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ICP2014

ICP2014 – thank you for your efforts!

With the year rapidly coming to a close it is an appropriate time to thank everyone who has been involved or associated with an International Communication Project 2014 (ICP2014) event. The range of events organised and conducted by members during the year highlighted just how involved members were, and how keen they were to promote the aim and objectives of the International Communication Project. It is important as this year ends to remember that the aim of the ICP2014 was to highlight the importance of human communication – and how communication disabilities significantly impact every aspect of an individual’s life. The events organised by members (and their state Branches) gave voice to the huge number of people whose lives are impacted by a communication or swallowing disorder. ICP2014 has the triple objectives of raising the profile and status of communication disabilities with international health bodies and policy makers; increasing public awareness of communication disabilities and the significant impact they have on people’s lives; and encouraging people around the world to join together and make a difference in the lives of people living with a communication disability. This was always going to be a big ask and a huge agenda for one year alone. That’s why, the International Communication Project and its aims and goals continue. In 2015 we need to find new ways to remind people that communication is the most fundamental of human capacities and that everybody has the potential to communicate.

In closing, while it is dangerous to pick out individual events or activities that have progressed or highlighted the ICP2014’s objectives, I would like to draw attention to one or two. The first, is the Western Australian Branch’s video ( Communication Matters ) that promotes the key message that with time, creativity and support, communication can be improved for everyone (in this case, residents in aged care). Everyone should watch it! You can view Communication Matters via Speech Pathology Australia’s YouTube page . The second, were the key strategic events held by the Queensland and Tasmanian Branches that successfully engaged key external stakeholders (politicians, senior public servants, journalists, other health practitioners and the like) in a dialogue about communication matters. Such events are crucial in raising the profile and status of communication disorders with policy makers and those who influence the daily public discourse on such matters. Thirdly, there were literally dozens and dozens of small events that raised the profile of human communication. In Portland in Victoria, Caroline Shepherd, Fiona Coulson and Suzanne Guerin conducted a drawing/writing competition with three primary school classes, encouraging the younger pupils to draw what communication meant to them, while asking the older ones to write about it. Their efforts were topped off when they secured a photograph of the Victorian Premier holding the Nation for Communication bubble! Finally, to everyone who took the time or made the effort to get involved with the International Communications Project 2014… thank you! Michael Kerrisk Communications and Marketing Manager

12 Speak Out December 2014

Speech Pathology Australia