Speak Up

In this week’s episode we are celebrating speech pathology week. Podcast producers, Jess, Nathan and Nadia reflect on the 2026 SPA week theme “communication creates possibility” and how this was reflected in the 2024 SPA week conversation “Communicate your way.” Where spoke with speech pathologists Janelle Sampson (she/her), Cicely Binford (she/her), Niall Taylor (he/she) and Subha Mohan (she/her). They discussed and celebrate Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC), neurodivergent and gender affirming communication, and speaking different Englishes and languages. Resources: Two Way Street – Videos of young AAC communicators: https://twowaystreet.com.au/2022/03/09/videos-of-young-aac-communicators/ ROCC assessment: https://www.roccassessment.com.au/ Speak Up Podcast – Creating a neurodiversity-enabling workplace and service S6E5: https://soundcloud.com/speechpathologyaustralia/creating-a-neurodiversity-enabling-workplace-and-service-s06-e05 Australian Professional Association for Trans Health: https://auspath.org.au/ Speak Up Podcast – Translanguaging and linguistic justice S5E9: https://soundcloud.com/speechpathologyaustralia/s05e09-final Speech Pathology Australia acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of lands, seas and waters throughout Australia, and offers our respect to Elders, across all times and places. The Speak Up podcast recognises the central role of yarning and oral storytelling in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander culture, how this translates to knowledge translation, and that colonisation has interrupted these practices of Language and knowledge sharing. The Speak Up podcast acknowledges the need for truth-telling and deep listening, the central role that Language plays in connecting Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander People with Culture, Country, and Community, and the interwoven nature of health, and social and emotional wellbeing. We recognise that the Traditional Owners of the Lands across Australia have been here since time immemorial, and that their sovereignty over this land, was never ceded. Free access to transcripts for podcast episodes are available via the SPA Learning Hub (https://learninghub.speechpathologyaustralia.org.au/), you will need to sign in or create an account. For more information, please see our Bio or for further enquiries, email [email protected] Disclaimer: © (2026) The Speech Pathology Association of Australia Limited. All rights reserved. Important Notice, Please read: The views expressed in this presentation and reproduced in these materials are not necessarily the views of, or endorsed by, The Speech Pathology Association of Australia Limited (“the Association”). The Association makes no warranty or representation in relation to the content, currency or accuracy of any of the materials comprised in this recording. The Association expressly disclaims any and all liability (including liability for negligence) in respect of use of these materials and the information contained within them. The Association recommends you seek independent professional advice prior to making any decision involving matters outlined in this recording including in any of the materials referred to or otherwise incorporated into this recording. Except as otherwise stated, copyright and all other intellectual property rights comprised in the presentation and these materials, remain the exclusive property of the Association. Except with the Association’s prior written approval you must not, in whole or part, reproduce, modify, adapt, distribute, publish or electronically communicate (including by online means) this recording or any of these materials.

In this week’s episode, Jess speaks with Morgan Carter, Troy Walker, and Alison Spence about a novel means of embedding Indigenous ways into a dietetics curriculum. They discuss what their curriculum entailed, and the many ways that it could be generalised into other allied health education curricula. SPA Resources: Lowitja Institute research guides and reading lists - https://learninghub.speechpathologyaustralia.org.au/topclass/topclass.do?expand-OfferingDetails-Offeringid=3139 Demonstrating inclusive and respectful language - https://learninghub.speechpathologyaustralia.org.au/topclass/topclass.do?expand-OfferingDetails-Offeringid=3307 Australian Indigenous HealthInfoNet - https://learninghub.speechpathologyaustralia.org.au/topclass/topclass.do?expand-OfferingDetails-Offeringid=3307 Speech Pathology practice in Aboriginal spaces - https://learninghub.speechpathologyaustralia.org.au/topclass/topclass.do?expand-OfferingDetails-Offeringid=279095 Position Statement: Culturally responsive speech pathology practice - https://speechpathologyaustralia.org.au/resource?resource=1097 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Culturally Responsive Capability Framework - https://speechpathologyaustralia.org.au/resource?resource=1097 Speech Pathology Australia acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of lands, seas and waters throughout Australia, and offers our respect to Elders, across all times and places. The Speak Up podcast recognises the central role of yarning and oral storytelling in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander culture, how this translates to knowledge translation, and that colonisation has interrupted these practices of Language and knowledge sharing. The Speak Up podcast acknowledges the need for truth-telling and deep listening, the central role that Language plays in connecting Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander People with Culture, Country, and Community, and the interwoven nature of health, and social and emotional wellbeing. We recognise that the Traditional Owners of the Lands across Australia have been here since time immemorial, and that their sovereignty over this land, was never ceded. Free access to transcripts, as well as a full list of resources and references for this podcast, is available via the SPA Learning Hub (https://learninghub.speechpathologyaustralia.org.au/). You will need to sign in or create an account. For more information, please see our Bio, or for further enquiries, email [email protected] Disclaimer: © (2026) The Speech Pathology Association of Australia Limited. All rights reserved. Important Notice, Please read: The views expressed in this presentation and reproduced in these materials are not necessarily the views of, or endorsed by, The Speech Pathology Association of Australia Limited (“the Association”). The Association makes no warranty or representation in relation to the content, currency or accuracy of any of the materials comprised in this recording. The Association expressly disclaims any and all liability (including liability for negligence) in respect of use of these materials and the information contained within them. The Association recommends you seek independent professional advice prior to making any decision involving matters outlined in this recording including in any of the materials referred to or otherwise incorporated into this recording. Except as otherwise stated, copyright and all other intellectual property rights comprised in the presentation and these materials, remain the exclusive property of the Association. Except with the Association’s prior written approval you must not, in whole or part, reproduce, modify, adapt, distribute, publish or electronically communicate (including by online means) this recording or any of these materials.

