Student Speak Out November 2021

student SpeakOut

A MAGAZINE FOR SPEECH PATHOLOGY STUDENTS

The good and the great about starting out as an AHA BECOME AN AHA

SPEECHIE NEWS The latest from SPA National Office

November 2021 | Issue

MEET A SPEECHIE Erin Conway & Anna Marchant

1 Student Speak Out | November 2021

student SpeakOut

News, views and inspiration for Australian speech pathology students.

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. inspiration for the February edition of Student Speak Out to the Association’s Publications Manager, publications@ speechpathologyaustralia.org.au. www.speechpathologyaustralia.org.au Student Speak Out is a publication of Speech Pathology Australia. The Student news is published quarterly in Feb, May, August and November and is distributed to all Speech Pathology Australia student members. Copyright©2021 The Speech Pathology Association of Australia contact us Send in your news, article ideas, information and

2 Student Speak Out | November 2021

what's inside...

November 2021

4 12 Speechie News 14 Meet a speechie Dr Erin Conway 15

Becoming an AHA The good and the great about starting out as an Allied Health Assistant.

Applying for a Medicare provider number

Dr Erin Conway is a researcher, senior lecturer and course coordinator in Speech Pathology at ACU. Anna Marchant Anna Merchant is an early career speechie working in aged care. She discusses her passion for her role and provides insights for students on

News from ACU 20 Students in WA celebrate 24

3 Student Speak Out | November 2021

Tiffany's experience working as an AHA Becoming an AHA

“I began working as an Allied Health Assistant two days per week at the beginning of 2021 as I started my Masters of Speech Language Pathology at the University of Sydney. I saw it as an opportunity to start my career as an SLP without having to wait for graduation to come around. Prior to finding my current role, I decided to email every speech clinic in my city to check if they needed an enthusiastic student who wanted to learn as much as possible from qualified speech pathologists. To my surprise, I found a wonderful clinic that was looking for an Allied Health Assistant to help provide therapy to children who had speech and/or language difficulties; a role I didn’t even know existed. I couldn’t believe my luck! “Being able to apply what I learn directly to a clinical setting has been advantageous to my studies, more so than I expected. I get a better understanding of the content being taught at university when I can go into the clinic and put it into practice. Obviously this isn’t always the case as the coursework doesn’t always align, however, most of what I am learning has been solidified in some way by my role as an AHA . For example, last semester as we were learning about phonological disorders, I was able to go into the clinic and

4 Student Speak Out | November 2021

apply the Minimal Pairs Approach in therapy the week after we learnt about it. Instead of revising my notes, I was able to work with a real client and get feedback from my supervisor as an alternative, a far superior alternative in my opinion. In addition to this, I get to work on skills that can only be learned in a clinical setting such as; engaging with clients and parents efficiently, dealing with a range of behaviours during the session, time management skills and teamwork skills. “I am so pleased with how much I am learning from week to week and how it has impacted how much I enjoy university. The whole experience really has been so ideal and although sometimes it does feel overwhelming, each day I wake up grateful for the opportunity to work with these children and their families as I navigate the world of Speech Language Pathology. I cannot speak highly enough of my experience working as an AHA as I undergo study, and highly recommend the experience to any students out there who want to enhance their learning experience. “The most important thing I have learnt in my role as an AHA is that I definitely chose the right career path and am so looking forward to becoming a fully qualified SLP.”

