

Have your say

Recognition

Certified Practising Speech Pathologist (CPSP) is recognised by the Australian Government, Medicare, National Disability Insurance Scheme and most private health funds as the quality standard for speech pathologists in Australia.

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Association news

Developing speech pathology standards for our future CBOS review update

PHASE ONE OF THE REVIEW OF THE COMPETENCY BASED OCCUPATIONAL STANDARDS FOR SPEECH PATHOLOGISTS (CBOS) IS NOW COMPLETE. PROGRESS ON THE REVIEW WILL BE SHARED AT THE JOINT CONFERENCE IN JUNE.

The CBOS review is an important initiative of Speech Pathology Australia. It will support development of a future ready workforce capable of delivering best practice and fulfilling the vision and aspirations articulated in Speech Pathology 2030: making futures happen project. Young Futures has been contracted to complete the review (Gretchen Young in collaboration with Angela Murray and Katy O’Callaghan). The CBOS review project method has been designed with a robust governance process to ensure the extensive consultations with members and stakeholders is equitable, representative and as unbiased as possible. Guidance and governance The project receives guidance from several SPA committees. However, final decision making will rest with the Board. The committees and advisory input include:

Competency Standards Advisory Committee (CSAC) • 25 members from across Australia, from a broad range of settings and levels of experience. • Provides advice to the project consultants and PSAC throughout the planning and implementation phases of the project. • Incudes a representation from the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Advisory Committee. Professional Standards Advisory Committee (PSAC) • Members with senior experience in their respective sectors. • Provides advice and recommendations to the Board regarding all matters related to professional standards including the planning and direction of the CBOS project. • soon to have an appointed Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander member.

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Association news

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Advisory Committee • Provides perspectives and recommendations to the project consultants and to the Board to ensure that the values of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples are appropriately respected and reflected in the revised standards. Speech Pathology Australia Board • Provides advice to the project consultants and approves final new standards. Project phases The project has three main phases. Phase 1 has recently been completed. Phase 1 of the project has involved: • Identifying issues relevant to speech pathologists now and in the future. • Benchmarking and mapping the competencies and standards of other professions. • Reviewing literature and practice documents relevant to professional competency standards. • Surveying over 1100 speech pathologists, student speech pathologists and speech pathology managers via two online surveys. • Conducting fourteen focus groups with up to 10 participants in each group. • Formally consulting with CSAC, PSAC and the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Advisory Committee several times throughout the phase. Next steps The project consultants are currently synthesising the information received from the multiple consultations, reviews, and investigations to date. Using this information, the consultants will work with the PSAC to prepare a draft framework for the new standards. The draft framework will be presented to the SPA Board for review and endorsement. Progress on the review, including the key issues identified, the framework for the revised standards, and the next steps for the review, will be presented at the Joint Conference in June in Brisbane. The next stage of consultations will occur from June to August 2019. This stage will focus on developing the detail for populating the framework. Draft revised standards will be released for public consultation in October 2019 before being finalised at the end of December 2019 The new standards will require a careful and systematic implementation plan. This will ensure the new standards are successfully embedded into all relevant aspects of Speech Pathology Australia’s functions, university curricula and for the Australian speech pathology workforce more broadly. Development of the implementation plan will commence in late 2019. If you have any questions about the project please contact Stacey Baldac, Manager Professional Standards sbaldac@ speechpathologyaustralia.org.au

SPA recently welcomed Nadia Marussinsnzky into the role of Ethics Advisor. “I have worked within the disability sector since 2012. The majority of my experience is with early intervention, however across the years I have also worked with both the adolescent and adult populations. I have worked in a number of organisations and in homes, centres, schools and day programs, in Adelaide, Vancouver and now Melbourne. Over this time I have worked alongside many other professionals and, as is often the case when we collaborate, our similarities and differences highlighted to me the importance of embedding ethical decision making into everyday practise. I am excited to help guide SPA members through ethical dilemmas that may arise and to help maintain the high level of ethical standards that we, as a profession, hold ourselves to. On a personal note, I live in Yarraville and during my free-time you might find me gardening, paddle-boarding, reading or trying to teach my cat new tricks. I feel the best way for us to move forward ethically is to work together, so please feel free to contact me with questions and feedback. New SPA Ethics Advisor

Stacey Baldac Manager Professional Standards

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Association news

Swallowing Awareness Day 2019

Melbourne University students came out to support Swallowing Awareness Day to raise awareness of the experience of dysphagia.

