Speak Out August 2018

Branch News

In appreciation of QLD advocacy working groups

Queensland

QLD 1904 members as at July 2018

Shaun Ziegenfusz, Yvette Dempsey, Warda Abrahams, Stephanie Harris, Claire Zhang, and Sally Zingelman

The Communication Milestones working group created the Communication Milestones Toolkit – www.speechpathologyaustralia.org.au/milestones – alongside National Office last year. The toolkit is already very well received and the group is now working with National Office to distribute the toolkit to an even bigger audience! Thank you so much to Yvette Dempsey, Shaun Ziegenfusz, Warda Abrahams, Stephanie Harris, Jess Campbell, Sally Zingelman, Rachael Di Bella, Kaitlin Davey, and Claire Zhang for their passion and dedication to this project and excellent teamwork! Sincere thanks also go to Claire Zhang for her outstanding leadership in motivating the working group and keeping the project on track! The working group very much appreciated National Office for all their support, and is especially thankful to Rebecca Faltyn (former staff member) for being so patient and fine-tuning the graphics of the toolkit. Thank you so much also to Alison Smith (past QLD Branch Chair) for helping with the printing and distribution of the toolkit! The Communication Matters working group developed a flyer ( https:// speechpathologyaustralia.cld.bz/Communication-Matters ) alongside National Office on importance of considering potential communication needs in aged care residents to complement the “Communication Matters” YouTube video (made by SPA WA Branch- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2WPyp2wNZ08&t=1s ). The flyer was distributed to QLD aged care facilities and the impact of the flyer is currently evaluating with a follow up survey. For their commitment, enthusiasm and hard work on this project, deepest thanks go to all the working group members including Frances Cochrane, Emma Ireland-Jones, Lauren Gray, Lisette Ogg, Julia Stokes, Sophie Rayner, and Bernadette Dutton. Thank you so much to Bernadette Dutton for her exceptional leadership in leading the group to achieve such outstanding outcomes! The working group would also like to thank National Office for their guidance and support, with special thanks to Jessica Hayward (former staff member), SPA Aged Care Project Officer, and Michael Kerrisk and the SPA Communication and Marketing team. Much appreciation also goes to Alison Smith for her support as Branch Chair. The PHN Liaison Persons working group was successful in recruiting liaison persons for each of the 7 Primary Health Networks (PHNs) in Queensland! Thank you so much to Sarah Bignell, Bernadette Dutton, Lisette Ogg and Stephanie Harris for hard work in shaping the PHN liaison persons’ role and your help in the recruitment process. Special thanks go to the Policy and Advocacy team at National Office, including Ronelle Hutchinson (former staff member) and Sandy Fowler, for their support and guidance of the working group as well as their continuing support of the QLD PHN Liaison Persons. The working group is also very thankful to the QLD Branch Executives for all their support and guidance on this project.

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August 2018 www.speechpathologyaustralia.org.au

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