5 Student Speak Out | November 2021

Ashlesha’s insights and tips on being an AHA

“I’ve been working as an AHA for two organisations in the past year (the last year of my Master’s degree). I thoroughly enjoy working as an AHA as I feel any experience within the SP department is always valuable . The first AHA position I applied for was advertised through the university. The company, Just Therapy, interviewed me via zoom and then set up a profile for me, which allowed their clients to choose their providers. Here I had my first experience in joint sessions and holding sessions with clients in their home environment. “I was offered my second AHA position by my clinical educator/clinical lead after my roster three placement at the private clinic. Transitioning into this AHA role was much easier than the first as I had already met some clients and the sessions were based in the clinic. “For me personally, I have greatly benefitted from both positions . They have exposed me to the variety of roles and settings speech pathologists are involved in; for example, social skills therapy was a huge part of our scope of practice which gave me immense anxiety due to the sheer volume of possibilities and variations one could use. But my experience

6 Student Speak Out | November 2021

Becoming an AHA

working with different levels of ASD clients guided by their speech pathologists, has really helped reduce my anxiety by increasing my exposure. “Overall, working as an AHA is something I would highly recommend to every student if they can fit it within their uni-life balance . My speech pathology degree, especially Masters - was very overwhelming at times, and balancing life with work can also be difficult. As students, I feel we need to ensure that the correct support is in place and that the roles and duties are outlined prior to beginning the position. Also knowing when to say “no” as a student can be really hard; I felt scared/guilty when saying no to extra clients, but I learned that being honest with the speech pathologists or the manager in charge, really does help and they are very understanding!”

Ashlesha Singde Year 2 Master of Speech Pathology

7 Student Speak Out | November 2021

Fun and learning as an AHA

“‘Implementation, not decision making’ are the four words that define practice as an allied health assistant (AHA). Within those four words lies a world of learning and enthusiasm-and importantly in paediatric practice–fun. “I began work as an AHA soon after beginning my Master of Speech Pathology at the University of Canberra. One of my favourite parts of studying my master’s is that everyone has come from different backgrounds and brings a wealth of experiences to our classroom discussions. My class is made up of home-schooling mums, teachers, voice coaches, and architects (to name a few) and I am excited to see how these experiences shape our clinical practice when we begin placement next year. “I found and applied to the AHA role on Seek. I was nervous arriving to my interview but immediately felt at home in the early intervention context. It was exciting to look around at all the toys, paintings, and books and imagine the world I would soon be entering. “My workplace has organised the AHA role so that clients receive alternating sessions between an AHA and a qualified speech pathologist. The client’s goals are decided between the client, their family, and the

8 Student Speak Out | November 2021

Becoming an AHA

qualified speech pathologist . I am trusted to think of the fun activities we will use to work towards achieving these goals during my sessions. The qualified speech pathologist will meet with me to discuss the client’s progress and is always available for any support I might need. Knowing that I am being closely supervised by a qualified speech pathologist helps me to feel confident that I am doing my best for my clients. “I was extremely lucky during the recent ACT lockdown to help run a series of online kid’s clubs via zoom. Once again, the goals for each session were set by a qualified speech pathologist and I helped my clients to achieve their goals through craft, literacy, and movement activities. It was exciting to deliver telehealth services, especially considering the innovations that are being made in this area due to COVID-19 and the positive impact this may have on service access in rural settings. “Besides developing my clinical skills, my work as an AHA has continuously inspired me to achieve in my studies . Every time I have a great session with a client, I think to myself that if I study hard, I will get to do this every day. This helps motivate me when we are learning something challenging in class or have a lot of assignments due. “All my colleagues have been warm and supportive from the moment I met them, and I continue to be inspired by their activity ideas and how naturally they interact with clients. I am certain that their guidance will shape my future practice as much as everything I have learned from my brilliant lecturers. Helina Hosking currently works at Early Bird Therapy, Canberra, and is a master’s student at the University of Canberra.

9 Student Speak Out | November 2021

Are you thinking about working as an AlliedHealth Assistant (AHA)?

