Speech Pathology Australia Annual Report 2023

2023 Annual Report

The Speech Pathology Association of Australia Ltd 1/114 William Street, Melbourne, Australia 3000 1300 368 835 www.speechpathologyaustralia.org.au ABN: 17 008 393 440

About Speech Pathology Australia Vision: Effective communication and swallowing throughout your life. Purpose: Empower speech pathologists and strengthen access to speech pathology.

Let’s talk about speech pathology Speech Pathology Australia is the national peak body for the speech pathology profession in Australia representing more than 15,000 members. Speech pathologists are university educated allied health professionals with expertise in the assessment and treatment of people with communication and/or swallowing support needs. The Association provides services and support to empower speech pathologists and advocates for improved access to speech pathology services to ensure everyone has effective communication and swallowing throughout their lives. The Association ensures speech pathologists are suitably trained, qualified and safe to practise through its certification program. www.speechpathologyaustralia.org.au DISCLAIMER To the best of The Speech Pathology Association of Australia Limited’s (‘the Association’) knowledge, this information is valid at the time of publication. The Association makes no warranty or representation in relation to the content or accuracy of the material in this publication. The Association expressly disclaims any and all liability (including liability for negligence) in respect of use of the information provided. The Association recommends you seek independent professional advice prior to making any decision involving matters outlined in this publication. Print Post Approved PP349181/01711 Print ISSN 1446-053X Digital ISSN : ISSN 2208-7125 ACKNOWLEDGEMENT OF COUNTRY The Association acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of lands, seas and waters throughout Australia, and pay respect to Elders past and present. They recognise that the health and social and emotional wellbeing of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples are grounded in continued connection to Culture, Country, Language, and Community, and acknowledge that Sovereignty was never ceded. We acknowledge the lands of the Wurundjeri Woi-wurrung and Bunurong Boon Wurrung peoples where we conduct our business at National Office in Naarm (Melbourne).

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Contents

05 06 08 10 12

Our membership President’s report

CEO's report

Financial report

Celebrating our members

13

Elevating the speech pathology community and workforce

15

Cultural responsiveness

16

Ensuring quality and maintaining standards

17

Research and evidence-based practice

18

Supporting effective communication and swallowing

19

Directors’ Report

27

Financial statements

31

Notes to the financial statements

4 Speech Pathology Australia | 2023 Annual Report

Our membership

14,327 total members as at 31 Dec 2023

MEMBER SUPPORT AND RECOGNITION The membership team responded to:

24,000+ emails

6500 phone calls

3543 member queries to advisors

ABOUT OUR MEMBERS

NT 92

QLD 2,882

WA 1,582

SA 1,225

NSW 4,340

ACT 210

VIC 3,582

TAS 194

2023 Annual Report | Speech Pathology Australia 5

President’s report

As we reflect on 2023, it has been a year characterised by transition, growth and steadfast commitment to our strategic objectives as we continue to advance the speech pathology profession in Australia. 2023 marked the commencement of our new 3-year strategic plan, a roadmap developed to address the evolving needs of our members and the broader community. Our commitment to enhancing access to equitable and evidence-based speech pathology services for individuals with communication and swallowing needs remains unwavering. Our Association’s new values inclusive, proactive, responsive and tenacious, alongside our vision and purpose, underpin our commitment to inclusion and equity, and to fostering a diverse and sustainable speech pathology workforce that can deliver culturally safe and responsive practice for all. Our strategic plan, with its three core priorities, guided our actions throughout 2023. We advocated for equitable, timely, and inclusive access to speech pathology services through advocacy initiatives and partnerships, and our awareness raising campaigns helped to break down barriers and ensure that all individuals receive the communication support they need. Communicating for Life , this year's Speech Pathology Week theme, saw a 225% increase in media mentions, significant growth in social media engagement, and a surge in visits to our website. National Office made 39 individual national and state government submissions, and continued to meet MPs and various government advisors. Developing the cultural capacity of our members and Association employees is a key strategic priority. In 2023 we continued to progress our Innovate Reconciliation Action Plan, and we released the Association's Commitment to Combatting Racism and a new Anti-racism position statement. We were also proud to introduce the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander culturally responsive capability framework to members. The framework aims to be a practical tool to guide organisations and individuals on how to implement cultural responsiveness in their workplaces. This framework reflects the Association's strong commitment to supporting organisations and individuals to develop capabilities to ensure a culturally responsive workforce, centering on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander ways of seeing, knowing, being, doing and belonging. I would like to acknowledge and extend my deep appreciation and thanks to our Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Advisory Committee for sharing their knowledge and expertise; for their time and commitment. While we have achieved much as an Association, there is still more work to be done as we continue to build and strengthen our commitment to reconciliation. Central to our mission is the cultivation of a diverse, skilled, and sustainable speech pathology workforce. We have made significant strides in this regard, investing in professional development opportunities and initiatives aimed at nurturing emerging talent. We released the Speech Pathology Workforce Analysis Report: Preparing for our future to address concerns of a shortage of speech pathologists in Australia. The report’s recommendations included focusing on enhancing capacity of our existing workforce, increasing supply and distribution of speech pathologists, and improving the quality of our data to support advocacy for speech pathology services and workforce.

