Speak Out April 2020 DIGITAL VERSION. pdf

Business as usual for national office support

NATIONAL OFFICE STAFF HAVE TRANSITIONED TO WORKING REMOTELY BUT THE SPA TEAM REMAINS FULLY EQUIPPED AND READY TO CONTINUE TO PROVIDE SUPPORT TO MEMBERS.

Member support A number of dedicated staff along with a range of external organisations can assist in answering members’ questions about speech pathology service delivery, private practice, ethical issues, industrial and human resources, and legal matters, particularly during this period of COVID-19. Practice and clinical support The Manager of Professional Practice and the team of advisors and senior advisors are responsible for responding to professional practice related enquiries from members, consumers and others. Advisors also provide support to members, including those in private practice and providing services under the NDIS, though development of website resources including guides, information sheets and templates, and development of a range of online resources Ethics and professional issues The Manager Ethics and Professional Issues (MEPI) and Ethics Advisor provides advice and support to members and the general public regarding the ethical and professional conduct of speech pathologists. MEPI also supports the Ethics Board in the education of members regarding the Code of Ethics and professional issues, and in the management of formal complaints. Professional standards The Manager of Professional Standards and Senior Advisors provide responses to queries in relation to university accreditation, assessment of those with overseas qualifications and those speech pathologists wishing to return to practice. Queries may be received regarding specific professional standards advice, including the position of the Association as outlined in position statements and clinical guidelines. Support to the membership team is also provided regarding currency and recency of practice enquiries. Industrial relations and human resources Speech Pathology Australia engages the services of WorkPlace Plus as a specialist in industrial relations, human resource

management and employment law across Australia. Contact WorkPlace Plus. If you have questions about your employer obligations as a result of COVID-19 please contact WorkPlacePLUS for advice and support. You can also view the recently produced webinar about this topic. Association members receive special member benefits with WorkPlacePLUS for support with HR & IR issues. For more information, contact Anna on 0419 533 434 or visit www.WorkPlacePLUS.com.au . WorkPlace Plus also provide industrial and award advice. Initial advice for members is free. Professional indemnity insurance Guild Insurance works with the Association to ensure that as a speech pathologist, members have the insurance they need to confidently care for their clients. Guild policy holders have been provided with specific communication in relation to COVID-19. For general enquiries about professional indemnity and public

liability insurance contact Guild Insurance . Contacting the Association

Members can still contact the Association,13000 368 835, or 03 9642 4899, office@speechpathologyaustralia.org.au or advisor@speechpathologyaustralia.org.au , or via posts to the relevant member Facebook groups.

Go to the Association's member support page

Care to share? Has the way you work changed? Have you discovered a new way of working or resources and tips that might help other speech pathologists as we navigate through this new way of working during the COVID-19 crisis? Your ideas will be shared in a special feature in the June edition of Speak Out . You may have tips, articles, thoughts, ideas and resources, or anything you think other members might find useful. Send them to the Publications Manager, Rebecca Faltyn rfaltyn@ speechpathologyaustralia.org.au

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April 2020 www.speechpathologyaustralia.org.au

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