Speak Out December 2019 V2 DIGITAL EDITION

Association news

Board report - November 2019

Marketing and communications Following a successful Speech Pathology Week campaign in 2019, the Board has approved utilising the theme, ‘Communicating with Confidence’ again in 2020. It was expressed that the broad nature of this theme meant that it was easily utilised by a wide range of members. The Swallowing Awareness Day theme for 2020 has been set as ‘Dysphagia: A difficult diagnosis to swallow!’ The Association will prepare a number of different media releases for the day, focusing on the local context. Association branches The Board recognises the important role and contributions made to the Association through state and territory Branches, with mechanisms to support and stimulate activities at a Branch level discussed. Branch Executive nominations are currently being sought, with members encouraged to engage with their local Branch. A new position has recently been advertised to assist in supporting the Branches and broader administrative functions. Environmental impact Actions that can be taken to reduce the Association’s environmental impact are being considered, with the Board discussing the efforts being made by the 2020 Conference Planning Committee to reduce the impact of the conference. Director nominations Nominations are currently being sought to fill five upcoming vacancies on the Association’s Board of Directors. (Please note: one vacancy is for a twelve- month term, with all remaining vacancies for the usual two year term). Nominations close on 31 January 2020. The nomination form and an information package can be found on the Association’s website. The Board will next meet at National Office on Friday 13 and Saturday 14 March 2020. The Association, its Board and staff, wish all of our members a Merry Christmas and a happy and safe New Year. Please note that National Office will close at 12pm on Tuesday 24 December 2019, and will re-open on Thursday 2 January 2020. Gail Mulcair Chief Executive Officer

The final board meeting for 2019 was held at National Office on Friday 15 and Saturday 16 November 2019. The meeting included consideration of the Association’s budget for 2020, where a range of operational and strategic proposals were reviewed. Some of the meeting highlights included: 2020-2022 Preliminary Strategic Plan The Board reviewed version four of the 2020- 2022 Preliminary Strategic plan, making a range of suggestions to inform further development of the plan. Strategic priorities for 2020 were identified as follows: • identifying gaps in services for advocacy priority settings; • progressing towards a national standard for communication access, by standardising language in relation to communication disability and communication access; • use of consistent terminology and messaging in campaigns and promotions around the needs of people with communication and swallowing disorders; • expansion of the cost-benefit analysis modelling to one or more specific areas of speech pathology intervention; and, • conducting a speech pathology profession workforce analysis. Cultural responsiveness Nominations to the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Advisory Committee were accepted, with Shari Fuller, Tara Lewis, Alice Robins, Louise Taylor and Hannah Thompson appointed to the committee for a two-year term. The first report on the Association’s Reflect Reconciliation Action Plan was presented to the Board, with positive progress noted. Evidence-based practice The Association has extended the range of research grants available, with a new research grant to be offered focused on supporting equitable outcomes in communication and swallowing for Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander Peoples. Further details regarding this grant will be available in 2020. Practice documents and clinical resources The Board reviewed several practice documents and clinical resources, with the following due to be released to the membership shortly: • Position Statement: Stuttering Management • Position Statement: Credentialing • Clinical Resource: Voice Best-Practice Principles.

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December 2019 www.speechpathologyaustralia.org.au

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