Speak Out February 2021 DIGITAL EDITION

2020 in review

Virtual Conference Flyer 2021.indd 2 22/01/2021 1:02:13 PM What a year it was! Welcome Nicole Hansen – member 10,000 In January 2020, Speech Pathology Australia welcomed its 10,000 member, Nicole Hansen. A chance conversation with a neighbour about the long wait to see a speech pathologist sparked Nicole to act and explore becoming a speech pathologist. After graduating with her degree in December 2019 Nicole joined Speech Pathology Australia, becoming its 10,000th member. As 2020 came to a close, the membership of the Association had passed 11,100. New co-editors for the IJSLP commence After originally commencing as editor of the International Journal of Speech-Language Pathology in 2014, initially for three years, followed by a further three years as Editor in Chief and co-editor (alongside Anne Whitworth), Professor Kirrie Ballard stepped down from her editor duties in January 2020. Over this period, Kirrie provided excellent leadership and expert strategic direction, cementing the journal’s international profile, and strong ranking and citation levels within the range of speech language pathology academic publications. Anne Whitworth and Elizabeth Cardell are current co-editors. COVID-19 challenges emerge At its February Board meeting the Association’s Board considered the arrival of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. One of its first decisions was to reschedule the 2020 National Conference until May 2021 and to make the Association’s Annual General Meeting (AGM) a totally online event. At a subsequent meeting the Board decided to make the 2021 conference a virtual event, with the AGM to proceed in May as originally planned. National office goes remote and responds to COVID-19 From 23 March the Association’s physical national office closed, with all staff working from home in line with government guidelines and protocols. Despite working remotely, national office continued to keep members informed about the development of the pandemic and its impact on the profession. To this end, resources were developed to support the almost complete move to telehealth practice, professional development events were moved online (via a new Learning Hub), and new guides, tools and resources were developed for members. This included a new Infection prevention and control guideline for speech pathologists; Guidance for service delivery, clinical procedures and infection control during COVID-19 pandemic ; and a Risk Assessment Tool. In addition, a dedicated COVID eNewsletter went out each Friday during the height of the pandemic, and information and content was added to the Association’s website about PPE use and access; Medicare, private health insurance and DVA rebates, and redeployment.

Outgoing IJSLP Editor Kirrie Ballard and incoming co- editors Anne Whitworth and Elizabeth Cardell.

FROM TOP: Nicole Hansen was welcomed as the Association's 10,000 member. Anne Whitworth was appointed International Journal of Speech Language Pathology Editor, and The Infection provention and control guideline was released in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

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February 2021 | Speak Out