The day’s social media campaign received a strong following across all the Association’s social media platforms. A short video What is Swallowing? with Dr Julie Cichero was very well received, with over 33,000 views across Facebook, LinkedIn, Instagram, Twitter, and YouTube. A separate animation with Dizzy, the Swallowing Awareness Day mascot, secured over 17,200 views on the same platforms. While the Association’s Facebook post on the day (13 March), alone reached of over 135,000, including 20,000 engagements, and was shared over 1000 times.

With Swallowing Awareness Day 2019 now behind us, a huge thank you to everyone who participated in the promotion of the day. This year Speech Pathology Australia worked closely with the Royal College of Speech and Language Therapists to promote Swallowing Awareness Day. With the assistance of the College, the Association is endeavouring to make the day an international event. The day continues to grow in importance with social media activity helping to spread the word far and wide. There was a huge amount of activity in the lead up to and on the actual day. The Swallowing Awareness Day promotional collateral was well used and there was a lot of evidence that Dizzy, our mascot for the day, was busy promoting the campaign. Activity on social media was very strong with a number of members and their clients actively using #swallowaware2019 and #dysphagia.

Michael Kerrisk Communications and Marketing Manager

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Association news

Dysphagia Interest Group of Victoria student event For the second year the Dysphagia Interest Group (DIG) of Victoria and the Speech Pathology Australia Victoria Branch Student Group partnered to run a student-focused event on Swallowing Awareness Day. This event aims to foster networking between students and clinicians, and for students to learn about career pathways in dysphagia. This year’s speakers included Associate Professor Michelle Ciucci (University of Wisconsin), Claire Stanley (Monash Health), Katelyn Gervasoni (Ballarat Health) and Olga Birchall (The University of Melbourne). The event was attended by 80 students and professional members interested in dysphagia research and practice. DIG wishes to thank the SPA Student Group (Kate Cohn, Eleanor Barry, Stephanie Verga, Bronte Fraser, Aashna Vazirani and Natasha Arulananda and Camille Paynter), Dr Lucette Lanyon (La Trobe University), Dr Megan Keage (The University of Melbourne), and Danielle Czapnik (Australian Catholic University). DIG Executive Kelly Belnick (Western Health), Kate McCullough (Western Health), Sarah Osmond (Melbourne Health), and Megan Keage (The University of Melbourne)

Annual student challenge

To mark Swallowing Awareness Day, Master of Speech Pathology students at The University of Melbourne took on the annual Thickened Fluids Challenge. Students were required to adhere to thickened fluids for the day to develop some awareness of the experience of dysphagia. Well done to all of the students who participated! Thanks to Nicholas Georgakopoulos and Phil Lane from Precise for donating the thickened fluids used in the challenge, and to the students for embracing the opportunity. Dr Megan Keage Lecturer in Speech Pathology, The University of Melbourne