Kathryn McKinley National President

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The report will guide our workforce strategy and our advocacy efforts for the speech pathology profession. Building a safe, engaged, and connected professional community has been a cornerstone of our efforts. Despite the challenges posed after the pandemic, we remained committed to fostering a sense of belonging and collaboration among our members. The redevelopment and launch of our new website, Member Portal and Member Learning Hub were important milestones in 2023 and a result of investment in these areas to improve the experience of members and consumers. The Communication Hub, developed in partnership with AGOSCI and consumers with lived experience, carers and communication partners, was also launched following the completion of 3 year ILC grant funded project. Our annual conference, held in Lutriwita/Hobart, brought together speech pathologists from across the country to connect, share knowledge and insights, and learn. Thank you to the Association’s Professional Development Team, our volunteer Conference Planning Committee, presenters, exhibitors and attendees who made this conference a resounding success. In April, after 18 years of exemplary service, Gail Mulcair stepped down as Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Speech Pathology Australia. We express our deepest gratitude for her leadership and commitment to the organisation and to our profession. In her time as CEO, Gail guided the Association through significant growth and change with our membership growing to over 14,000. In recognition of her achievements to the Association and the profession, Gail was awarded Life Membership at the 2023 Annual General Meeting (AGM) and Awards Ceremony. My first year as National President has been an honour and a privilege. I introduced our incoming CEO Jodie Long to members at our National Conference and then officially welcomed Jodie in July. Jodie and I have had the opportunity to visit Branches across Australia to hear about local achievements, initiatives and challenges, as well as celebrate members and our profession. I very much valued the time spent meeting with our Branches, members and students, and connecting with the speech pathology community. Thank you to our Branch Chairs and all our members who volunteer their time on Branch Committees or working groups. Our Branches continue to provide excellent opportunities for connecting our profession and building a strong speech pathology community. I want to acknowledge and thank the Board of Directors for their time, skills and expertise. I am very fortunate to work with a committed and inspired group of leaders who generously give their time. I also extend my deepest gratitude to Tim Kittel for his dedicated service to our organisation as National President for 4 years. His leadership was instrumental in steering us through various challenges during his tenure as President. I extend my thanks to Erin Coonan and Inma Beaumont who finished their terms on the Board of Directors at the AGM. We welcomed Fiona Eastley to the Board in May bringing her experience as Branch Chair in New South Wales and her speech pathology knowledge across a range of sectors. We also welcomed external directors David Lawrence and

Keona Wilson to the Board of Directors in August. This marked the first time we have filled both external director positions, bringing their expertise and knowledge in governance and strategy, lived experience and diverse perspectives to our Board. In 2023, we laid the groundwork for achieving our strategic goals, laying a solid foundation for future growth and impact. None of this would have been possible without the dedication and hard work of our exceptional employees at National Office. I want to take this opportunity to thank all our employees for their commitment to their roles and the Association, and for their achievements and hard work across the year. I want to express my sincere gratitude to our dedicated members, who volunteer their time and their expertise in so many ways. We would not be where we are today without our strong volunteer community, who alongside National Office, have seen our Association go from strength to strength. Their staunch commitment to our vision and purpose has been the driving force behind our progress. Our profession continues to grow, as do the challenges we face including growing demands for services, current funding models, regulation and workforce supply. As we look ahead to the coming year, we do so with optimism and determination. And I am confident that with our collective efforts and commitment, we will continue to make a meaningful difference to our members and to people with communication and swallowing support needs. We remain steadfast in our commitment to promote excellence in speech pathology practice, advocate for our members, and advance the field through research, innovation and collaboration. Thank you for your continued support and trust in the Board and the Association. I am proud of our profession and remain committed to supporting people with communication and swallowing needs to access speech pathology services that are timely, equitable and evidence based. It is with great pleasure that I present to you the Speech Pathology Australia Annual Report for 2023.

