In this live episode from the 2025 SPA Conference in Tarntanya | Adelaide, we speak with Helen Smith, who the day before became Speech Pathology Australia’s newest Life member. Resources: If you would like to hear Helen speak more about ethics, she contributed to the Code of Ethics: Support for everyday practice https://learninghub.speechpathologyaustralia.org.au/topclass/topclass.do?expand-OfferingDetails-Offeringid=3090 Speech Pathology Australia acknowledge the Traditional Custodians of lands...
Jul 02, 2025•49 min
In this week’s episode, we recognise Pride month as SPA’s Jess Kaplonyi (she/her), speaks with Chris Hunt (she/her) and Dr Louisa Smith (she/her) from LGBTIQ+ Health Australia’s Silver Rainbow program. They discuss the experiences and support needs of LGBTIQ+ individuals living with dementia and who engage with palliative care and Aged Care. Resources: LGBTIQ+ Health Australia – Silver Rainbow resources: https://www.lgbtiqhealth.org.au/silver_rainbow LGBTIQ+ Health Australia – Workplace Training...
Jun 25, 2025•37 min
In this week’s episode, the Scientific Chair of the 2025 conference, Dr Jacqueline McKechnie offers her reflections on the episode ethical AI in speech pathology, a conversation with Professor Emma Power, from UTS. Emma speaks about the opportunities and considerations that using Generative AI can provide and the ethical considerations that we need to be thinking about. Resources: The Conversation article: theconversation.com/will-ai-tech-li…sability-196481 Speak Up: Ethical AI in Speech Patholo...
Jun 18, 2025•45 min
In this week’s episode, Dr Debbie Pu from the 2025 Conference Planning Advisory Committee offers her reflections on the episode UN Sustainable Development Goals. Professor Sharynne McLeod and Professor Julie Marshall about a special issue of the International Journal of Speech-Language Pathology focusing on the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals from 2023. They discuss insight from speech pathologists around the globe on how the profession can contribute to peace and prosperity for pe...
Jun 11, 2025•45 min
In this week's episode, we speak with Anna Pannuzzo, from WorkPlace PLUS, about creating policies to uphold everyone’s psychosocial safety at work. Anna speaks about how planning ahead can help to ensure that if something challenging and unexpected does happen, there is a prepared plan. Anna speaks about policies and processes for psychosocial hazards, raising concerns in your workplace and how to balance the wellbeing of staff and being empathic to service users who are facing their own challen...
Jun 04, 2025•27 min
In this week’s episode, we speak with Associate Professor Jade Cartwright. Jade is delivering the Elizabeth Usher Memorial Lecture at the 2025 SPA conference in Tarntanya | Adelaide on Sunday June 15th, 2025. Jade discusses the inspiration behind her plenary address, and reflects on the learnings we can achieve when we work to co-design with the people we support. Resources: Register for the SPA 2025 Conference in person in Tarntanya | Adelaide or online: https://www.speechpathologyaustralia.org...
May 28, 2025•21 min
In this week’s episode, Dr Tristan Nickless explores ethical challenges and considerations that speech pathologists face when working with funding models like the NDIS and Medicare. He discusses ways practitioners can be ethical stewards of public funds in supporting equitable access, managing time requirements, aligning funded supports with evidence, developing public trust, and a range of other actions. Speech Pathology Australia acknowledge the Traditional Custodians of lands, seas and waters...
May 21, 2025•40 min
In this week’s episode, Professor Betty Yu of San Francisco State University provides a brief overview of the workshop on conversational analysis that she will co-present with Dr Vishnu Nair at the SPA Conference 2025. In this unscripted conversation she reflects on the nature of neurodiversity-affirming practice, whose experiences and communication are centred in society, and the role that speech pathology plays in maintaining the status quo or contributing to disability justice. Resources: Koh...
May 14, 2025•52 min
In this week’s episode, Leigh Andrews from Change Communication in the UK and Lauren Gibbs from Launch Housing in Victoria, speak with Mary Woodward, SPA’s Senior Advisor, Justice. Leigh and Lauren tell Mary about the benefit speech pathologists can bring when supporting people who are experiencing homelessness, and some of the resources that support their work. Lauren and Leigh speak about different types of homelessness, and how to support someone who may be experiencing homelessness. Resource...
May 07, 2025•42 min
In this bonus episode, we are celebrating the Speak Up podcast having been listened to one million times! Thank you to everyone who listens, every guest who has so generously shared learnings with us, guest interviewers who approach their role with curiosity and everyone else who supports the podcast in visible and invisible ways. Nathan and Nadia, from the podcast team reflect on this milestone, and we hear reflections from Anneke, Speak Up Season 3 & 4 producer, Laura from the Early Career...
