Speak Out February 2016

From the President

Happy New year and welcome to 2016, a year full of exciting initiatives. Happy New Year! I hope that for all of you 2016 has started well, and you have started the year feeling refreshed and ready for new challenges. With the hot days that every state and territory has had during December and January, many of you spent some time at a beach watching, surfing and jumping waves. If you live in rural and remote Queensland or the Northern Territory maybe you watched waves in rivers flowing for the first time in years. staff, have been held to review our CPD provision. Meaty conversations about credentialing and scope of practice have been held, with further discussions planned. And of course, February marks the opening of registrations for Making Waves the Association’s Speech Pathology National Conference to be held in May. With keynote speakers who are ‘making waves’ in their respective fields of research and clinical work, this conference promises to give your practice a boost with the latest evidence- based practice, opportunities to reflect on your practice and networking with your colleagues.

Speech Pathology Australia has started the year ‘making waves’, with interviews being held for the Speech Pathology 2030 thought leaders and conversations series booked in. The Senate inquiry into the educational attainment of students with disability handed down its report in mid- January, and the Association has gained some media coverage of our response. Planning for the Branch Chairs’ meeting in Melbourne to plan for the year is well underway. The meeting will take place in mid-February. Also in mid-February the Association has been invited to speak with Chief Allied Health Officers from the states and territories. Two workshops, with an expert consultant in online learning and NO

This edition of Speak Out provides you with updates on many Association activities, at a National and Branch level. Enjoy with a cool drink, and think about how these activities can help you ‘make waves’ by supporting your work with clients and colleagues. I look forward to working with you this year through all of these exciting initiatives.

gaenor dixon National President

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part in the short survey. The survey is anonymous and will greatly help us to shape the publication to your needs. By participating in the survey you can also provide your details to go into the draw to win free access to a CPDLive event. For more information about the survey contact Publications Officer Rebecca Faltyn at pubs@ speechpathologyaustralia.org. au. We can't wait to hear what you've got to say!

Speech Pathology Australia National Office is currently undergoing a review of Speak Out magazine and we want to know what you think. Do you like the content, the layout, the overall look, and do you think it represents the membership? Speak Out is for you—the members, so help us to design a publication that is relevant to you. Visit our survey page at www. www.surveymonkey. com/r/SPAMagazine to take

Speak Out February 2016

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