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CEO's report

With this, my inaugural report as CEO of Speech Pathology Australia, I wanted to share how deeply honoured I am by the opportunity to lead this organisation. It is with a profound sense of privilege that I guide our mission to make meaningful strides for our vast community of over 15,000 dedicated member speech pathologists and the individuals they serve. Together, we are committed to enhancing the lives of Australians with communication and swallowing needs and ensuring our collective efforts result in positive and lasting impacts. Having started as Chief Executive Officer in July 2023, I would like to recognise the efforts of all who have contributed to the many successes achieved in 2023. I would especially like to thank my predecessor Gail Mulcair for her leadership over many years to build the Association. Throughout the pages of this Annual Report, you will see the important impacts that our work in 2023 achieved. KEY HIGHLIGHTS Supporting professional education Our work at the Association is guided by member feedback, and to help us do this, we engaged external consultants Survey Matters to conduct the important work of capturing member feedback on how we can improve their experience and services. Increased accessibility and affordability of CPD were key themes from the survey. To support this, in 2023 we launched a new Learning Hub to increase access to member events and learning. The highly successful virtual summit launched in 2023 is an example of one of the innovations that the team are working on to support members' further learning. Our annual National Conference in Hobart was a great success, with 825 delegates attending. We continue to work on developing the conference with a new, member informed, plan to be fully launched in 2026. Growing member value Aligned with our strategic priority to strengthen pathways for professional connection collaboration and networking, we redeveloped the SPA website and launched the new Member Portal in response to member requests for a dedicated website with everything they need. In 2023 we also established a dedicated member engagement team focused on supporting members, especially our many volunteers. This team works to enhance engagement between members and National office. Political advocacy Throughout 2023 our work to advocate on behalf of our members and the profession continued with 28 National submission, 11 state submissions made to governments and several meetings with MPs and advisors. Over the past year we have strengthened our policy and advocacy team to work towards greater impact with government and political leaders in influencing changes that will assist speech pathologists to deliver the best services possible to all those who need them; regardless of location or background, to optimise quality of life for Australians with communication and swallowing support needs.

Jodie Long Chief Executive Officer

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Promoting the profession Our annual awareness raising campaigns, Speech Pathology Week, Swallowing Awareness Day, Book of the Year and Speechie Library Talks, boosted media engagement and social media engagement across the year, helping to keep the work of speech pathologists front of mind. The Association’s digital transformation continued with new ways to engage with the public through our new website. More than 3.5 million page views were recorded on our public site. A collaboration with AGOSCI created the Communication Hub website, a further resource for the public to find out more about communication disability and how speech pathologists support people with communication and swallowing support needs. Our people The success of Speech Pathology Australia is dependent on the outstanding contribution of the Board, National Office staff and the many volunteers who work tirelessly to benefit all speech pathologists. We could not function without our exceptional volunteers who dedicate so much of their time to supporting their speech pathologist peers and the profession. To all the staff and the volunteers, I say thank you for your contribution to making 2023 the year that it was. I also want to thank all who have shared their unique perspectives and insights, and for providing feedback through our member survey and directly to myself and staff to help guide the Association. The team is dedicated to applying this knowledge across the organisation to deliver exceptional member value. We will continue to harness great systems, processes, resources and most importantly people so we can thrive. Looking ahead The team and I are focused on serving and being responsive to our members to deliver on what has been asked of the Association. We will continue to be strong advocates for equitable access to speech pathology services, drive increased awareness, recognition and standing of the profession, and champion the issues and concerns that most affect our members. I am very much looking forward to seeing the impact we can have together in 2024.

