Speak Out October 2016

To celebrate the theme of Speech Pathology Week 2016; Changing Lives – Creating Futures, student representatives of the Victorian Branch of Speech Pathology Australia hosted an event for 150 students. Professionals from a range of clinical and research areas, as well as differing levels of experience, were invited to discuss how students can create their own futures as they enter the profession. Hosted at Australian Catholic University, speakers Simone Arnott, Karen Bloomberg, Sue Cameron, Jane-Elise Cherry, Deb Phyland, Katherine Sanchez and Nathaniel Swain discussed how they created their future and paved the way to their careers. Each speaker discussed their personal journey as a speech pathologist, including their greatest accomplishments and challenges, and Creating Future Speechies

presented advice they wished they had received as a new graduate. Students then had the opportunity to ask questions of the speakers in a formal panel discussion, and during a networking session that followed. It was a valuable opportunity for students to hear the varied experiences of a range of professionals and reflect on the breadth of “futures” that can be created within the profession. We would like to thank our speakers who so generously gave up their time for the event, SCOPE for the delicious catering, Speech Pathology Australia Victoria Branch, and the support of student coordinator Hannah Stark for making this event possible.

Victoria

SPA Victorian Branch Student Representatives

VIC 1849 members as at August 2016

Visual Menu aids rehabilitation

survey about the Visual Menu. Of the ten staff surveyed, nine were aware of it and had used it (nurses, speech pathologists and allied health assistants). Of the six patients surveyed, two had used it directly, and a further three were interested in using it. Staff comments were all positive and focused on how the Visual Menu helps patients to have more choice and is easy to use with patients. Patients who are using the menu commented, “It helps because it is hard to recognise the names of things like the braised meats…pictures are handy”, and, “I prefer the picture menu”. Patients surveyed also noted they were now more aware of all the choices available. The project is being reviewed by Caulfield Hospital Business and Strategy Unit Manager to explore a roll-out of the Visual Menu throughout rehabilitation and aged care wards in Caulfield Hospital. Anat Lankri Speech Pathologist Caulfield Hospital Acquired Brain Injury Unit

and/or staff often still assist; however, the visual cues enable people to have a better idea of what they are actually ordering – they can “see” veal marengo and make a choice accordingly. As there are more than 400 different meal options at Caulfield, based on a four-week rotational menu, gathering the photos was a challenge! The staff involved in the project rotated taking photos of all meals as they came off the conveyor belt, which took several weeks. The aim of the project is to support patients to have an increased sense of independence; we found it encouraged staff and family members to assist patients with communication at a functional level. A further advantage has been reducing food wastage as patients are more content with food options they have chosen themselves. Formal evaluation of the Visual Menu involved surveying staff, patients, and families. Ten staff and six patients completed a

The Visual Menu was designed and produced at Caulfield Rehabilitation Centre’s Acquired Brain Injury Unit. It was developed by speech pathology and allied health assistant staff after many patients with communication and cognitive impairment expressed frustration at not being able to choose their meals, and having meals appear which they were certain they had not ordered. Before the Visual Menu was developed, patients would need to select meals, often helped by family or staff, from a written menu. Menu choices might say veal marengo or chicken cacciatore which even for a non-brain injured person can be difficult to decipher. A person with aphasia trying to order for themselves might try to order rice as a side, but instead order pasta due to a semantic link breakdown, or order butter beans assuming they were choosing a spread for their bread. The Visual Menu allows patients to choose their menu options based on coloured photographs of the actual meals. Family

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October 2016 www.speechpathologyaustralia.org.au

Speak Out