Latest news

Speech Pathology Australia ...speaking out for those who can't

In response to the upcoming Federal election Speech Pathology Australia (SPA) has launched its 2010 Federal Election Platform. 

Speech Pathology Australia’s major platform is that 'Communication is a basic human right'. Advocating on behalf of the hundreds of thousands of Australians with communication impairment, we are reinforcing that access to appropriate services to support communication is essential for individuals to be able to fully participate in society.

The Association has developed an election lobby campaign document which is being distributed to a range of government and opposition ministers in the lead up to the election.  The campaign document comments on a range of health, education and disability reforms, but importantly urges the commitment to two new proposals which we believe to be significant measures in the short and long term.

These proposals are as follows:

• Proposal 1: National Inquiry into the social and economic impact of communication and swallowing disorders, to be conducted by the Productivity Commission.

• Proposal 2: Mandated universal access to speech pathology services for preschool and school aged children with speech and language disorders.

A range of related and secondary recommendations are also presented.

The 2010 Federal Election Platform document, along with a media release, are available here:

•  2010 Federal Election Platform
•  Media Release

Ministers, Shadow ministers and all candidates have been urged to commit to the Association’s key proposals.

In  May 2010, Speech Pathology Australia and the Dietitians Association of Australia
were successful in obtaining sponsorship to undertake a project to investigate the uptake and the implementation of the Australian Standardised Terminology and Definitions for Texture Modified Food and Fluids, otherwise known as the Standards. Two speech pathologists, Sarah Jukes and Michelle O’Rourke, Speech Pathologists from Southern Health in Victoria were appointed as the project officer and project manager respectively. They were assisted by a multidisciplinary reference group comprising representatives from speech pathology, dietetics,  nursing and food services management.

The aim of the project was to evaluate the uptake and implementation of the Standards in a variety of settings across Australia; to determine the barriers and enablers to successful implementation and to provide recommendations for extending the penetration of the Standards and to provide guidance on future resource development.

Three online surveys were distributed to stakeholders across Australia, targeting speech pathologists and dietitians, nurses, nutrition assistants, personal service assistants, food services managers and cooks. The results showed a high level of use of the Standards across all stakeholder groups, with 65% of all respondents indicating they use the standard in their workplace.

The results of this study formed recommendations to both Associations on how to extend the depth and breadth of the penetration of the  Standards. The recommendations included suggestions on how to disseminate the results of this study and suggestions on development of future resources to support further engagement with key stakeholders.

The full report can be accessed here:

Evaluation of the Standards - Final report