2023 Annual Report | Speech Pathology Australia 9

Financial report

Speech Pathology Australia continues to present a strong financial position. Our financial accounts for the end of 2023 indicate an overall total equity of $2,587,348, and an operating loss of $375k which is in line with the budget for 2023 and the intention of the Board to utilise surplus generated in the operating years affected by COVID. While growth in income was once again evident, there was a rise in expenses including costs from suppliers of $738k from 2022. The second half of the year saw a concerted effort to identify ways to increase efficiency of operations and streamlining of operating expenses, with a focus on utilising resources on areas generating the greatest member impact. There are challenges in revenue generation, particularly in professional education. Post-covid, the professional education landscape has changed significantly, with more demand for online education, less attendance at face-to-face events and increased options for sourcing professional education offered by providers external to SPA. We are continuing to look at ways to provide high quality, affordable and accessible CPD for members as we navigate this changing landscape. In 2023 the Board approved investment of resources into key areas to provide members with an improved level of service which included upgrading SPA's critical infrastructure with a new member database, website, and learning management system implemented as well as the Communication Hub. In addition, there has been significant investment to improve the operational efficiency in National Office with the implementation of a digital invoice system, leave system and HR Employment platform. To help facilitate an improved hybrid working environment and allow for meetings to be hybrid rather than face-to-face, the video conferencing facilities were upgraded at National Office which has reduced travel expenditure. The Association’s assets continue to include strong cash reserves and invested funds. Investment income exceeded expectations, reaching $189k, which was $161k higher than the budgeted performance. This revenue offset some other revenue shortfalls including revenue no longer received from the rent of the Bank Place property. The success of the investment income was attributed to the lifting of the RBA cash rate with our average interest rate on term deposits increasing to 5.0%, additionally our equity portfolio performed strongly up +$37k or 4.4%. The detailed profit and loss statement shows a healthy 12% growth in revenue, with a rise from $7.63m in 2022 to $8.78m. Membership income remained the most significant source of revenue, consistent with the budgeted projection, totalling $5.94m This equates to 67.7% of total revenue and represents a growth of 11%. The success in revenue generation in the investment area underpins the ongoing intent to focus efforts to diversify income sources and ensure effective asset management in financial planning. In 2024, our investment strategy will continue to be reviewed and investments actively managed, monitoring performance and considering the best placement of funds to maximise returns. A high proportion of expenses for the Association relate to human resources, with staffing allocations apportioned across key principle activities of member support, professional education and events, regulation and standards, advocacy, and public relations. Corporate services and occupancy and infrastructure costs were also incurred to maintain the Association’s office and general operations.

Alison Smith Director, Vice President Finance

10 Speech Pathology Australia | 2023 Annual Report

Financial management of the Association is governed by sound processes and adherence to accounting and legal standards with a positive external audit evidencing the commitment and hard work of Association staff. In closing, the Board of Directors and management of the Association are pleased to return to members a strong and sustainable financial position. We will continue to navigate the complexities of a changing environment ensuring that we are well positioned for future sustainability. As we enhance efficiency in operations, our focus remains on investment in the profession. We intend to further develop corporate partnerships and sponsorships, enhancing our revenue diversification, re-inventing our education and CPD offerings, and building upon the investments made in the previous year.

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Celebrating our members

MEMBER AWARDS

Our members' dedication and commitment were highlighted in several prestigious awards presented at the AGM during the Association's annual conference.

Life members

Fellowship

Service to the Association Yolande Burdekin

Gail Mulcair

Emma Power

Anne Whitworth

Chyrisse Heine

12 Speech Pathology Australia | 2023 Annual Report

Elevating the speech pathology community and workforce

Professional Education In our pursuit to become the preferred education provider for speech pathologists across Australia, and help deliver on the Association's purpose, we remained committed to delivering exemplary, forward-thinking, and sustainable professional education and our national conference. In 2023 we continued our aim to elevate the capabilities of speech pathologists. We worked toward curating contemporary professional education content aimed at extending the proficiency of speech pathologists. Through our commitment to excellence, and our strategic priority to embed a culture of lifelong learning, we continued to strive to offer innovative resources that met the evolving needs of our members. A key highlight in professional education was the launch of the New Learning Hub on the Topclass platform to support our goal of providing high quality accessible professional education to speech pathologists, when and where they need it. Learning partnerships with Victorian Department of Education, the WA Country Health Service (WACHS) and Lifeline Northern Beaches are examples of our connectivity with external organisations to support education of speech pathology in other professions as well as speech pathologists working in these areas. In addition to a range of 'On Demand' learning programs the Association also launched the inaugural NDIS Summit; a cross-team collaboration sponsored by Guild Insurance. More than 200 registered for the 2 week summit and accessed a mix of self-paced and live events and panel discussions. The highly successful National Conference was held in Nipaluna/Hobart with 825 delegates enjoying a range of workshops, presentations and networking opportunities.

CONFERENCE DELEGATES 64.3% Certified Practising Speech Pathologists 1.7% Non-practicing 2.4% Students 3.3% Non-members

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4113 live event registrations

EVENTS INCLUDED: 56 Live online 15 Clinical Bites 13 Collaborative events

80%

of professional education events were provided to members at no additional cost.

Speak Up Podcast Season 5

6507 Live online listens per episode 16% increase in listens on previous year In 2023 the podcast team introduced a new 'Oral Histories' series featuring interviews with life members of the Association.

