Speak Out Dec 2016

Victoria

Elaina Kefalianos, Kate Bridgman, Trish Johnson and Julia Greco after completing the Leadership Victoria Health Sector Leadership program.

Sitting to write the AGM slides gave me the opportunity to reflect on what a big year the Victorian Branch has had in 2016. The member engagement team has been busy coordinating social and representation events for the year, including a wine and cheese night at Milk the Cow in Carlton for Swallowing Awareness Day on 11 May, the trivia night at Bridie O’Reilly’s for Speech Pathology Week and organising volunteers for the three-day Pregnancy, Babies and Children’s Expo in August. Alice Crook was also awarded an Early Career Award at National Conference for her services to Vic Branch. The advocacy portfolio has been working to create links with the advocacy groups of the other state Branches, as well as working with national office to contribute into submissions to the State Disability Plan (2017–2022), and the Victorian Parliamentary review into Medical Treatment (decision- making) and Advanced Care Planning. Amanda Simionato and Robyn Stephen represented the Branch on the SPA working party to prepare a response to the state government review into services for people with autism. We are grateful to Ronelle and Sandy for their expertise in making these submissions and the opportunity to support Victorian members to contribute to the submissions. The student portfolio has been working to coordinate links between the Victorian university student cohorts. This networking has meant that there have been some huge student events in 2016, including the sold-out Creating Futures event during SP week, and fundraising events across the uni campuses, including the MS 24-hour It’s been a big year!

VIC 1911 members as at October 2016

swimathon and the Melbourne Marathon festival. Once again, we were given the opportunity to participate in the Leadership Victoria Health Sector Leadership program , and I congratulate Elaine Kefalianos, Julia Greco, Trish Johnson and Kate Bridgman on completing the program. In my first year as Branch Chair, I have had the opportunity to attend the Victorian State Budget Launch, the PTV-V/Line launch of the Communication Access Symbol, host Branch SP2030 events, present the SPA student awards at LTU; and in the last month have had the opportunity to present to graduating students at Charles Sturt University, Australian Catholic University, the University of Melbourne, and La Trobe University (both Bendigo and Melbourne). I would like to take this opportunity to thank the Victorian Branch Executive and National Office staff for supporting me in my transition to Branch Chair in 2016. The Branch year has been finalised with the AGM and, with the ongoing roll out of NDIS in the state, a timely presentation from Trish Johnson and Tristan Nickless titled Ethically Speaking: A Case Study in Professional Ethical Practice discussing relevant ethical dilemmas faced by practising speech pathologists. Thank you both for sharing your knowledge with the membership. On behalf of the Victorian Branch Executive, we wish you all a happy and safe festive season. We look forward to continuing to work with the Victorian membership in 2017. Jane-Elise Cherry Victorian Branch Chair

At the launch of the PTV-V/Line communication access symbol are, From BAck Jane-Elise Cheerry, Chris Lyons, Alan Fedda (Acting CEO PTV), Gary Liddle (Acting CEO, V/Line) At Front Zane McKenzie and Lisa Ho.

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December 2016 www.speechpathologyaustralia.org.au

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