Speak Out August 2018

Fellowship Fellowship of Speech Pathology Australia is one of the highest public professional honours the Association awards to a member demonstrating outstanding, significant and sustained contribution to the speech pathology profession. In 2018 the Association was proud to bestow Fellowship on two very worthy members, Alison Smith and Helen Smith.

Alison Smith

Throughout her working career of more than thirty years, Alison passionately advocates for the speech pathology profession and those with speech, language and communication needs. Alison first joined the Queensland Branch as an Executive member in 2000. Since this time, Alison has performed numerous voluntary roles on behalf of the Association including National Councillor, Branch President, National Conference Convenor, Conference Module Coordinator and Speech Pathology Australia’s nominee to The Speech Pathologists Board of Queensland. Alison has been integral in several highly successful initiatives, including the Community of Practice in Education Member Network and the ‘Book of the Year’ Awards. In 2014, Alison took on the role of Queensland Branch Chair, with the Branch benefiting from her high quality leadership. Under Alison’s mentoring, future and early career speech pathologists have not only engaged with Speech Pathology Australia but have remained active and contributing members of the profession over time. Alison successfully advocated for the inclusion of speech- language impairment as a disability group for Education Queensland and was later included on a state-based panel which undertook the review and interpretation of comparison data on student inclusion. Alison undertook an advisory role, as one of two, Education Queensland representatives forming membership of the interagency working party, which informed the development of the Educational Adjustment program in 2004. Helen demonstrates significant, sustained and outstanding contribution to the speech pathology profession through her commitment to professional and ethical practice. Helen’s sustained contribution to Speech Pathology Australia’s Ethics Board, is demonstrated through the completion of four consecutive terms, having been appointed to a member elected position in 2008 and then as a Senior Member in 2015. Helen was recently appointed for a further term as a Senior Member. During her time on the Ethics Board, Helen has been a key contributor to a number of initiatives, including: • the Ethics training package, • conference and Branch based workshops, and • numerous ethical conversations published within the Journal of Clinical Practice in Speech-Language Pathology. Helen continued to extend her knowledge of ethics through completing courses in mediation at the Queensland University of Technology and an eight-week summer institute in Bioethics at Yale University. For over two decades, Helen has taught speech pathology students at Flinders University, again with a focus on professional ethics and palliative care. Helen has actively managed speech pathology departments Helen Smith

Alison’s roles within her professional capacity, have reaped enormous benefits for the profession and for the Queensland Branch. Alison is held in high regard within education, and her active support for the education network delivers outcomes, driven with an evidence based practice focus, and her overall integrity and leadership indicates her achievements within this sector. Alison’s expansive influence has extended not only to the teams with which she has worked, but the broader 'speech pathology in education' community, and of course, to the countless students with speech, language and communication needs who have benefited from her advocacy.

within health services for over 19 years, demonstrating dedication and commitment to the development of appropriate policy, processes and frameworks to support staff in the delivery of high quality, efficient, effective and ethical clinical and educational services. Helen’s achievements never fall short of excellence, and the speech pathology profession is so much richer for her wise and considered input.

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August 2018 www.speechpathologyaustralia.org.au

Speak Out