14 Speech Pathology Australia | 2023 Annual Report

Cultural responsiveness

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander committee

IALP poster The Association's reconciliation journey was outlined in a poster presentation at the 2023 IALP conference.

Speech pathologists, and Speech Pathology Australia have recognised that as a profession we have not always sought to listen carefully and truly understand the worldviews of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples. SPA recognises the negative actions and lack of action and commit to redressing all forms of racism in our services and profession. In 2017, SPA commenced a formal reconciliation journey. SPA’s reconciliation journey was grounded in the belief that professional Associations have the responsibility to facilitate cultural responsiveness in all aspects of service provision by identifying systemic and structural racism and instigating transformational systemic, organisational and individual level change. To facilitate change SPA has had to uncover some truths regarding the profession’s history and how the systems, structures, policies and practices have reproduced and continued to reproduce whiteness and to develop and implement an anti-racist stance. Throughout 2023 we took further steps toward reconciliation with the release of the Anti-Racism Position Statement and Commitment to Combatting Racism . To support members’ cultural learning the Association released the IAHA Training modules also made available to Association staff via the new Learning Hub. Cultural learning and CPD Cultural learning that supports cultural responsiveness and culturally safe practice with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples and Communities was introduced in 2023 as part of the minimum CPD requirements. Voice to Parliament In recognition of the historical and on going injustices faced by First Nations people and the urgent need for reconciliation, equity and partnership the Association outlined a statement on the Voice to Parliament. The Association affirmed its support of the Uluru Statement of the Heart and its first reform calling for the constitutional recognition of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples in the way of Voice, Treaty and Truth. Reconciliation Action Plan Throughout 2023 the Reconciliation Action Plan was advanced.

P2.34 Towards a culturally responsive profession: The role of professional associations

Title: Gin-ow-ay Nambur ‘To give, talk’ (Gunnai Language) Artist: Dixon Patten Tribes: Gunnai, Yorta Yorta, Gunditjmara and Yuin This artwork depicts Indigenous and non-Indigenous people coming together, the pathways represent two-way learning and walking in reconciliation. • The circles in the middle represent Speech Pathology Australia and the influence their RAP committee and actions will have on the broader community. • The hands represent our ancestors guiding our journey. • The leaves represent growing together. • The various circles represent the diverse clans, tribes and communities across Australia. • The small circles represent conversations, yarns, language and knowledge being shared.

Key steps in SPA’s reconciliation journey involved looking for opportunities for system level, organisation level and individual level change

Acknowledgment of Country The authors acknowledge the Traditional Custodians of lands, seas and waters throughout Australia, and pay respect to Elders past and present. They recognise that the health and social and emotional wellbeing of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples are grounded in continued connection to Culture, Country, Language, and Community, and acknowledge that Sovereignty was never ceded. Australia’s First Peoples and Reconciliation Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples are the Sovereign Peoples of Australia. For Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples, Australia’s colonial history is characterised by devastating land dispossession, violence, and racism. Despite showing significant strength and resilience in the face of colonial injustices Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples continue to be affected by entrenched systemic racism. Reconciliation in Australia has, over many decades, made an important contribution towards reconciling past and current injustices and strengthening the relationship between Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples and non-Indigenous Australians. Today, Reconciliation Australia, formed in 2001, is the lead body for reconciliation in Australia. Reconciliation Australia’s vision is for a just, equitable and reconciled Australia. Reconciliation Australia’s vision for reconciliation is based and measured on five dimensions: historical acceptance; race relations; equality and equity; and institutional integrity and unity. Since 2006, Reconciliation Australia has provided organisations with a structured approach to advance reconciliation through the development of Reconciliation Action Plans. Fundamental to SPA’s reconciliation journey was developing and implementing an anti-racist stance. SPA recognised that an anti-racist stance needs to: • ensure reflection, not just awareness • involve action, not just words • be a conscious choice to: ᴏ transform individual biases ᴏ transform interpersonal relations ᴏ transform the Association – at system, organisational and individual levels.

SPA’s Reconciliation Journey To Date Speech Pathology Australia (SPA) is the national peak body for speech pathologists in Australia. As of June 2023, the Association represents more than 14,000 speech pathologists nationally, including 94 speech pathologists and students who identify as Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander. Speech pathologists, and SPA have recognised that as a profession we have not always sought to listen carefully and truly understand the worldviews of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples. SPA recognises the negative actions and lack of action, and commit to redressing all forms of racism in our services and profession. In 2017, SPA commenced a formal reconciliation journey. SPA’s reconciliation journey was grounded in the belief that professional associations have the responsibility to facilitate cultural responsiveness in all aspects of service provision by identifying systemic and structural racism and instigating transformational systemic, organisational and individual level change. To facilitate change SPA has had to uncover some truths regarding the profession’s history and how the systems, structures, policies and practices have reproduced and continued to reproduce whiteness and to develop and implement an anti-racist stance. The aim of this poster is to share the anti-racist stance implemented by SPA in collaboration with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples to facilitate cultural responsiveness to effect transformational changed across the speech pathology profession in Australia. This poster outlines key steps and initiatives focused on facilitating culturally safe and responsive speech pathology services, with implications and learnings for other associations, policy and practice in allied health.

