Reconciliation

Speech Pathology Australia (the Association) has a vision for the future, articulated in its landmark Speech Pathology 2030 project. This vision is outlined in eight aspirations, which include clients and communities driving service delivery, timely services across the lifespan, collaborative professional partnerships, quality services, innovation and continual pursuit of knowledge and a diverse and dynamic workforce.

These aspirations cannot be achieved without strong collaboration between the profession and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and communities.

Read the Speech Pathology Australia Reconciliation Action Plan.

Uluru Statement

Speech Pathology Australia supports the Uluru Statement from the Heart.

The Association's Chief Executive Officer, Gail Mulcair, has signed up on behalf of the Association. The Association encourages members to view the resources available on the Uluru Statement website, and to indicate their personal support. To learn more about the statement, and the proposed Indigenous Voice to parliament, members may like to explore a range of these resources.

Formal apology

On 3 June 2019, Speech Pathology Australia delivered a formal apology to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples.

Read the formal apology from Speech Pathology Australia.

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Advisory Committee

In October 2017, the Association established an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Advisory Committee.

The role of the advisory committee is to lead the Association in ensuring that the voice and values of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples in relation to culture, language, land, sea, water and history are embedded in the values and business of Speech Pathology Australia now and into the future.

The Advisory Committee meets four times each year to provide strategic advice to the Association. The inaugural members of the Advisory Committee are:

Beth Armstrong, Chair, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Curriculum Committee
Shari Fuller, Aboriginal representative, Speech Pathology Australia member
Rhana Gelens, Torres Strait Islander representative, Speech Pathology Australia early career member
Tania Harris, Community Representative, Western Australia
Tallisha Harden, Torres Strait Islander representative
Kirrilaa Johnstone, NAATSIHWP representative
Tara Lewis: Senior Advisor Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Strategy and Practice, Speech Pathology Australia
Gail Mulcair, Chief Executive Officer, Speech Pathology Australia
Donna Murray, Chief Executive Officer, Indigenous Allied Health Australia
Eddie Ong, Torres Strait Islander, Board Director, Speech Pathology Australia
Lara Pullin, Community Representative, NSW
Louise Taylor, Aboriginal representative, Speech Pathology Australia member
Alice Robins, Aboriginal representative, Speech Pathology Australia member
Hannah Thompson, Aboriginal representative, Speech Pathology Australia early career member.

Reconciliation Action Plan

The Speech Pathology 2030 project identified the need for the Association to to develop a Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP).

Reconciliation Australia provides the following definition of the purpose of the RAP.

A RAP is a strategic document that supports an organisation’s business plan. It includes practical actions that will drive an organisation’s contribution to reconciliation both internally and in the communities in which it operates.

Reconciliation Australia supports four levels of Reconciliation Action Plan – Reflect, Innovate, Stretch, Elevate.

RAP Working Group

The Association formed a RAP Working Group in late 2017 to develop the first (Reflect) Reconciliation Action Plan. As recommended by Reconciliation Australia the Working Group includes Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander representatives and decision making staff members of the Association.

Members of the Association's Reconciliation Working Group:

Eddie Ong, Torres Strait Islander representative, Speech Pathology Australia Board Director and member
Louise Taylor, Aboriginal representative, Speech Pathology Australia member
Hannah Thompson, Aboriginal representative, Speech Pathology Australia early career member
Tim Kittel, National President, Speech Pathology Australia
Gail Mulcair, Chief Executive Officer, Speech Pathology Australia
Robert Di Leva, General Manager / Deputy Chief Executive Officer
Yolande Burdekin, Speech Pathology Australia Branch Chair, Northern Territory
Lydia Timms, Speech Pathology Australia Branch Chair, Western Australia
Stacey Baldac, Manager Professional Standards, Speech Pathology Australia
Michael Kerrisk, Manager Communications and Marketing, Speech Pathology Australia
Tara Lewis, Senior Advisor, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Strategy and Practice
Mark Smith, Manager Policy and Advocacy, Speech Pathology Australia
Cori Williams, Senior Advisor, Evidence Based Practice and Research, Speech Pathology Australia.