Speak Out draft text june 2016

From the President T here were towering waves in Perth during conference week; with inspiring presentations that exploded into witter, with the #SPAConf hashtag making more than 7.2 million impressions over the conference period. It seems that speech

of our ongoing commitment to be “future ready”, the Association is reviewing its model for CPD to ensure that we are offering the most effective and efficient modes of CPD for members. The Association is also investigating credentialing for advanced and potentially extended scope of practice. A project officer will be commencing to explore and develop a framework that could be used to develop credentialing across a range of areas. We will keep you updated as the project commences. Swallowing Awareness Day held on May 11 was a very successful event with good media interest and member and university events held throughout the country to raise community awareness of swallowing difficulties and the role speech pathologists play with swallowing. Speech Pathology Week is only two months away. The theme, Speech Pathology – Creating Futures, reflects the importance of the work we do. This importance has been reflected in our conversations with consumers who highly value the role of speech pathologists in their lives. It also gives us the opportunity to reflect on our profession’s future and to move forward. I look forward to seeing the many events that people will be starting to plan around the country. Read on to find out more ways that your Association is creating futures for the profession and for people with or at risk of communication and swallowing disability.

pathologists can do more than just talk! Congratulations to all award winners, presenters, posters, exhibitors, attendees and most particularly the Conference Planning Committee ably led by Michelle Quail and Deborah Hersch for a fantastic event. With the launch of the 2017 conference held, I am already getting excited about Sydney next year and I hope that you are considering what you can share; the call for abstracts has opened. The Perth conference saw the final workshop of the Speech Pathology 2030 - a vision to aspire to project. This fully subscribed workshop explored possible visions for the future. From here the project team are synthesizing the information received from members and non- members to write a report to inspire and to aspire to a vision of where the profession will be in 2030. This will be launched in Speech Pathology Week. More news of that later. Professional Development Strategy for members. Other aspects include the state-based face-to-face offerings, CPD Live webinars, the CPD Library, self-study packages in particular, the Ethics Self- Study package, mentoring and national tours. Members and the Association invest a lot of time and finances into CPD—particularly those volunteer CPD committees in each state and Territory. As part Conference is just one part of the Association’s Continuing

Gaenor Dixon

Gaenor Dixon National President

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June 2016 www.speechpathologyaustralia.org.au

Speak Out