The Association supports the employment of speech pathology students to carry out the role of an AHA and provide speech pathology related programs or therapeutic interventions under the guidance and supervision of a speech pathologist . However, AHAs should only facilitate the delivery of speech pathology services if supervised by a qualified speech pathologist. Supervising speech pathologists are responsible for determining the needs of the client, the AHA’s skill level, which tasks can be delegated, and which are beyond the AHA’s personal scope of practice and competency. Supervising speech pathologists should also develop clear standards and protocols and provide adequate training and regular supervision to guide AHA’s practice. Work as an AHA can be very different to the type of activities you carry out in your university practice placement. When you work as an AHA, you should only carry out specific activities delegated by the qualified speech pathologist and be aware that there are some tasks that SPA has indicated are not suitable for delegating to AHAs. These include:

• •

conducting assessments

differential diagnosis

10 Student Speak Out | November 2021

Becoming an AHA

• •

clinical problem solving, and

therapy planning. SPA has written some helpful documents about working as an AHA that can be found here . These resources include a document written specifically for students who are considering work in this area while studying. See: Speech pathology students working as an allied health assistant See also a recent article in Speak Out Students who works as AHAs Please make contact with SPA if you have any questions advisor@speechpathologyaustralia.org.au Support for student members when you start to look for your first job WorkPlacePLUS provide support about HR and employment issues and initial advice is free for all SPA members including student members. If you are looking for work and have questions about pay and the national Award, your contract for your first job or you have questions about potential employment relationship then contact Anna Pannuzzo at WorkPlacePLUS on 0419 533434 or anna@workplaceplus.com.au Did you know SPA has engaged the services of WorkPlacePLUS ?

11 Student Speak Out | November 2021

Applying for a Medicare provider number

As students graduate, one of the steps they will take is to apply for a Medicare provider number (MPN). Speech pathologists must obtain an MPN to provide services that are rebateable under Medicare. Most private health funds also require eligible providers to have an MPN. In order to apply for a Medicare provider number, new graduate speech pathologists must become Provisional Certified Practising Speech Pathologist (CPSP) members of SPA. Graduates will need to provide the Association with evidence of successfull completion of their speech pathology course and submit their application. Applications generally take about 10 business days to process, but may take longer during busy periods. Once SPA membership has been granted, new graduates can apply for a Medicare provider number. Services Australia has advised SPA that they experience a peak in MPN applications from now until end January. This means it can take a bit more time to process applications. It is advisable for new graduates starting work in the private sector to plan ahead and coordinate a prompt application for SPA membership, provide evidence of course completion from their university, and an application for an MPN. It is

12 Student Speak Out | November 2021

recommended that students communicate with employers about this process and to update them on progress. While you are waiting for a MPN you must not use another speech pathologist’s MPN-this is illegal. For speech pathologists who already have an MPN and need to apply for an additional one, it’s quicker and easier to do this online. You can apply for an additional MPN through Health Professional Online Services (HPOS). You can also update your contact and bank account details using HPOS. To use HPOS, you’ll need a Provider Digital Access (PRODA) account.

More information

Applying for a Medicare provider number (Services Australia)

PRODA

Applying for SPA membership

Medicare and other Rebates and Funded Programs

13 Student Speak Out | November 2021

speechie news

HAPPY HOLIDAYS! SPA National Office will be closed from 24 December until the 3 January. Stay healthy and safe and we will catch up with you in the New Year!

SPA BOOK OF THE YEAR AWARDS In October the Association awarded the best books for children’s language and literacy development in the annual Book of the Year Awards. Congratulations to the winning authors, illustrators and publishers.

NEWAGED CARE GUIDE

The Association has developed the new Aged Care Guide to support speech pathologist to navigate the aged care system. The Guide is on the SPA website and includes a range of pages and resources to give you more information about navigating the aged care system.

You can check out the winning books and the shortlist on the website.

GO TO THE GUIDE

14 Student Speak Out | November 2021

This edition SPA Communications and Marketing intern Kate Woolley, chats within Dr Erin Conway, a researcher, senior lecturer and course coordinator in speech pathology at ACU, and early career speech pathologist, Anna Merchant, to discuss their experiences working in the aged care sector, with a specific focus on the student perspective . The interviews cover why they became speechies, why aged care and what their day-in-a-life looks like. Specifically for students, they also chatted about placements, first jobs, career progression and opportunities for further development. Meet a speechie/s Erin Conway & Anna Marchant

Follow the link below to watch the full interviews.

