Speak Out February 2021 DIGITAL EDITION

Swallowing Awareness Day 2021 Association NEWS

How you can get involved... Social media One simple way that members can get involved in Swallowing Awareness Day 2021 is to enter the Swallowing Awareness Day social media competition on Twitter and Instagram. The winners scores a $150 eftpos voucher. Entering is as easy as A, B, C. A. In the lead-up to Swallowing Awareness Day, post a photograph of you (include colleagues, friends, family or clients), enjoying (or not enjoying) a cup of coffee or tea. Think outside the box! A photograph of something that highlights the challenge faced by Australians with a swallowing disorder; B. As part of your post write something about swallowing or dysphagia and highlight the importance of swallowing and how it is too often taken for granted; and C. Include the Association’s handle @SpeechPathAus and the hashtags: #SwallowAware2021 and/or #dysphagia Then, encourage colleagues, friends or family to “like” (and retweet) your post. Other ways to get involved: Even if you don’t want to get involved in our social media competition you can still raise awareness of dysphagia by doing your own social media. Engage in the wider social media conversation to promote Swallowing Awareness Day 2021 and highlight dysphagia. Don’t forget to include the appropriate handles and hashtags: @SpeechPathAus #swallowingaware2021 #dysphagia (NB. Do not use the hashtags: #swallowing #swallow or #SAD). You can also download the Swallowing Awareness Day campaign materials from the Swallowing Awareness Day page on the Association’s website: www. speechpathologyaustralia.org.au/swallowing Hold an event in your workplace that highlights the impact of swallowing on people’s lives; or

Swallowing Awareness Day is an opportunity to increase awareness of dysphagia and the important role speech pathologist undertake in relation to swallowing disorders. Most Australians are unaware that speech pathologists are the key professionals when it comes to problems relating to swallowing. In 2021, Swallowing Awareness Day is on Wednesday 17 March. As in previous years, Speech Pathology Australia will coordinate its campaign with the Royal College of Speech and Language Therapists in an endeavour to highlight how dysphagia affects people’s lives, and how speech and language therapy transforms the experiences of those living with the condition. The theme for Swallowing Awareness Day in 2021 is Dysphagia: A difficult diagnosis to swallow. It is estimated that up to one million Australians have a swallowing difficulty, and Swallowing Awareness Day is an opportunity to bring attention to swallowing disorders and to connect people with speech pathologists, the professionals who can help. Like breathing, swallowing is essential to everyday life. Humans swallow at least 500-700 times a day, around three times an hour during sleep, once per minute while awake and even more during meals. Swallowing problems can occur at any stage of life.

However, knowledge of dysphagia and its implications remain largely unknown for most Australians. For this reason, the Association and its Board of Directors continue to believe that a designated day to promote the effects and management of dysphagia is warranted. Swallowing Awareness Day continues to go from strength to strength. www.speechpathologyaustralia.org.au/swallowing Download the Swallowing Awareness Day email signature graphic and add it to your email template. Make sure you link the email signature graphic to the Swallowing Awareness Day page on the Association’s website. Good luck and thank you for getting involved. Michael Kerrisk Communications and Marketing Manager

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Speak Out | February 2021