Speak Out October 2020 DIGITAL EDITION FINAL

Association NEWS

New practice documents in development

The development and review of practice documents is one function of SPA’s Professional Standards (PS) Unit. The PS Unit is in the process of leading the review and development of a range of practice documents, to provide the best available evidence and recommendations on clinical and workplace issues. Practice documents comprise clinical guidelines (CG), position statements (PS) and core Association documents. The Practice Documents currently under review or development are: • Working with Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander peoples (new document) • Tracheostomy Management (CG) • Dysphagia (CG) • Laryngectomy (CG) • Evidence Based Speech Pathology Practice for Individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorder (CG and PS) • Telepractice in Speech Pathology (CG and PS) • Working in a Culturally and Linguistically Diverse Society (CG and PS) • Speech Pathology in Education (CG and PS) • Shared Decision Making and Dysphagia: Working with risk feeding (CG) • Clinical Education (PS) • Scope of Practice (core document). Over the coming 12-18 months the above listed documents will be developed or updated to reflect changes in work contexts and roles, scope of practice and new evidence. The development and review of practice documents is subject to a robust quality process that aims to align with best practice principles in the development of guidelines.

The principles and processes are outlined in SPA’s policy and procedures. The process involves recruitment of a project officer with experience and knowledge in the specified area and recruitment of a working group. The working group consists of volunteers with experience, interest and enthusiasm to contribute to the development of a practice document. Feedback on draft practice documents is sought from multiple stakeholders depending upon the practice document content. This may include but not limited to SPA’s Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Committee, consumers and/or consumer organisations, other health professions and/or health professional associations and the SPA membership. All practice documents must be approved by the SPA Board. The release of the Professional Standards for Speech Pathologists in Australia in August 2020 represents an exciting time for the profession and an opportunity to further improve on SPA’s practice document development. To support this aim we are excited to welcome a new staff member, Dr Marie Atherton, into the role of Senior Advisor, Professional Standards. Marie is well known to many in the speech pathology profession as an experienced clinician, clinical educator and academic, as well as having a special interest in supporting the growth of the profession in cross- cultural contexts. Marie will provide strong leadership and coordination of practice documents, as a central point of contact for project officers and working froup members as they develop the core content of their respective documents. Welcome to the SPA team, Marie! Keep a look out for future updates to the range of practice documents undergoing review in Speak Out and the Association's National e-News. Marie has a keen interest in the development of the speech pathology profession locally and internationally, and in competency assessments, practice documents and professional standards that recognise and support students and practitioners to meet the needs of clients across diverse practice contexts. Marie is looking forward to collaborating with organisations, universities and practitioners to support the incorporation of the new professional standards into SPA practice in a manner that reflects the complexity and diversity of current speech pathology practice, as well as working on the diverse activities related to being a Senior Advisor, Professional Standards.

Welcome Dr Marie Atherton

Dr Marie Atherton comes to Speech Pathology Australia with a wealth of professional experience that includes more than 25 years of clinical practise and a previous role with SPA as the Senior

Advisor Professional Issues (2005-2010). In 2010 Marie moved to Vietnam to assist in the establishment of Vietnam’s first Speech Therapy Training Program, an experience that was later to form the basis of her PhD. Since returning to Australia in 2012, Marie has lectured into the Bachelor of Speech Pathology Program at Australian Catholic University.

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Speak Out | October 2020