Speak Out Feb 2020 DIGITAL EDITION. pdf

Association news

Shane Erickson, LaTrobe University

Sarah Gravina, Catholic Education Melbourne

Stephanie Fornaro, Catholic Education Melbourne

Kate Bridgeman, LaTrobe University

In 2019 a new research grant, the Clinician-Researcher Partnership Grant, was offered for the first time. This grant of $30,000 aims to build research capacity in clinicians, to contribute to the evidence-base for communication and swallowing disorders and to meet strategic objectives of the Association. Suitable projects may arise from a question or issue identified by a clinician, or may extend current research to a clinical context. There was considerable interest from both clinicians and researchers, with 12 submissions reviewed. The Association acknowledges the time and effort which went into each of these submissions, and extends grateful thanks to those reviewers who made such a crucial contribution to the process. The inaugural Clinician-Researcher Partnership Grant was awarded to Sarah Gravina, Stephanie Fornaro, Shane Erickson, and Kate Bridgeman for their project Outcomes from the implementation of a state-wide telepractice delivered Lidcombe Program service for primary school aged children who stutter . The project builds on a 2019 collaboration between clinicians at Catholic Education Melbourne (Gravina and Fornario) and researchers at LaTrobe University (Erickson and Bridgeman). The project will build on a small scale project in which a team of primary school-based speech pathologists trained and supported to deliver a pilot telepractice stuttering treatment service to 15 children. Preliminary analyses of data related to the experiences and perceptions of the speech pathologists indicated that this is a viable model worth pursuing. In the proposed project a team of speech pathologists will deliver treatment to up to 50 children across Victoria. The study has been designed to meet the definition of a stuttering clinical trial proposed by Onslow Clinician-Researcher Partnership Grant

et al. (2008) 1 and seeks to maximise clinical translation. Both quantitative and qualitative outcomes will be reported and disseminated through scholarly journal publications, presentations at SPA conferences and the development of a continuing professional development workshop. Reviewers noted that the proposal was well written, aligned strongly with SPA strategic goals and provided a clear plan for collaboration. A very high likelihood of outcome achievement and demonstrable impact within and beyond the profession was identified. The Association congratulates the successful research team, and all those who submitted project proposals. We look forward to tracking the progress of the successful project through our various social media channels. The Clinician-Researcher Partnership Grant will again be offered in 2020, with applications due on September 30. Details of the grant will be made on the Association website.

1. Onslow, M., Jones, M., O'Brian, S., Menzies, R., & Packman, A. (2008). Defining, identifying, and evaluating clinical trials of stuttering treatments: A tutorial for clinicians. American Journal of Speech - Language Pathology, 17(4), 401-15.

Cori Williams Senior Advisor Evidence-Based Practice and Research

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February 2020 www.speechpathologyaustralia.org.au

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