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In the lead up to Swallowing Awareness Day 2019, the MSWA Speech Pathology Department (formerly known as The Multiple Sclerosis Society of Western Australia) was busy in the kitchen, road testing various recipes for texture-modified bread and sandwiches. We all know that bread, for many people living with dysphagia, is a particularly challenging food to chew and swallow, and one that is associated with increased risk of choking. While texture-modified recipes for bread do exist, to date they’ve never been served on the menu at any MSWA kitchens, mostly because of fear they will be too difficult and take too long to prepare, and because they will be unappealing or unappetising to residents and visitors. MSWA Speech Pathologist Lucy Strom was keen to explore things further, to see if she could alleviate some of these fears and possible misconceptions. So, she spent a day in the kitchen and experimented with a range of different texture-modified bread recipes including gelled, smooth-pureed and minced and moist bread, and even a toasted sandwich version of the latter. The MSWA Speech Pathology team and final year speech pathology students from Edith Cowan University then compared each sandwich in terms of ease and length of preparation in the kitchen, appearance, taste, texture (from an IDDSI perspective) and overall ‘sandwichiness’. While no one recipe was perfect, the team was pleasantly surprised with how MSWA Speech Pathologist Lucy Strom preparing her texture- modified sandwich creations. Recipe road testing

On Wednesday 13 March, speech pathology students at Macquarie University raised awareness about swallowing disorders and in particular, the role of speech pathologists in the assessment and treatment of dysphagia. We held a stall where we encouraged students from all disciplines to try some thickened juices and soft drinks, and provided education why individuals with dysphagia might be prescribed a modified texture diet. By Amanda Godbee and Stella Tamvakeras Raising awareness

well each recipe stood up, particularly in terms of taste! The melted cheese toastie made with wholemeal bread was a big hit! Moving forward the speech pathology team at MSWA now plans to meet

with its dietitian colleagues to discuss the nutritional and calorific content of each recipe, given that it took almost six slices of regular white bread to produce just one slice of minced and moist bread.

MacquarieUniversity students ran a stall to raise awareness about swallowing disorders.

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Aged care

Reform and change in AGED CARE IT CONTINUES TO BE A BUSY TIME OF REFORM AND CHANGE IN THE AGED CARE SECTOR, WITH MUCH OF THE SPA ADVISOR’S TIME RECENTLY FOCUSED ON THESE CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE REFORM AGENDA.

promptly with the possibility of being considered to appear as a witness. Accordingly, SPA’s formal submission to the Royal Commission will be submitted soon. Aged Care Working Party The annual face to face planning day was held in November 2018, with priorities for 2019 established including development of targeted member resources (e.g., re- introduction of new aged care standards, speech pathology role in dementia, workshop content for National Conference workshop planned on dysphagia and risk feeding) Vic Voluntary Assisted Dying Legislation Further meetings have been held with DHHS to discuss applicability and intersections with speech pathology professional practice, and request for further specific advice re working with people with little or no speech and this legislation. Guidance materials for doctors have had content developed regarding supporting the access to the Scheme of people with communication difficulties. Look out for further member fact sheets and information to be developed subsequently regarding some of these initiatives. As always, please feel free to contact National Office at any time with any further queries or comments Kym Torresi Senior Advisor Aged Care agedcare@speechpathologyaustralia.org.au 1300 368 835

Recent activity has included: Roundtable summit

Kym Torresi attended a roundtable summit with the Federal Minister for Aged Care, Hon Ken Wyatt in Sydney in January, representing the professional constituency of the Care at Home working party of the National Aged Care Alliance. This national roundtable discussed the Commonwealth Home Support Programme with a view to informing the Minister and Department of Health when they consider program design post 2020. Representation Michelle Bennet (member of the Aged Care Working Party) has continued to attend the RUCS (Resource Utilisation Classification Study) Forum as an AHPA representative. Kym Torresi continues to attend the National Aged Care Alliance, DVA Healthcare Providers Partnership Forums and upcoming National Stroke Coalition meetings. Submissions SPA recently prepared formal submissions for the Streamlined Consumer Assessment Model and Effectiveness of the Aged Care Quality Assessment and Accreditation Framework call for papers. Royal Commission into aged care A recent member survey has collected over 90 responses from SPA members to help inform SPA’s submission. An introductory letter was sent to the Royal Commissioners and was acknowledged as being of quite some interest to the RC with SPA strongly encouraged to prepare a formal submission

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Clinical education in AGED CARE CLINICAL EDUCATION IS CRITICAL TO PREPARING FUTURE GENERATIONS OF SPEECH PATHOLOGISTS, PROVIDING A BRIDGE BETWEEN UNIVERSITY LEARNING AND CLINICAL PRACTICE.

