Speak Out June 2020

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Advisory Committee

New RAP project officer Welcome Pauline!

Reconciliation Action Plan The Reconciliation Action Plan Working Group was formed in 2018 to develop the first (Reflect) Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP) for Speech Pathology Australia. As recommended by Reconciliation Australia, the working group was made up of Aboriginal members, employees of the Association and a representative of the Board. The Association’s Reflect RAP was conditionally endorsed by Reconciliation Australia in May 2019, and formally endorsed in December 2019. The Reflect RAP covers a 12 month period. Progress on achievement of deliverables identified in the Plan is reported at each Board meeting. As we moved into 2020, two Aboriginal members of the Working Group, Tara Lewis and Alice Robins stepped down from the group. Tara is an Iman woman who grew up on Jagera Country. Alice is a Yuin woman who grew up on Wurundjeri land. The Association thanks them for their invaluable contribution to development of this first plan. The Working Group met on 28 April 2020 to monitor progress on the current RAP and to begin consideration of actions and deliverables for the Association’s Innovate RAP. Certain actions and deliverables are mandated by Reconciliation Australia for inclusion in an Innovate RAP, but the working group will identify additional actions and deliverables specific to Speech Pathology Australia for inclusion. At this meeting we welcomed two new members, Louise Black and Hannah Thompson. Louise is a Wiradjuri woman currently working in the Northern territory. Hannah is a Karra Karra woman working in Queensland. The Working Group also discussed approaches to inform members of progress on the RAP. We aim to have something available in the near future. Further information about the Association’s Reconciliation Action Plan and the Working Group visit the Association’s website: www.speechpathologyaustralia.org.au/ reconciliation . If you would like to see the Reconciliation Australia framework for an Innovate RAP, please email ebp@speechpathologyaustralia.org.au. Find out more about the Advisory Committee Find out more about the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Advisory Committee on the 'Reconciliation' page of the Assocation website. There you can read the 'RAP', the Association's Formal Apology and find a host of resources to learn more about Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.

The Association is pleased to announce that Pauline Weldon- Bowen has been appointed to the position of Project Officer, RAP Implementation. Pauline is a proud Wiradjuri-Bidjigal woman with passion for a positive future for the Aboriginal

People of Australia. She has worked with the Aboriginal Health & Medical Research Council of NSW, and most recently with the Metropolitan Local Aboriginal Land Council and as Aboriginal Playgroups Coordinator for Uniting. Pauline holds a Bachelor of Health Sciences with a major in Hearing and Speech from the University of Sydney. She has a particular interest in issues related to speech and hearing, which will undoubtedly be of value in her position with Speech Pathology Australia. She has experience in project management, including identifying, developing, planning, implementing and evaluating Aboriginal health promotion and protection strategies and programs in the ACCHS sector of NSW. She has worked with a range of stakeholders to drive improvements in primary health care services and has experience in supporting the development of strategic relationships and partnerships with stakeholders. Pauline will work three days per week (Monday, Wednesday, Friday) to address particular goals of the current RAP. As a part of the role, she will attend meetings of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Advisory Group and the Reconciliation Action Plan Working Group. We look forward to her contribution to progress our important RAP work.

26

June 2020 www.speechpathologyaustralia.org.au

Speak Out