Speak Out February 2021 DIGITAL EDITION

A unique role

We are a data driven profession

Responding to evidence and adapting their practice is an ongoing expectation. Over the years they’ve flexibly shifted from providing only individual and small group clinic-based models to class-based services, whole school literacy programs, and consultative services in early childhood education and care. They’ve moved from in-person delivery to tele-practice and from a focus on being person-centred, to working closely with the community. The scope of speech pathology services is now further expanding into prevention and promotion. Your context and role could also include prevention and promotion because: Communication doesn’t happen in isolation Communication happens where we live, work, learn and play and occurs with other people at all stages across the lifespan. Whether it’s communication partners of adolescents with a disability, carers working with adults living in residential aged care, or children learning to talk through serve and return interactions, your health, wellbeing, learning and participation is affected by your community and the people around you. Everyone needs to know what we know Speech pathologists have lots of expertise in communication, but it is ultimately parents and communication partners who can make the biggest impact for the people we work with. The more we share our knowledge and skills with others the greater the gains can be for people with communication difficulties. We need to spread the word and advocate Communication happens everywhere and we have so much more to contribute to other sectors. In the same way that speech pathologists in education and the early childhood sectors have worked hard to be seen as having a role in literacy development, there are many other contexts which would benefit from more communication and swallowing advocacy, including youth justice, framing of parent messaging, pre-natal education, local libraries and playgroups, community development and local government planning. The list is endless!

We already know a lot about who is most vulnerable and would benefit most from our services. Prevention and promotion strategies give us a process to develop evidence-based responses according to need. Prevention works! The evidence which highlights the significance of the early years for brain development including language acquisition and lifelong health and wellbeing is overwhelming. Early intervention is important. It is much harder and more expensive to intervene later. How can members find out more? Further reading Law, J., Reilly, S., & Snow, P. (2013). Child speech, language and communication need re-examined in a public health context: a new direction for the speech and language therapy profession. International Journal of Language and Communication Disorders , 48(5), 486- 496. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/24033648/ Enderby, P.M., & Law, J. (2019). Speech, Language, and Communication in a Public Health Context: A UK Perspective with Potential Global Application – An Opinion Piece. Folia Phoniatrica et Logopaedica, 71(4), 168-175. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31048575/ Kym Dunstan kym.dunstan@health.qld.gov.au Helen Smith helen.smith@health.qld.gov.au

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February 2021 | Speak Out