Speech Pathology Week 2021
Speech Pathology Week seeks to promote the speech pathology profession and the work done by speech pathologists with the 1.2 million Australians who have a communication disability.
In 2021, Speech Pathology Week is from 22-28 August.
The coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic has highlighted the challenges faced by Australians with communication disability. Communication is a basic human right and Speech Pathology Week seeks to make Australians aware of this.
The theme for Speech Pathology Week in 2021 is: Communication is everyone's right.
Speech pathologists work to ensure everyone can communicate with confidence. It is important that the broader community understands that:
- communication is a basic human right;
- 1.2 million Australians live with communication disability;
- communication disability is largely invisible. Unseen and out-of-sight;
- confident communication helps maximise educational, health and social outcomes; and
- communication is more than just speech.
View Speech Pathology Australia at the United Nations and communication disability rights.
Speech Pathology Week forum - POSTPONED
The Speech Pathology Week forum planned for the evening of Monday 23 August has been postponed.
The Association has taken this decision because of the uncertainty created by the extension of the current COVID lockdown in Melbourne, and for the safety of the guest panellists and our Association staff. This is a disappointing outcome given that this event was a key component of the campaign for Speech Pathology Week in 2021. While the event has been postponed, the Association is liaising with the venue to find a new and appropriate date for this important event.
Digital campaign kits 
The Speech Pathology Week Digital Kit includes a range of graphics to use on social media platforms (viz. Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn), email signature, the Speech Pathology Week logo (high and low resolution), and a Zoom background.
Pay It Forward*
During Speech Pathology Week help us to spread the word as widely as possible. If everyone engaged their social media networks, the theme for Speech Pathology Week can be spread far and wide.
That’s why the Association is asking everyone to ‘Pay It Forward’ for Speech Pathology Week. How can you do this?
- Use one of the graphics from the Speech Pathology Week digital kit (or create your own);
- Post it on either Instagram and/or Twitter; and
- Add the handles of three colleagues and the hashtag #SPweek or #SpeechPathologyWeek and ask them to Play It Forward. The following is an example only of what a post on Twitter might look like. On Instagram the post can obviously be longer.
“Together with my speech pathology colleagues, @Friend01 @Friend02 @Friend03 we are working to ensure that Communication is everyone's right #SPweek”. www.speechpathologyaustralia.org.au/weeks”
*NB. Do not post a photograph of anyone without their written permission, and be aware of copyright, privacy and related considerations.
Communication disability and communication access
The Australian Bureau of Statistics has established that 1.2 million Australians have communication disability. Learn more about communication disability and communication access.
Speech Pathology Week 2021 logo
The Speech Pathology Week 2021 logo may be download in high- and/or low-resolution formats.
The high-resolution version is best for printing purposes, while the low-resolution is best for online, digital (including PowerPoint) or social media purposes. Email Speech Pathology Australia if the logo is required in another format or resolution. The logo is also available in the Speech Pathology Week Digital Kit.
Download high resolution version (jpg format)
Download low resolution version (png format).
Email signatures
The Association had made an email signature available to help promote Speech Pathology Week 2021. The signature is available in high and low resolution and will need to be scale for individual usage. Once in place the signature should be linked to this page or this website’s home page.
Social media competition*
Following the success of last year’s Speech Pathology Week social media competition, it is on again in 2020.
This year, the prize is a $250 eftpos voucher.
Entering the Speech Pathology Week social media competition is as easy as ABC.
- Take a photograph* of yourself with someone you believe is doing the most to advocate to ensure that communication is everyone’s right – they might be a friend or family, or a professional colleague. And tell us how they are making a difference. (Make sure you have the person(s) approval to be used in the post!);
- Post it on Instagram and/or Twitter; and
- Include the Association’s handle @SpeechPathAus and the hashtag #SPweek or #speechpathologyweek. This is important! Otherwise the judges won’t see it!
*NB. Do not post a photograph of anyone without their written permission, and be aware of copyright, privacy and related considerations.
Download other materials
The Association had made a range of Speech Pathology Week campaign materials available for downloading. These include:
- a series of A4-sized (double-sided) fliers in an office-ready printing format. (If artwork is required for a commercial printer, email Speech Pathology Australia).
- two A2-size campaign posters and one A3-sized campaign poster. Alls posters are provided in two formats: one for printing on an office printer, the other with crop marks for use by a commerical printer.
- a line drawing
- great for a children's colouring-in competition.
Media Release template (Member-only)
A media release template is available for members to use to promote Speech Pathology Week and the theme: Communication is everyone's right.
Download the Media Release Template. (NB. A reminder to members that they must be logged-in to access this file.) 
Speech Pathology Week in past years
For information about Speech Pathology Week in past years contact the Association.