Speak Out April 2021

Branch News

Get to know your branch: Marina Hennes

Victoria

We’d like to introduce you to our new Advocacy Portfolio Leader. She works in education and is passionate about representing our profession. Always challenging herself and others, learning new things, she’s articulate and charming. She’s Marina Hennes. What is your portfolio? I am currently the Advocacy Portfolio Leader of the Vic Branch, a role previously held by Rebecca Gillogly. We organise and attend events within the community to raise awareness of communication and swallowing difficulties. Events such as the Children's and Baby Expo. We also provide information to families about speech pathology or where to find a speech pathologist. What attracted you to volunteer for the position of portfolio leader? I felt that the profession was underrepresented in the community and wider health sector. Through this position, I can raise awareness of communication and swallowing difficulties as well as the role of speech pathologists. Tell us about your speech pathology role. What’s the most rewarding thing about your job? I work full time at a primary school and enjoy so many parts of the role. I am lucky enough to consult regularly with teachers, provide intervention, and mentor student clinicians. The most rewarding part is building relationships with my students and watching them progress each year. Do you have any hobbies or talents we should know about? I enjoy trying new things, so my hobbies change regularly. Recently, I’ve learned to make ice-cream! My choc-mint cookie flavour has been a real crowd pleaser.

Tell us about your favourite place to holiday At the top of the list would be Egypt. I was born there, then moved to Australia with my family in 1992. There is something different about holidaying somewhere I still consider home. I learn new things about my family and culture every time I visit. Do you have any pets? If so, what’s the funniest or most adorable thing about them? I have a dog named Benji. He likes to pretend to be a human and tuck himself under my blankets when no one is watching. It’s a skill he has mastered and impresses me every time. What was the last speech pathology text you read? I find myself returning to Dr Pamela Snow’s blog – The Snow Report . It’s always topical and relevant to my work. I sourced her post titled 'Are we there yet ?' The long, steep, and winding road towards improved reading instruction to facilitate discussion about reading instruction with my student clinicians. The result was a collaborative and open discussion about the evidence and allowed us to reflect on our own practices. So, any plans for advocacy you can share now? SPA will have a stall at the Children’s and Baby Expo in October 2021 once again. It’ll be an opportunity to engage with the public and raise awareness of our profession by directing them to the resources available on the day and the Speech Pathology Australia website. Clinicians or students who are interested in volunteering at the event can email me on vicspa.advocacy@gmail.com for more information.

VIC 2937 members as at March 2021

Marina Hennes is the Victoria Branch Advocacy Portfolio Leader, and below, is her pet Benji caught in the act of tucking himself into bed.

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April 2021 | Speak Out