15 Student Speak Out | November 2021

Second year Master of Speech Pathology student Ashlesha Singde discovered a new area of interest by exploring professional development opportunities on the Association’s Learning Hub. “Professional development doesn’t always have to be completed after graduating and can be extremely helpful for students in finding their true ‘passion’ and standing out in the workforce. “As a student, the diverse range of areas speech pathologists can ‘specialise’ in was quite overwhelming. To help me find what I was passionate about, I began doing my own research online, but the credibility or accuracy of the courses varied between websites. I hence stumbled upon the P rofessional Education Learning Hub on the Speech Pathology Australia website. Here a large range of free and paid on-demand courses with varied topics were listed. The courses are credible and come in various formats. Being a student member of Speech Pathology Australia allowed me to have discount prices to various courses. I began doing the self-paced free courses during my university semester break and found that I had an interest in feeding and paediatric dysphagia. This began my journey to develop my skills in feeding. “In addition, these courses have been a great addition to my resume and my LinkedIn profile. Feedback from employers have said by doing the courses, I have shown “positive proactive behaviours towards continuous learning”. Although university, placement, life, and work balance may not always allow time Hone your skills and passions with professional development

16 Student Speak Out | November 2021

to do these courses, it’s something I would highly recommend. It helps you stand out in the workforce and if you have a true passion in a certain area such as feeding, voice, stuttering, etc., the courses can be fun. “The Learning Hub also has some great programs regarding COVID-19 and its impact on speech pathology. These programs are developed by leading academics, researchers, and clinicians and are helpful for students to reduce anxiety when beginning practice as a new graduate. Telepractice was another area that gave me anxiety as it can add another level of complexity into practice. The resources on the Learning Hub allowed me to find tips and tricks to conducting sessions and how teletherapy can be a good resource to use. “As I will be graduating at the end of the year, I have begun exploring other resources in the Learning Hub associated with ethics, NDIS and professional support. “No matter what stage of the speech pathology journey you are at, whether its first year or your last, the Learning Hub is a useful tool for everyone. I would highly recommend every student at least explore the Hub; you may never know what you might find.” All members can access Association’s Learning Hub via the SPA website. www.speechpathologyaustralia.org.au > Professional Education > Learning Hub . Remember to log in using your SPA membership details. For more information contact the Association’s Professional Education team: learninghub@speechpathologyaustralia.org. au

17 Student Speak Out | November 2021

SpeechieMemes

Send your favourite SLP memes to publications@ speechpathology australia.org.au

18 Student Speak Out | November 2021

SpeechieMemes

19 Student Speak Out | November 2021

News fromACU

Bachelor of Speech Pathology students Caroline Tiong and Ashleigh Elford worked hard in October to pull off two ‘events’ to coincide with the recent DLD Awareness and International Stuttering Awareness Days. DLD AWARENESS DAY (OCT 15) SPA Student Reps set up a stall on campus to promote DLD Awareness. Posters were printed from the www. radld.org website and put up around the stall. A short quiz (available from raldad.org) was also printed and laminated, and students could attempt the quiz with friends. The quiz was a successful resource for starting a discussion about DLD. SPA reps had pre-painted river rocks in a variety of colours, and these were available for students to decorate, and add the DLD Awareness hashtags to the back. Students were then encouraged to hide their painted rocks around campus. This was a successful and fun way to raise awareness. Students were excited by the rock painting, and many students got involved from a variety of faculties. The nature of the activity meant that students spent about 5-10 minutes at the stall, in order to decorate their rock(s) which was a great opportunity for a discussion about DLD, many

20 Student Speak Out | November 2021

News fromACU

learning about DLD for the first time. Many students from a variety of faculties got into the spirit of ‘finding’ and then ‘re-hiding’ rocks

over the following days, with painted rocks still showing up in high traffic areas such as the campus cafe and library even weeks later! Here is a link to viewmore photos INTERNATIONAL STUTTERING AWARENESS DAY (OCT 22) Due to a lack of stuttering awareness resources specific to Australia, we created a digital and print resource to help raise awareness for people who stutter in Australia. We included brief information about stuttering and people who stutter, links to videos from people who stutter and the websites for The Australian Speak Easy Association and SAY Australia.

