Speak Out December 2017

On the socials

Top stats for poster post

The recently released Communication Milestones Poster Kit had an unprecedented response across Speech Pathology Australia’s social media platforms, reaching a total of 217,000 people. The kit was developed by a working group of the Queensland Branch and National Office in a project that spanned 18 months from planning to distribution. The social media posts generated unprecedented stats from data collected between 8-20 November. The post gathered 1,800 likes, 298 comments and 1,256 shares while reaching a total of 217,000 people! Our Facebook page followers and likes jumped by over 1000 people from the traffic this post created. Clearly, the community and public want this sort of resource. Congratulations to everyone involved in putting it together! Enclosed with this issue of Speak Out is a copy of the poster. Or to download the resources kit go to: www.speechpathologyaustralia.org.au/milestones

Share your pics Fancy yourself as a bit of a

photographer? We’re looking for artistic photos of speechies in action! Send your shots to Ian at support@ speechpathologyaustralia.org. au and we’ll post our favourites on the Speech Pathology Australia Instagram account. Make sure to let us know your Instagram handle too so we can tag your profile and credit you for the picture.

Initiatives showcased at student conference

Sydney student Taneal Norman presented on her honours project titled The Evaluation of the Sounds, Words, Aboriginal language and Yarning (SWAY) which explored the nature and development of SWAY, a school-based oral language and early literacy program based on Aboriginal stories, knowledge, and culture, and the perceptions of teaching staff currently delivering SWAY across four rural NSW schools. “What is particularly special about this research is that it highlights how Aboriginal perspectives can be embedded in the classroom to create an inclusive learning environment that celebrates culture,” said Taneal. “It is great that I can present findings that support and encourage the ongoing provision of a program that has both built the capacity of teaching staff and supported the oral language and literacy development of students.” By School of Allied Health, Faculty of Health Sciences, Australian Catholic University

More than 100 “soon-to-be” speech pathology graduates from Australian Catholic University (ACU) demonstrated how their four years of study would translate to the workplace at the National School of Allied Health student conference on 2 November 2017. Speech pathology honours research project outcomes and oral presentations were among the wide range of work showcased on the Melbourne, Sydney and Brisbane campuses. Students presented case study data based on placement at organisations including early intervention agencies, community health centres, and schools. Tiarnee Iddles in Brisbane presented her honours project on enhancing communication for people with dementia which examined whether communication strategies taught to aged care staff in the MESSAGE Communication Training Dementia University of Queensland Program could support person-centred communication between people with dementia and aged care staff. “The most enjoyable part of working on the project was adding to the speech pathology evidence base, where project findings suggest that the MESSAGE strategies do support person centred communication behaviours in conversation,” said Tiarnee. Caitlin Pywell’s honours presentation in Melbourne on Occupational stress in Speech Pathologists studied the level of self-reported occupational stress in Australian speech pathologists and differences, examining a range of practice areas in addition to age of clientele and location. “This study is definitely an area for future research,” said Caitlin. “It highlighted the importance of ensuring that, as professionals in the field, we have adequate supervision and mentoring.”

Student Taneal Norman (centre) with Supervisors Associate Professor Wendy Pearce (left) and Fiona Eastley.

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December 2017 www.speechpathologyaustralia.org.au

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