Speak Out February 2021 DIGITAL EDITION

Association NEWS

New adult/aged care project officer New faces join the Association

Speech Pathology Australia welcomes Nikki Gearon to the role of Adult/Aged Care Project Officer. Nikki is working closely with the Senior Advisor Aged Care in providing strategic response to aged care sector reform and resources to support members. Nikki graduated from the University of Queensland with a Bachelor of Speech Pathology and is presently undertaking postgraduate studies in psychological science. As a rural generalist, her career has included paediatric and adult service provision within education, health, community and aged care. She has clinical and managerial experience in both the public and private sector and enjoys collaborating with various professionals across organisations to embrace progressive change. Nikki is eager to support the Association's advocacy response to the development of new models of service to improve the well-being and enablement of older persons. She advocates for speech pathologists as essential members of the aged-care team; uniquely positioned to support older persons to

communicate and participate in decisions regarding their health and daily life. Nikki also recognises the diversity of skill of the rural generalist and promotes professional opportunity in the rural and remote context. She will be completing her duties with the Associaiton remotely from rural Queensland, where

she lives with her husband and three children on their family cotton and grain farm. Please contact Nikki via National Office on 1300 368 835 or email ngearon@ speechpathologyaustralia.org.au . General enquiries regarding speech pathology services for adults and aged care can be directed to agedcare@ speechpathologyaustralia.org.au.

The Association welcomes Emma McLaughlin to the newly created additional role of Advisor Professional Practice. Emma has worked as a speech pathologist for nearly 30 years in public, private, and academic settings. She has a particular interest in the speech pathology workforce, streamlining processes, and improving clarity of information to support best- practice. Emma will work on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Fridays. Member enquiries have increased significantly in recent times so we are thrilled Emma is joining the SPA team! Extra advisor for professional practice

New ethics team member

Kelly Williams has joined the Association's Ethics Team as an additional Ethics Advisor. Kelly trained and worked in London for six years with the NHS including working with community outreach programs for lower socio-economic families and newly migrated communities before moving to Australia in 2014. In London she discovered a passion for working with infants and preschoolers, and in 2012 she undertook further training in dysphagia and joined the preschool complex needs team and special schools team. After moving to Australia, Kelly joined an MDT private practice in Melbourne for five years, providing communication and feeding intervention to children aged 0-18. There she developed an interest in clinical supervision

and recently enjoyed working as a clinical supervisor at a Melbourne university as well as delving into her own private work over telehealth. Kelly is passionate about speech pathology and is keen to promote and advocate for our multi-talented profession whenever possible. Within her clinical work she is enthusiastic

about empowering others, reflective practice and working collaboratively with parents/carers/other professionals.

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February 2021 | Speak Out