In this week’s episode, we speak with Professor Kirrie Ballad and Associate Professor Beena Ahmed about the opportunities that exist for speech pathologists to collaborate with engineers and how technology, and especially AI can support us to support others. Speech Pathology Australia acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of lands, seas and waters throughout Australia, and offers our respect to Elders, across all times and places. The Speak Up podcast recognises the central role of yarning and oral storytelling in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander culture, how this translates to knowledge translation, and that colonisation has interrupted these practices of Language and knowledge sharing. The Speak Up podcast acknowledges the need for truth-telling and deep listening, the central role that Language plays in connecting Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander People with Culture, Country, and Community, and the interwoven nature of health, and social and emotional wellbeing. We recognise that the Traditional Owners of the Lands across Australia have been here since time immemorial, and that their sovereignty over this land, was never ceded. Free access to transcripts, as well as a full list of resources and references for this podcast, is available via the SPA Learning Hub (https://learninghub.speechpathologyaustralia.org.au/). You will need to sign in or create an account. For more information, please see our Bio, or for further enquiries, email [email protected] Disclaimer: © (2026) The Speech Pathology Association of Australia Limited. All rights reserved. Important Notice, Please read: The views expressed in this presentation and reproduced in these materials are not necessarily the views of, or endorsed by, The Speech Pathology Association of Australia Limited (“the Association”). The Association makes no warranty or representation in relation to the content, currency or accuracy of any of the materials comprised in this recording. The Association expressly disclaims any and all liability (including liability for negligence) in respect of use of these materials and the information contained within them. The Association recommends you seek independent professional advice prior to making any decision involving matters outlined in this recording including in any of the materials referred to or otherwise incorporated into this recording. Except as otherwise stated, copyright and all other intellectual property rights comprised in the presentation and these materials, remain the exclusive property of the Association. Except with the Association’s prior written approval you must not, in whole or part, reproduce, modify, adapt, distribute, publish or electronically communicate (including by online means) this recording or any of these materials.

In this week’s episode, Dr Elizabeth Murray (SPA Thriving Kids Reference Group) speaks with Denise Imms (Thriving Kids Advisory Group) and Dr Erin West (SPA Manager Policy and Advocacy) about the forthcoming Thriving Kids program. They discuss what is known and what has not yet been announced about universal and targeted supports, misconceptions, and steps practitioners can take now to prepare for this program. Resources: PRECI National Best Practice Framework for ECI: https://www.health.gov.au/our-work/national-best-practice-framework-for-early-childhood-intervention?language=en PRECI learning activities: https://events.humanitix.com/host/preci-australia?mc_cid=cbcb042b95&mc_eid=UNIQID The Front Project webinar: https://www.thefrontproject.org.au/news-hub/417-webinar-recording-thriving-kids-what-it-is-how-it-might-work SPA resources: Foundational Supports and Thriving Kids: https://www.speechpathologyaustralia.org.au/Public/Public/About-Us/Advocacy/Foundational-Supports-and-Thriving-Kids.aspx?hkey=9563b44c-bca3-47c8-b996-d905b570e00f Speech pathology in education learning program: https://www.speechpathologyaustralia.org.au/Public/Public/services/About-speech-pathologists/Speech-pathology-in-Education.aspx SPA Policy and Advocacy feedback form: https://speechpathologyaustralia.org.au/Public/About-Us/Advocacy/Share-your-feedback.aspx?WebsiteKey=bf2f5d12-81e9-45de-b848-da380f72ca15 Speech Pathology Australia acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of lands, seas and waters throughout Australia, and offers our respect to Elders, across all times and places. The Speak Up podcast recognises the central role of yarning and oral storytelling in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander culture, how this translates to knowledge translation, and that colonisation has interrupted these practices of Language and knowledge sharing. The Speak Up podcast acknowledges the need for truth-telling and deep listening, the central role that Language plays in connecting Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander People with Culture, Country, and Community, and the interwoven nature of health, and social and emotional wellbeing. We recognise that the Traditional Owners of the Lands across Australia have been here since time immemorial, and that their sovereignty over this land, was never ceded. Free access to transcripts for podcast episodes are available via the SPA Learning Hub (https://learninghub.speechpathologyaustralia.org.au/), you will need to sign in or create an account. For more information, please see our Bio or for further enquiries, email [email protected] Disclaimer: © (2026) The Speech Pathology Association of Australia Limited. All rights reserved. Important Notice, Please read: The views expressed in this presentation and reproduced in these materials are not necessarily the views of, or endorsed by, The Speech Pathology Association of Australia Limited (“the Association”). The Association makes no warranty or representation in relation to the content, currency or accuracy of any of the materials comprised in this recording. The Association expressly disclaims any and all liability (including liability for negligence) in respect of use of these materials and the information contained within them. The Association recommends you seek independent professional advice prior to making any decision involving matters outlined in this recording including in any of the materials referred to or otherwise incorporated into this recording. Except as otherwise stated, copyright and all other intellectual property rights comprised in the presentation and these materials, remain the exclusive property of the Association. Except with the Association’s prior written approval you must not, in whole or part, reproduce, modify, adapt, distribute, publish or electronically communicate (including by online means) this recording or any of these materials.