medical practitioners, and specialists. It is common for students to both deliver education to other professionals and aged care staff, and to receive education from others in the interprofessional team. In many programs, students are also required to complete research or project-based work to advance the evidence base or develop resources for use by other students, residents, and staff. Learning how to work with, learn from, and provide education to other disciplines is a critical skill for successful employment and career development. For the residents and the facilities… Despite the potential of speech pathology input in aged care, services in aged care facilities have traditionally been limited to the assessment of swallowing. Speech pathology student placements allow facilities to offer residents speech pathology support for communication and broader mealtime needs that would otherwise not be provided. By receiving support for these needs, residents may be better able to contribute to decisions about their care, actively participate in activities of daily living, and engage in social and recreational activities. For facilities, student placements may be viewed as a valuable ‘additional service’ offered by the facility. Such services offer a competitive advantage that may be used to attract potential residents to the facility and contribute to meeting industry accreditation requirements. For speech pathologists and universities… Speech pathologists working in residential aged care emphasise that student placements should not replace the ‘bread and butter’ work of qualified clinicians but rather support and enhance current practice. Student placements offer an extra service that the speech pathologist can provide to the facility showcasing what can be done when services are extended beyond swallowing. With most residents of aged care facilities experiencing communication, swallowing, and/or mealtime difficulties, aged

As the number of universities offering speech pathology courses has increased, so has demand for student placements. Aged care facilities offer substantial potential for student placements with unique benefits for universities, students, residents, facility staff, and speech pathologists. Most universities now include aged care placements as a core part of their clinical education program with the structure and nature of these placements as diverse as the needs of the residents, the speech pathologists that service aged care facilities, and the facilities themselves. Why consider a placement in residential aged care? What are the benefits? For the students… Residents of aged care facilities experience a wide range and severity of communication and mealtime difficulties. Most are neurological or sensory in origin, with the impact of these difficulties often compounded by comorbid frailty, depression, anxiety, the resource constraints of the facility, and limited family and community support. In aged care, students apply their theoretical knowledge and practical learning from the classroom to compare and contrast normal ageing processes with disordered communication, swallowing, and mealtime skills, with a focus on the functional impact of these difficulties. Students may undertake screening assessments, as well as both formal and informal assessments. Subsequent therapy may be provided to individuals or in a group. For students further along in their clinical journey, aged care can provide a supported platform to discuss ethical implications of practice and gain insight into specialist areas of practice, including, behaviour management, cognitive-communication as well as palliative and end of life care. Providing evidence-based care to older people requires coordinated, collaborative, person-centred care. Students in aged care often experience multi, inter, and transdisciplinary work teams within the one facility. They work closely with nursing staff and vocationally trained carers, other allied health professionals,

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care facilities provide universities with a high volume of clients and opportunity to run a rich program of placements targeting the development of novice through to entry-level clinical skills. Students gain experience in cognitive-communication difficulties and have the opportunity to develop meaningful clinical relationships with consistent clients over the course of their placement. Conclusion Completing a placement in residential aged care provides students with,“very real insight into what happens in a totally uncontrived, uncontrollable environment; it is a great experience for them,” said Speech Pathologist Jill Lesic. Students learn to work in the residents’ “home” being mindful and respectful of other residents, family members, and staff while providing a diverse range of speech pathology programs. Positioning the speech pathology profession as a core and critical service for older people is integral in ensuring both a sustainable future for the profession and quality of life for older people who experience communication, swallowing, and mealtime difficulties. “...a placement in residential aged care provides students with,very real insight...” Setting up a successful aged care placement • Ensure there is a good relationship between the speech pathologist clinical educator and the facility. • Make sure there is ongoing and open communication between the speech pathologist and the university, and university support for both the students and the educator. • To support the integrity of the service ensure students are aware of the contractual nature of private services and the importance of conducting themselves in a respectful and mindful manner at all times. Ensure the placement is developed in partnership with the speech pathologist servicing the facility and facility management, to meet the needs of all stakeholders. • Plan ahead, seek consent for resident involvement prior to the commencement of the placement and ensure all stakeholders have the resources and information they need to support the placement well before the placement commences. Top tips Dr. Michelle Bennett, Amanda Dansky, Dr. Jill Lesic Aged Care Working Party Members

in your words...