2011

• SPA formed an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Curriculum Committee. 2015

2016

• Launch of the Commonwealth Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Curriculum Framework. • In 2016 SPA commissioned a landmark report Speech Pathology 2030: making futures happen ( SP 2030 project) . Some consumers, members and stakeholders contributing to the SP 2030 project highlighted concerns about racism. After the publication of the SP 2030 report, SPA chose to confront truths about the history of the speech pathology profession and how systems, structures, policies and practices have reinforced the profession as one informed by white colonial practices and racism.

• Australian government

initiative to embed cultural competency curricula into vocational and tertiary education for health professionals (Health Workforce Australia, 2011).

bit.ly/SP2030Project

2017

• Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander Advisory Committee established. • Reconciliation Working Group formed. • Dedicated Board of Directors position for an Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander speech pathologist established. • Support for The Uluru Statement from the Heart announced.

“I believe racism is a community issue which we all need to address, and that’s why racism stops with me” – Adam Goodes, Australian of the Year 2014 Acceptance Speech.

bit.ly/UluruStatementHeart

2019

• Reconciliation Action Plan – Reflect published. • Formal Apology delivered to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples and Communities.

2020

• SPA’s commitment to cultural safety and responsiveness embedded in key documents: ᴏ Strategic Plan 2020–2023 ᴏ Professional Standards for speech pathologists in Australia ᴏ Code of Ethics.

bit.ly/RAPInnovate

Next steps

Speech Pathology Australia recognises that reconciliation is a work in progress, a work which is the responsibility of all members and staff. SPA recognises the intergenerational impacts of historical and current wrongs and have undertaken to redress the negative impact of past actions and inactions. At its heart, reconciliation is about strengthening relationships between Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples and non-Indigenous peoples, for the benefit of all Australians. SPA makes a commitment to work in culturally responsive ways, valuing the strengths, knowledges and languages of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples. This commitment to reconciliation and cultural responsiveness is embedded in all Association activities and future directions.

bit.ly/SPAFormalApology

bit.ly/SPADocuments

2022

• Cultural learning mandated as part of continuing professional development requirements for SPA’s Certification Program. • Free resources made available to members.

Key Learnings • Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Sovereignty is central to culturally safe and responsive service provision and professions. • Power relations must be altered to ensure Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples are defining culturally safe and responsive services. • Access to culturally responsive and safe services is everyone’s right. • SLPs have both a responsibility to enact change and to stand with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples in enabling self determination and social justice. • Professional associations have a responsibility and a role in identifying and calling out systemic and structural racism and instigating transformational organisational and individual level changes. • Associations need to understand that all staff and members will be at different levels of their understanding and reflection on:

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• Appointment of Senior Advisor Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Strategy and Practice. • Ongoing Cultural

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Charter and Mission Govern the practice and ethical standards of speech pathology practice

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Professional Standards Knowledge, skills and attributes a speech pathologist must demonstrate

Scope of Practice Speech pathology roles, networks and contemporary practice settings in Australian context

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Ethical and evidence based practice

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Authors: Tara Lewis, Senior Advisor Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Strategy and Practice tlewis@speechpathologyaustralia.org.au

Stacey Baldac, Manager Professional Standards sbaldac@speechpathologyaustralia.org.au Professional Standards team, Speech Pathology Australia Speech Pathology Australia Level 1/114 William Street Melbourne VIC 3000 Australia T 1300 368 835 F 03 9642 4922 E office@speechpathologyaustralia.org.au

