Speak Out February 2021 DIGITAL EDITION

Board of Directors Report November 2020

Association NEWS

The final Board of Directors meeting for 2020 was held virtually on Friday 27 and Saturday 28 November 2020. The Board of Directors acknowledged how challenging 2020 had been for the Association, including for the Branches and all members. Progress on the Association’s Strategic Plan was slowed significantly as a result the pandemic; however, the Board of Directors is committed to finishing 2020 in a strong position, that will extend and set the pace for 2021. The meeting included consideration of the Association’s budget for 2021, where a range of operational and strategic proposals were reviewed. The Board of Directors approved a deficit budget for the Association in 2021, reflecting their strong commitment to progress projects identified within the Association’s strategic plan, whilst continuing timely and responsive support to the membership. Some of the meeting highlights included: Membership The 2020/21 membership renewal period was strong, with the Association representing 11,010 members at the end of October 2020. Increases in diversity were also noted. A range of policy amendments were made to provide clarity around non-certified membership. This category of membership will be offered up to a period of 12 months, to assist members in gaining certified practising membership status. Revised policies will be made available on the Association’s website shortly. COVID-19 Advisory Panel The collaborative nature of the Association’s COVID-19 Advisory Panel was acknowledged, along with their success in communicating with the membership. While the ongoing implications of COVID-19 remain unknown, the current low number of cases in Australia, may result in a lower than anticipated demand for post-COVID speech pathology services. National Office With National Office located in Melbourne, Association staff have worked remotely since March. At the time of this report with restrictions slowly starting to ease, plans are being formed for a staged return to the office in early 2021. The Association is currently recruiting to a number of positions including a Professional Practice Advisor and Branch Liaison Officer. Communications and public awareness The Book of the Year Awards ceremony, held virtually, was highly successful and engaging. A recording of the ceremony is available on the Association’s social media channels. Speech Pathology Week 2020 also proved extremely successful, with significant media coverage received. The value of celebrity involvement was discussed, with both

Delta Goodrem and Harrison Craig engaged with the 2020 campaign. Member feedback from the campaign will be utilised to inform the scoping process for the Association’s strategic priority 2.1.3, "Build a range of promotional campaigns that have consistent messaging to increase general public awareness, and that of other professions, regarding communication disability and swallowing difficulties as well as the breadth of role of speech pathologists". Clinical Guideline final draft The final draft of the Clinical Guideline for Speech Pathologists Working in Childhood and Adolescent Literacy, was approved and will be made available to the membership in early 2021. Association Branches The Board of Directors acknowledged the significant efforts of Branch Chairs, in maintaining momentum at a Branch level, during an extremely difficult period. Changes in Branch culture were noted, with higher levels of member engagement experienced, due to the ability for members to participate remotely. Cultural responsiveness The Association’s Reflect - Reconciliation Action Plan Progress Report was reviewed, with directors acknowledging that COVID-19 had impacted on the completion of a number of actions. These items will be transferred to the Association’s new Innovate - Reconciliation Action Plan. Following discussion at the Board of Directors meeting, a draft of the Innovate - Reconciliation Action Plan will be sent to Reconciliation Australia for approval. Results of the Workplace RAP Barometer conducted by Polity Research and Consulting, on behalf of Reconciliation Australia, reaffirmed the value of the Reconciliation Action Plan within the Strategic Plan and the association’s progress in this regard. Governance Agreement was made to pursue the appointment of two external directors on the Association’s Board of Directors. It is envisaged that external directors will increase the breadth of skills, diversity and perspectives on the Board of Directors. In alignment with the Association’s Reconciliation Action Plan and commitment to the nation’s first people, an external director with an Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander background is sought. Three subcommittees oversee key functions of the Association. Recently the responsibilities of these subcommittees were reviewed to achieve equal workload distribution. The Subcommittee Terms of Reference were amended accordingly.

Gail Mulcair Chief Executive Officer

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