Speak Out August 2018

Association news

Speech Pathology Week 2018 Communication Access is communication for all!

EACH YEAR SPEECH PATHOLOGY AUSTRALIA hosts Speech Pathology Week to create awareness of those in our community who have a communication or swallowing difficulty. This year the theme is 'Communication access is communication for all!' As with Speech Pathology Week in 2017, the Association is seeking to again promote the importance of communication access. The vision outlined in the Speech Pathology 2030 – making futures happen project’s final report provides the backdrop against which the week’s theme should be viewed. Communication, by definition, involves at least two people. People with communication difficulties often experience communication barriers to their full participation in community life. This can lead to social and emotional isolation. Around 1.2 million people in Australia have a communication disability. Ensuring communication accessibility for these Australians means they are treated with dignity and respect. People with communication difficulties communicate with others using a variety of means, including word-based or picture-based communication boards or books, sign and gesture, and spelling. Technology plays a growing and vital role in keeping Australians with communication difficulties engaged with their family, friends and the wider community. Assistive technology such as electronic communication and speech generating devices, voice amplification and computer access aids (including eye-gaze mouse control and head tracking devices) allow people with communication difficulties to communicate with those around them. Meg comes to the newly created role of Ethics Advisor with 15 years experience working clinically and in management and project management roles. She was a Speech Pathology Australia Board member for four years, including a term as Vice President Operations and has volunteered in a number of branch roles for most of her working career. The Ethics Advisor position was created to assist the Senior Advisor - Ethics and Professional Issues to provide support to members regarding ethical and professional conduct. In particular, Meg will be aiming to proactively educate and support members to adopt ethical advertising content and strategies. Advertising of speech pathology services provides health consumers with information on what speech pathologists do and how we do it. It is therefore incumbent on all members to ensure this is done in an ethical way. Advertising must provide accurate, evidence based information and must not misrepresent the profession or provide guarantees about therapeutic procedures unless these are based on evidence or can be reasonably expected. Detailed information Welcome to Meg Maggiore – Ethics Advisor

As in previous years, individual Speech Pathology Week kits have been made available and have now been distributed to upwards of 500 Association members who registered to receive them. In addition, promotional collateral has been sent to the Association’s Branches for use in promoting the week and the events they have planned. Campaign material is also available for downloading from the Association’s website. Finally, members can help promote Speech Pathology Week through social media. Take a photograph of your Speech Pathology Week activity or involvement and post it on Instagram or Twitter. Remember to include the Association’s handle @SpeechPathAus and/or the hashtag #SPWeek. Photographs can also be sent to Association’s National Office for use in publications and social media. Please make sure you have the permission of everyone in the photographs before you send them to the Association support@speechpathologyaustralia.org.au

Speech Pathology Week 2018 communication access is communication for all

speechpathologyaustralia.org.au/ week

and guidelines around advertising can be found in the policy "Code of Ethics – Advertising" and the advertising FAQ document on the SPA website. Members may hear from Meg in the near future as she goes about supporting you to implement the SPA policy. She is also keen to hear from members with queries or suggestions regarding the advertising of speech pathology services and resources that would assist members in this area.

She will be working one day a week (Tuesdays) at national office and can be contacted by emailing : mmaggiore@ speechpathologyaustralia.org.au or via phone at 1300 368 835.

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August 2018 www.speechpathologyaustralia.org.au

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