Speech is not silver and nor is it gold A poem by Porsh Naidoo speech pathologist MSPA CPSP

“Speech is Silver but Silence is Gold”, A phrase I know well, many times I have been told, I disagree more as I grow old, Speech is not Silver, nor is it Gold, Speech is priceless and it cannot be sold. Speech is more than what we say, It is how we say it, in our own kind of way, Our tone, our pitch, our voice we use each day, Our tongue, our teeth, our lips help make the sounds we say, Speech is a gift we can never repay. Speech is fragile, this is important to know, Just as it comes unexpectedly, so too it can go, Even if it stays, it can slur and it can slow, Or if we rush it, we can disrupt its flow, So look after your speech and it will show. Appreciate not just the ‘what’ but also the ‘how’, Listen to the words and enjoy the sounds, Speech is a melody that we create out loud, We are gifted in this way and so too, we should be proud.

Speech is not Silver and nor is it Gold, Speech is a gift for all, the young and the old.

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A two day conference presented by:

Robin P. Glass, MS, OTR, IBCLC, and

Lynn S. Wolf, MOT, OTR, IBCLC

Course Description: This course will provide a framework from which to view the continuum of infant feeding options, with a strong focus on breastfeeding. Participants will have the opportunity to expand their repertoire of evaluation techniques and intervention strategies when working with infants in a hospital or clinic setting who demonstrate feeding or swallowing dysfunction. Course Instructors: LynnWolf, MOT, OTR, IBCLC and Robin Glass, MS, OTR, IBCLC practice occupational therapy at Seattle Children’s Hospital in Seattle,WA.Their clinical specialty is the treatment of infants, with a strong focus on feeding issues.They are NDT trained and Board Certified Lactation Consultants, with extensive national and international experience speaking about the infant feeding. Ms. Glass and Ms.Wolf have published numerous journal articles as well as the book Feeding and Swallowing Disorders in Infancy: Assessment and Management .

MELBOURNE April 29th – 30th, 2019 BRISBANE May 2nd–3rd, 2019 SYDNEY May 6th–7th, 2019

Feeding and Swallowing Disorders in

Infancy: Optimising breastfeeding success

For more information and to register go to: www.breastfeedingconferences.com.au

Earn 22 PD Hours!

Involve parents with an evidence-based coaching framework

Give parents the skills to support their child's language learning during the meaningful, real-life situations where learning happens best. Attend an It Takes Two to Talk® Certification Workshop and gain an evidence-based framework for coaching parents to be primary interventionists for their child – making intervention a natural, ongoing process and providing the enriched early learning environments that are especially important for children with language delays.

Space is limited! Register today for one of these upcoming It Takes Two to Talk workshops:

Melbourne, VIC ........... Apr 15-17, 2019 Brisbane, QLD ....... Apr 29-May 1, 2019

Newcastle, NSW .......... May 6-8, 2019 Perth, WA ..................... Oct 2-4, 2019

See our complete workshop schedule at www.hanen.org/ITTTworkshop

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Joint Conference 2-5 June 2019

YOU CAN REGISTER NOW FOR THE JOINT CONFERENCE. DON’T FORGET THE EARLY BIRD RATE CLOSES ON WEDNESDAY, 17 APRIL.