Link to digital poster (with links) Link to printable tri fold pamphlet Link to Speak Easy facebook post

21 Student Speak Out | November 2021

Being a new graduate – a panel discussion – SO3 E33 In this episode, SPA’s Podcast Producer Anneke Flinn hosts a panel discussion with four of our newest speech pathologists – Mikayla Power, Elisha Bullen, Luke Oldmeadow and Bonnie Lang. Mikayla, Elisha, Luke and Bonnie explore their experiences with getting their first job, supervision, case allocation and burn out, and give their tips to next year’s new graduates. Early Career Conversations – SO1 Ep10 Student Kaitlin Davey speaks with Claire Zhang about Advocacy Portfolios, working in the field of Cleft Palate, and the popularity of Australian-trained Speech Pathologists working overseas. Did youmiss these podcast episodes? Listen here

Listen here

22 Student Speak Out | November 2021

Early Career Podcast The SPA Early Career Reference Group (ECRG) has developed the first of a number of Q&A podcasts to provide information to early career speech pathologists across a range of non-clinical areas. is a Q&A format asking common questions speechies new to the industry often ponder. The series covers themes such as: • employment arrangements • employment conditions, superannuation, contracts and conflict resolution within the workplace, • supervision and mentoring, • moving from Provisional to full Certified Practising Speech Pathologist (CPSP) status • supports available upon entering the workforce • complex clinical situations • ethical responsibilities when leaving a speech pathology role.

Find the podcast on the Learning HUB

23 Student Speak Out | November 2021

WA students celebrate!

by Maja Maric, 1st Year Masters Curtin University Student Representative for Speech Pathology Australia.

On the 2nd of October, the Curtin and Edith Cowan University student representatives of the Western Australian SPA branch teamed up together to host a student cocktail night to celebrate Speech PathologyWeek. The theme for Speech PathologyWeek this year was ‘Communication is everyone’s right. We sought to reflect that in the theme for the event itself, “Unsilenced”, as it is the duty of speech pathologists everywhere to help those without a voice feel unsilenced. Tying in with this theme, music for the evening took the form of a silent disco, and further entertainment was provided with a print photobooth and an array of canapes and drinks being provided as well. The event was attended by over 130 people, which was a substantial increase from the year before brought on by the tremendous efforts of the entire committee. Additionally, a raffle filled with numerous Speech Pathology

24 Student Speak Out | November 2021

resources as prizes was held and over $1200 was raised to go towards Telethon Speech and Hearing - the chosen charity organisation for the evening. Telethon Speech and Hearing has its origins in Western Australia, and from its founding in 1966 it has been dedicated to assisting the families of and children with hearing and speech and language difficulties. From supporting research in the area, as well as offering a myriad of services including early intervention programs and support groups for students all the way to year 12, the work undertaken by Telethon Speech and Hearing in the community is invaluable and greatly appreciated. Overall, the night was a success and filled with enjoyment and reprieve for students during one of the busiest parts of the semester. We look forward to hosting it again next year and helping pay it forward to another organisation doing good work for the people in the name of speech and language.

25 Student Speak Out | November 2021

student SpeakOut

Thanks for taking the time to read Student Speak Out . Do you have an idea for a story or news about a student you know? Send in your news, article ideas, information and inspiration to the Association’s Publications Manager, publications@ speechpathologyaustralia.org.au. Next edition deadline is 13 February 2022 www.speechpathologyaustralia.org.au

26 Student Speak Out | November 2021