bit.ly/SPAResponseRacism

2023 Annual Report | Speech Pathology Australia 15

Ensuring quality and maintaining standards

Regulation, certification and accreditation

Ethics In 2023 the Association created new and updated resources to assist members in their ethical decision making. A social media guide was published to assist members to engage with social media in a manner that is consistent with the SPA Code of Ethics . Professional communication and in particular social media use, continues to be a space that requires deep reflection to ensure that it is being used in an ethical manner. A special ethics edition of JCPSLP , featured the inaugural winner of the student essay competition titled, Ethical considerations for allied health assistants in speech pathology . The student ethics essay competition is planned to return in 2024 to help students connect with the concept of everyday ethics. All ethics resources were reviewed and updated to confirm they are current and fit for purpose and a new resource on having challenging conversations , was also launched in 2023. The 2023 NDIS summit included ethical documents including; having challenging conversations with families , how ethical practice can support good business practices , business decisions: an ethical lens , and advertising and testimonials . The Ethics Board Andrea Abel joined the elected members on the Ethics Board, and Belinda Hill and Dr Suze Leitão became senior members. Two new community representatives also joined the Ethics Board, Jen Morris and Kim Beesley. The whole Ethics Board undertook training in August 2023, in person to ensure the fidelity and fairness of the formal complaints process.

Speech Pathology Australia is recognised as the national scientific and professional standards organisation for speech pathologists in Australia. The Association has established and monitors the professional standards required for certified practising membership ensuring that speech pathologists are suitably trained, qualified and safe to practise through its certification program. It also holds functions of assessing those with overseas qualifications and accrediting university programs. Accreditors and accreditations Notably, in 2023 SPA accredited seven new programs/ campuses and re-accredited four existing programs. Across five states, seven site visits were conducted, and 41 programs were monitored. Collaboration with three universities further strengthened the accreditation landscape. International engagement The Association extended its reach internationally by supporting one accreditation process at the Chinese University of Hong Kong and aiding academics from four international institutions in establishing or fortifying speech pathology programs. Accreditation standards and projects SPA initiated the implementation of new accreditation standards in 2022–2023 and led significant projects including COMPASS® now and future planning. Collaboration with the National Alliance of Self-Regulating Health Professions (NASRHP) consultants and Health Professions Accreditation Collaborative Forum (HPACF) streamlined accreditation processes. Additionally, SPA developed a new resource, 'Practice Education in Private Practice.' Approximately 2029 students enrolled in speech pathology programs in 2023, while 1437 students graduated by the end of 2022.

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Research and evidence-based practice

Research and publications SPA's contributions to the field were highlighted through peer-reviewed conference papers and journal articles. Noteworthy presentations included discussions on new accreditation standards and curriculum design. Additionally, several journal articles addressed evidence-based practice and workforce diversity. Documents and certification In 2023, SPA introduced new position statements, including commitments to combat racism, anti-racism and international telepractice in speech pathology. New and revised practice guidelines included a revised Laryngectomy, dysphagia,Videofluoroscopic swallow study (VFSS), stuttering, working in a culturally and linguistically diverse society and augmentative and alternative communication/complex communication needs and a new Nasendoscopy practice principles document. Certification standards were revised, with audits ongoing. A focus on cultural responsiveness was evident with the launch of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Culturally Responsive Capability Framework. Research grants and partnerships The Association supported new research initiatives focusing on classroom interventions, mental health experiences, and social media use among individuals with language difficulties. Speech Pathology Australia's commitment to accreditation, research, and professional development underscores our dedication to excellence and innovation in speech pathology education and practice.

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Supporting effective

NEW WEBSITES LAUNCHED In October 2023 the Association launched its new website including a dedicated member portal. Public website (1 January 2023 to 31 December 2023) • total website page views: 3,545,924 • unique users: 401,520. Member Portal (5 October 2023 to 31 December 2023) • page views: 110,623 • users (members): 11,974. Social media 160% increase in engagement across LinkedIn, Instagram, Facebook and X (formerly Twitter). Member emails 54% open rate across all member emails (industry benchmark 37%). Traditional media Exposure increased by 29% on the previous year boosted during annual awareness raising campaigns. In collaboration with AGOSCI the Association launched the Communication Hub website, a dedicated site for people with communication support needs, their communication partners, and the wider community. The project was developed with funding via a grant from the Australian Government Department of Social Services. Since the launch an average of 4000 people have visited the site per month to learn more about communication disability by accessing resources, fact sheets and hearing from people with lived experience. MEMBER SUPPORTS Two major infrastructure projects helped us to drive change and continuous improvement. These projects included the launch of a new Engagement Management System to further protect member data and privacy, help to streamline the renewal process and offer broader payments options, among others. A new website was launched establishing a dedicated Member Portal with elevated opportunities to deliver Association news and information to members. COMMUNICATION HUB LAUNCHED