May 05, 2025•12 min
In this week’s episode Dr Vishnu Nair lays groundwork for his keynote address at the SPA Conference on a Critical and Decolonial Vision for Speech and Language Therapy. He discusses communication as an embodied experience for - and the knowledge of - people who live with disability, critically examining historical and current power dynamics in the profession, essentialism and its impact on practice, and the variety of ways of knowing needed to address these. Resources: Pillay, M., & Kathard,...
Apr 30, 2025•33 min
In this week’s episode, Dr Mindy Sotiri, who is the Executive Director of the Justice Reform Initiative speaks with Mary Woodward, SPA’s senior advisor for justice. Mindy and Mary discuss the work that the Justice Reform Initiative do, some of the changes they are advocating for, and what role speech pathologists play when working in this space. Resources: Justice Reform Initiative: https://www.justicereforminitiative.org.au/ SPA Resources: Speech Pathology Australia justice resources: https://s...
Apr 23, 2025•40 min
In this week’s episode, we speak with Dr Abby Foster and Suzanne Mungall, speech pathologists, about Earth Day, coming up on 22 April. Suzanne and Abby share their experiences about speech pathology and climate change, and why they feel the urgent need for health professionals to address the impacts of climate change on health and service delivery. Claire Esterman, from the Speak Up Podcast Reference Group, opens the episode with a brief reflection highlighting the opportunities, personally and ...
Apr 16, 2025•50 min
In this week’s episode, we speak with SPA’s CEO, Lyn Brodie, and General Manager for Policy, Advocacy and Government Relations, Dr Jennifer O’Connor, about the upcoming federal election and speech pathology. They discuss “wins” from the federal budget, critical “asks” during the election and how these are determined, and ways that stakeholders can advocate during the campaign period. Resources: How to write to your federal candidate: https://www.speechpathologyaustralia.org.au/Public/About-Us/Ad...
Apr 04, 2025•18 min
In this week’s episode, we recognise the inaugural International Primary Progressive Aphasia (PPA) Awareness Day 2025 coming up this Friday on 4 April 2025. Kym, Speech Pathology Australia’s Senior Advisor- Aged Care, speaks with Scott Cooper a dementia advocate living with PPA, and his speech pathologist Dr Penelope Monroe from FRONTIER's PPA Communication Project, at University of Sydney. Scott talks about his experiences, his work as a dementia advocate, and the impact speech pathology has ma...
Mar 24, 2025•44 min
In this week’s episode, Ishwari Samarakoon and Nisrine El-Choueifati speak about the role that professional support can play in managing challenging interactions and the stress that this can cause us to feel. Nisrine and Ish discuss wellbeing, values-based decision making, and the things they have learned when providing supervision following a breach of the Code of Ethics. Resources: Contact Ish: https://thespeechielife.com.au/ Contact Nisrine: https://nisrineelchoueifati.com/ IAHA Cultural Resp...
Mar 17, 2025•56 min
In this week’s episode to mark Neurodiversity Celebration Week, we speak with Catherine Lee from the Neurodiverse Safe Work Initiative, an organisation with a focus on creating an environment for neurodivergent workers to thrive. Catherine speaks about the role speech pathologists can play in supporting someone to advocate for their needs at school and work, how and when to disclose and how employers can create a workplace culture that is neurodiversity affirming. Resources: Neurodiversity celeb...
Mar 14, 2025•53 min
In this week’s episode SPA’s Jessica Kaplonyi speaks with Tracy Lazenby-Paterson from the National Health Service and Royal College of Speech & Language Therapists in the UK, and Dr Arlene McCurtin from the University of Limerick in Ireland, about research into thickened fluids and people living with dysphagia. They discuss misconceptions about thickened liquids as an intervention, unintended consequences, re-examining client outcomes, and alternative approaches to achieve them. Resources: M...
Mar 04, 2025•53 min
In this week’s episode we hear from Mary and Fiona from the Professional Recognition Team about the new program to enable speech pathologists to return to practice. Mary and Fiona speak about the new program having self-directed learning goals, and condensing the program to be completed in less time, so speech pathologists can safely and effectively return to practice. Resources: Re-entry membership: https://www.speechpathologyaustralia.org.au/Public/Public/join/Re-entrying-the-Profession/Re-ent...
Feb 28, 2025•28 min
In this week’s episode Dr Darin Woolpert and Dr Michael Cannizzaro discuss what Generative AI is (and is not) effective at when analysing language samples, and the importance of practitioner knowledge and critical thinking when using AI. Resources: A full list of resources / references for this podcast is available via the SPA Learning Hub. ChatGPT LSA Spanish poster: https://asha2024-asha.ipostersessions.com/default.aspx?s=06-F3-6C-72-52-5C-36-DD-7D-FB-F9-F3-3E-8F-4B-31 University of Vermont CS...
