Position Statements

Speech Pathology Australia (the Association) produces a suite of practice documents to support professional practice and provide current best evidence and best practice recommendations. Practice documents include Core Association documents, Position Statements and Practice Guidelines.

A Position Statement:

• provides a short summary of workplace areas of focus in a specific area of practice;
• may be complemented by a Practice Guideline
• reflects available evidence at a point in time
• outlines the position of Speech Pathology Australia on a particular topic
• has an intended audience of external stakeholders, consumers, employers, other professional associations, funding bodies and policy makers and speech pathologists.

A Position Statement may be complemented by a Practice Guideline. A Practice Guideline provides a comprehensive outline on professional practice and workplace issues in a specific area of practice and is written for speech pathologists, however may also be referenced by stakeholders that include management and consumers.

Position Statements may reference other Association core documents such as:

• Code of Ethics
• Evidence-Based Practice for Speech Pathology in Australia
• Scope of Practice
• Parameters of Practice;
• Professional Standards; and
• Competency Based Occupational Standards Entry Level.

Accessing Documents

Electronic versions are available to members free of charge. Due to current COVID-19 restrictions hard copies are not available at this time.

Position Statements

Autism Position Statement   
This Position Statement has been developed to guide and assist speech pathologists in their provision of evidence-based services to autistic people. This statement affirms the essential role speech pathologists play in supporting autistic people to achieve meaningful goals across the lifespan and in relation to all life activities. In doing so, this Position Statement affirms the right of all autistic people and their families to have access to timely, individualised, evidence-based assessment and support services. See also: Autism Practice Guideline.

Credentialing 

Dual Servicing in Speech Pathology 

Entry to the Speech Pathology Profession in Australia  

Literacy

Neuromuscular Electrical Stimulation  

Practice (clinical) education: The importance and value of practice education for the speech pathology profession  

Professional support, supervision and mentoring  

Speech Pathology in Education  
See also: Practice Guideline

Speech Pathologists working with older people 

Speech Pathology in Justice
See also: Clinical Guidelines

Speech Pathology in Mental Health
See also: Clinical Guideline

Stuttering Management
See also: Clinical Guideline

Telepractice in Speech Pathology  

The Role of the Speech Pathologist in Supporting Informed Choice and Shared Decision Making in Dysphagia

Transdisciplinary Practice

Volunteering in Speech Pathology

Working in a Culturally and Linguistically Diverse Society  (under review)
See also: Clinical Guideline

Working with Support Workers