PTO

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Joint Conference

2 – 5 June 2019: Brisbane Convention and Exhibition Centre, Queensland

Register for the 2019 Joint Conference Early bird registration closes Wednesday 17 April 2019. We are now counting down the weeks until the conference with the conference program and online registration available from the website. The Conference Planning Committee (CPC) is encouraged by the number of registrations received to date. If you have not registered as yet, we hope you are planning to attend. Registration is easy! We suggest that you read through the conference program, decide which sessions you wish to attend, and then proceed to the online registration to make your session selections. This will ensure a faster registration process and less chance of being logged out. Some workshops have limited attendance so avoid disappointment and register today! There will be NO waitlist for any sessions. The program has diversity across clinical areas in the concurrent sessions so no matter which day or time you’re looking at there is bound to be something of interest to you. All sessions have a unique code that tells you the day and time it’s happening: • M = Monday; T = Tuesday; W = Wednesday • The number 1, 2 or 3 indicates the time slot. 1 = the morning session; 2 = after lunch and 3 = following afternoon tea • A-F indicates one of the 6 concurrent sessions Monday and then A-E on Tuesday and Wednesday • TB is the Tuesday Breakfast session for student and early career members. • All keynote presentations each morning and he Grace Gane Memorial Lecture after lunch Tuesday are automatically included within your registration selection on those days. These are MKP, TEU, TGG and WKP. While the opening on Monday and closing on Wednesday are automatically included as applicable to your registration, we do ask you to advise if you will or will not attend. You will also notice that some codes indicate continued sessions. These sessions are for three hours and presented in two parts of 1.5 hours each so you must select both sessions when registering. Any changes to the program will be made immediately to the online registration, so it is suggested you visit the website from time to time. You will be contacted directly if any major change affects your registration. However, if you wish to make a change to your registration please contact Colleen Moloney at Speech Pathology Australia and the New Zealand Speech- Language Therapists’ Association value the perspectives of their Indigenous peoples, and are committed to the promotion of culturally responsive approaches to research. For the 2019 conference, those making submissions which involved Indigenous conf2019@speechpathologyaustralia.org.au Valuing Indigenous perspectives

peoples were required to identify presenters and authors who are of Indigenous heritage, and these submissions were prioritised for inclusion. Consumer panel discussion Geneva Hakaraia-Tino, NZSTA’s Giving Voice ambassador and an AAC user will facilitate a consumer panel which will challenge us to critically reflect on how we are really doing at engaging, connecting with, and empowering our clients and their family/ whanau. The panel will provide time to critica reflect on your own practices and to work with panel members to consider how you can make changes in your practice. Oral, forum, workshop, PeP talk and poster presenters The CPC would like to thank those who will be presenting and remind you that registration for the conference is required. Presenters at our 2019 Joint Conference are also reminded to complete and return by Thursday 23 May, 2019 the Speaker’s AV Checklist included within the confirmation letter sent in December. Event Technology is again managing the audio visual equipment for our conference so please ensure you return the completed form to them and not SPA. Student oral presentation prize One prize worth $100 will be awarded to the best student oral presentation. The judges will rate the presentation delivery style, verbal and nonverbal presentation skills and the overall clarity of the presentation content. To be eligible, you must be a student (undergraduate or postgraduate) and a member of SPA or NZSTA. If you did not indicate when you submitted your abstract and now wish for your presentation to be considered for this prize, please email your interest to conf2019@ speechpathologyaustralia.org.au before Friday April 12, 2019 . Best oral presentation prize During the program meeting in November, the CPC was impressed at the high score reviewers gave to some submissions and in recognition has decided to award one prize worth $50 to the best oral presentation. The judges will rate the presentation delivery style, verbal and nonverbal presentation skills and the overall clarity of the presentation content. Poster prizes At the 2019 Joint Conference, prizes will be offered to the best poster presentations. Two poster prizes, each worth $50, are available. All poster presentations are eligible for the prizes. There will be one prize determined by two anonymous judges and for this prize, posters will be rated on overall design and clarity of the poster content. The second prize will be a category called the People’s Choice Poster Prize. Conference delegates will be able to vote for the poster that most inspired them on the conference app. This prize will be awarded to the poster with the highest number of votes. Winners will be announced during the close of the 2019 Joint Conference.

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