Speak Out August 2013

Project updates

Safe Schools Hub: new website for student wellbeing

M ore than 46% of youth offenders have a The Speech Pathology in Youth (Justice) Custodial Education (SPyce) Project was set up to explore how speech pathology services as part of the school curriculum would impact on the lives of young people on remand or serving custodial sentences. Collaborating with a group of experts and working closely with Parkville College, SPA funded Project Officer Laura Caire to gather the information and resources needed to best support the speech and language capabilities of the students through the curriculum at the Parkville College. The working group comprised: • Associate Professor Pamela Snow – Monash University • Brendan Murray – Assistant Principal, Parkville College • Laura Caire – Forensic/Mental Health Speech Pathologist • Christina Wilson – Senior Advisor Professional Issues, SPA • Christine Lyons – Senior Advisor Professional Practice, SPA • Robyn Stephen – Councillor, SPA • Gail Mulcair – CEO, SPA Speech Pathology in Youth (Justice) Custodial Education (SPyce) Project Report launch language impairment – what is your Association doing about it? To mark the groundbreaking work of this project, SPA would like to inform you of the launch of the SPyce Project Report at 10.00am on 13 August 2013 at the Ella Latham Lecture Theatre, Royal Children’s Hospital, 50 Flemington Road, Parkville VIC 3052.

What is the Safe Schools Hub? www.safeschoolshub.edu.au

The Safe Schools Hub provides a collection of resources for school teachers, specialist professionals, pre-service teachers, parents and students to develop safe and supportive schools. The Safe Schools Hub is underpinned by the National Safe Schools Framework, which aims to ensure that all Australian schools are safe, supportive and respectful teaching and learning communities that promote student wellbeing. The Hub provides the tools and knowledge that will enable all members of the school community to: • nurture student responsibility and resilience • build a positive school culture • foster respectful relationships • support students who are impacted by anti-social behaviour, including bullying and cyber-bullying. The project is funded by the government, working in partnership with state and territory governments, the non- government school sectors and Education Services Australia. Resources will be made available online in phased releases throughout 2013. The first release was launched by the Hon Peter Garrett AM MP, former Minister for School Education, Early Childhood and Youth, on the National Day of Action Against Bullying and Violence on 15 March 2013. It delivers the Safe Schools Toolkit, which provides support for teachers and school leaders. The Safe Schools Toolkit includes video case studies, a School Audit Tool, resources and activities that further unpack in detail each of the nine elements of the National Safe Schools Framework. What’s next? Throughout 2013, additional resources will be made available on the website. These include: • professional learning modules aimed at speech pathologists, guidance officers/counsellors/educational psychologists and chaplains • information and resources for parents and students. SPA contributed to the development of the hub by providing input to the professional learning modules for speech pathologists and providing information for others e.g. principals about how speech pathologists can be a member of a school team providing a safe and supportive school environment. A safe school is a smart school. By working together, governments, schools, parents and communities can play a key role in developing safe, supportive and respectful school environments. Visit www.safeschoolshub.edu.au to explore a range of practical examples, resources and activities to assist in making school environments safe and supportive. You can also register on the website or email sshub@esa. edu.au to receive regular updates on news. Gaenor Dixon Vice President Communications

The SPyce Report has the potential to revolutionise the way speech, language and communication difficulties are viewed and treated in youth justice systems around Australia and the world, as well as the way speech pathologists are involved with this group of vulnerable clients.

For more information, contact: Christina Wilson , Senior Advisor Professional Issues: cwilson@speechpathologyaustralia.org.au and (03) 9642 4899 or Rebecca Bluschke: conf2013@ speechpathologyaustralia.org.au or (03) 8622 0405.

Christina Wilson Senior Advisor Professional Issues

Speak Out August 2013

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www.speechpathologyaustralia.org.au