SpeakOut_Feb2015_FINAL_web

2014 SPA achievements

SPA celebrates the

• Membership of Speech Pathology Australia reached a record breaking 6,502. • Dr Dimity Dornan was awarded an Officer of the Order of Australia (AO) in the 2014 Australia Day Awards (1) . • The International Communication Project 2014 (ICP2014) highlighted the importance of human communication and how communication disabilities significantly impact every aspect of life (2) . An online Google Hangout ‘Raising Awareness of Communication Disorders as a Global Health Issue’ launched a year of activities in support of the project, with President Deb Theodoros representing SPA’s contribution (3) . • Association funding was granted to CABDICO – The OIC Project in Cambodia and to the Trinh Foundation for activities in Vietnam to support improvements to speech therapy services in developing countries (4) . • Members and staff represented the Association on a range of key bodies, including: Allied Health Professions Australia, National Rural Health Alliance, National Aged Care Alliance, National Primary Health Care Partnership, Professions Australia, and National Alliance of Self Regulating Health Professions. • The Association’s National Conference ( Connections: client.clinician.context ) in Melbourne was attended by over 760 delegates (5) . • Fellowships awarded to Associate Professor Sue McAllister (6) , Deb Phyland (7) , Professor Leanne Togher (8) and Professor Liz Ward (9) ; the Elinor Wray Award to Professor Linda Worrall (10) ; and Recognition of Service Award to Petrea Cornwell (11) . • Five books and their authors/illustrators were awarded in the 11th anniversary of Speech Pathology Australia’s Book of the Year Awards (12) . • A record 69 CPD events (including six online) were held with over 1,900 attendees, including the sold out National Tour by Dr Julia Starling (13) . • Series of highly successful Private Practice seminars.

Image sourced from The Brisbane Times

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Communication International Project

2014

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Continuing Professional Development

SPA CEO Gail Mulcair (centre) presents a cheque to (from left) Chyrisse Heine and Weh Yeoh for the Cambodian OIC Project.

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Speak Out February 2015

Speech Pathology Australia