communication and swallowing

POLITICAL ADVOCACY AND GOVERNMENT RELATIONS The Association continued to advocate for policy change with local and Federal Government. In 2023 the team: • submitted 28 National submissions • submitted 11 State submissions • participated in 14 meetings with MPs and their advisors. PUTTING A SPOTLIGHT ON THE PROFESSION The Association's national awareness-raising campaigns led to increased growth in engagement across all communication channels in the media and the general community. Campaigns Our key campaigns included: • Swallowing Awareness Day • Book of the Year • Speechie Library Talks • Speech Pathology Week. The Speechie Library Talks initiative was again one of our most impactful awareness raising campaigns with more than 130 community engagement events held in public libraries across the country.100+ members volunteered to host a Speechie Library Talk at their local library to raise awareness of the role of speech pathologists in children's language and literacy development. Speech Pathology Week and Swallowing Awareness Day helped boost an overall increase in media engagement for the year by 29%. Members from all states joined in with local networking and engagement events held through their local Branch.

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Directors’ Report

The Directors of The Speech Pathology Association of Australia Ltd ('the Company') present their report for the year ended 31 December 2023. Director details The following persons were Directors of The Speech Pathology Association of Australia Ltd during or since the end of the financial year.

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Kathryn McKinley General Director Period in office: 3 June 2019–current Office bearer role: • Vice President Governance (Ceased 22 May 2023) • President (Appointed 22 May 2023). Subcommittee representation: • member of Board Executive Subcommittee • member of Governance Subcommittee. Qualifications: • Bachelor of Speech Pathology, LaTrobe University • Master of Health Administration, LaTrobe University.

Timothy Kittel General Director Period in office: 18 May 2015–current Office bearer role: • President (Ceased 22 May 2023). Subcommittee representation: • member of Board Executive Subcommittee (Ceased 22 May 2023) • member of Governance Subcommittee (Ceased 22 May 2023). Qualifications: • Bachelor of Arts (Honours: English Literature), The University of Adelaide • Bachelor of Speech Pathology, Flinders University • AICD, Graduate.

Alison Smith General Director Period in office: 25 May 2020–current Office bearer role: • Vice President Finance (Appointed 13 June).

Subcommittee representation: • member of Board Executive Subcommittee • member of Finance and Audit Subcommittee. Qualifications: • Bachelor of Speech Therapy, The University of Queensland • Graduate Diploma of Education, University of New England • Executive Leadership

Programme, Saïd Business School, Oxford University.

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Lucy Sutherland General Director Period in office: 31 May 2021–current Office bearer role: • Vice President Governance (Appointed 22 May 2023). Subcommittee representation: • member of Finance and Audit Subcommittee (Ceased 22 May 2023) • member of Board Executive Subcommittee (Appointed 22 May 2023) • member of Governance Subcommittee (Appointed 22 May 2023). Qualifications: • Bachelor of Applied Science (Speech Path.), University of Sydney.

Fiona Eastley General Director Period in office: 22 May 2023–current

Subcommittee representation: • member of Finance and Audit Subcommittee (Appointed 22 May 2023). Qualifications: • Bachelor of Applied Science (Speech Pathology), University of Sydney • Teaching in the Multicultural Classroom Certificate, Liverpool College of TAFE • Master of Applied Linguistics (TESL), Macquarie University • Master of Special Education, Newcastle University.

Erin Coonan General Director Period in office: 31 May 2021–22 May 2023 Qualifications: • Bachelor of Speech Therapy, Flinders University.

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Edward Ong General Director Period in office: 14 Oct 2021–current

Subcommittee representation: • member of Finance and Audit Subcommittee (Appointed 22 May 2023) • member of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Advisory Group. Qualifications: • Bachelor of Speech Therapy, The University of Queensland • Graduate Diploma of Education, University of New England • Graduate Certificate in Autism Studies, Griffith University.

Kathryn Fordyce General Director Period in office: 23 May 2022–current Subcommittee representation: • member of Governance Subcommittee. Qualifications: • Bachelor of Speech Pathology (Hons), University of Queensland • Graduate Certificate of Health Services Management, Charles Darwin University • Diploma of Early Childhood Education and Care, TasTAFE • AICD, Graduate.

David Lawrence External Director Period in office: 1 August 2023–current Subcommittee representation: • member of Governance Subcommittee (Appointed 1 October 2023). Qualifications: • Internationally Certified

Compliance Professional, International Federation of Compliance Associations Management, Macquarie Graduate School of Management

• Graduate Diploma of

• Diploma of Project

Management, University of New England

• Master of Commerce, Finance and Banking, University of New South Wales • Bachelor of Commerce, Industrial Relations, University of Sydney.

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