Feb 18, 2025•58 min
In this week’s episode, SPA’s Policy, Advocacy and Government Relations Team speak about the work they have been doing. Then we receive an update about changes in the NDIS that have occurred since 3 October 2024, including things to keep in mind when using the new AT pathway for replacement supports. Resources: Contact the Policy, Advocacy, and Government Relations team: policy@speechpathologyaustralia.org.au NDIS webinars / events: https://www.ndis.gov.au/news/events ARATA: https://www.arata.or...
Feb 17, 2025•48 min
In this week’s episode the podcast production team, Nathan Cornish-Raley, Renae Hobson and Nadia Marussinszky, give a peek behind the curtain on the Speak Up podcast and what listeners can expect for Season 7. Nadia also chats to SPA’s new CEO, Lyn Brodie, about her vision for the Association and the profession. Resources: SPA Strategic Plan 2023-2025: https://www.speechpathologyaustralia.org.au/Public/Public/About-Us/Our-organisation/Strategic-plan/Strategic_Plan_2023.aspx?hkey=c4810902-bd5a-4b...
Feb 03, 2025•39 min
In this week’s episode, Jane Villari, Assistant Director in the Food, Nutrition and Dining Advisory Support Unit at the Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission, speaks with Kym Torresi, SPA Senior Advisor Aged Care. Jane and Kym discuss the Food, Nutrition, and Dining Unit, and the supports that speech pathologists can access from the FNDU to support person centred care and co-design with individuals in aged care. Resources: Food, nutrition & dining information for providers: https://www.age...
Jan 10, 2025•34 min
In our third instalment of the Summer Listening Series Connie Huang from the Early Career Reference Group offers her reflections on episode 31 from season 4 The Speech Pathology Role in Palliative Care. Lisa Terry and Samantha Bradley, Senior Speech Pathologists from Monash Health, speak with Dr Laura Chahda, from the University of Melbourne, and Dr Lindsay Carey, from La Trobe University. Laura and Lindsay explore the role of speech pathology in palliative care through the lens of their award w...
Dec 24, 2024•1 hr 3 min
In this week’s episode, speech pathologist Ashleigh Glover offers her reflections on AAC across the lifespan, a conversation between Kristen Potts and Amanda Hartmann. Kristen, a private speech pathologist, explores four AAC case studies across the lifespan with Amanda, an experienced speech pathologist and AAC enthusiast. Amanda is a lecturer at the University of Queensland, a consultant with AssistiveWare and runs her own private practice, 4 Little Monkeys, in Brisbane. Resources: Are you inte...
Dec 20, 2024•44 min
In this first episode of the Summer Listening Series, Dr Rebecca Packer, Senior Lecturer at the University of Queensland, reflects on her recommended listening from Season 6. She introduces this episode in which Associate Professor Jade Cartwright and Natalie O’Brien discuss their involvement in the ABC documentary Maggie Beer’s Big Mission. They discuss the role that speech pathology can play in enriching the eating experiences of individuals living with dysphagia. Resources: Are you interested...
Dec 20, 2024•39 min
In this final episode of the Summer Listening Series, speech pathologist Brittany Fong recommends a conversation from Season 5 with Nicola Dann about principles of adult learning and supervision. She discusses learning stages and styles, how supervisors can adapt their support, supervision at different career stages, and guidance for a supervisor’s own learning. Are you interested in joining the Speak Up podcast reference group? You can read more on our website: https://speechpathologyaustralia....
Dec 20, 2024•39 min
In this week’s episode Professor Bronwyn Hemsley and Dr Lucy Bryant from UTS speak about their soon to be published systematic review into GLP. Bronwyn and Lucy speak about how and why they started this research and some considerations they would like stakeholders to reflect upon. The systematic review is linked below. Speech Pathology Australia supports individualised, person-centred care as best practice. SPA understands that there are differing perspectives about GLP, and understands the hesi...
Nov 28, 2024•43 min
In this week’s episode, members of SPA’s early career and podcast reference groups, Brittany Fong and Lauren Osborne, speak with Mental Health Occupational Therapist and Psychotherapist, Michelle Bihary, about the mental and emotional “wear and tear” that can occur in healthcare and how speech pathologists can manage this. They discuss the “4 Ps” of self-care, supports and supervision, managing our energy, and navigating circles of control, influence, and concern. Resources: Connect with Michell...
Nov 27, 2024•55 min
In this week’s episode, Dr Jeanne Marshall and Dr Nicola Clayton both on the working party to update the SPA dysphagia guideline. Jeanne and Nicola speak about the changes to the field and how this has been reflected in the guideline. Resources: Paediatric feeding learning framework | Children's Health Queensland: https://www.childrens.health.qld.gov.au/for-health-professionals/clinical-education-and-training/paediatric-feeding-learning-framework SPA resources: Videofluoroscopic Swallow Study (V...
Nov 26, 2024•34 min
