Speak Up

In this week’s episode we speak with the authors of “Navigating choice: eating, drinking, and decision-making at end of life for individuals with cognitive impairment” about the vital role speech pathologist play in end-of-life and palliative care. Dr Laura Chahda, Laura Knauer, Darcy Long, Druvni Perera, and Sanora Yonan discuss their recent publication, and how we as speech pathologists can feel...

In this week’s episode, Nikita Austin (Wanaruah Nation), SPA's First Nations Lead, speaks with Dr Grant Bruno (Samson Cree Nation) from the University of Alberta in Canada, and Dr Samarra Toby (Gangulu, Northern Cheyenne, Australian South Sea Islander, Darumbal, Iman Nations) a GP and founder of the Native Academy of Space, Science and Innovation. They discuss Indigenous ways of understanding and...

This week’s episode was recorded at the 2025 SPA conference in Adelaide or Tarntanya. This episode we speak with Professor Kirrie Ballard, and Dr Jacqui McKechnie about thinking flexibly when planning adaptable supports. Although this was recorded some time ago the conversation holds value for those who are considering how to adapt their services to a changing environment, like the introduction of...

To celebrate Earth Day on April 22nd 2026, we are rebroadcasting our earth day episode from last year, where we speak with Dr. Abby Foster, and Suzanne Mungall, speech pathologists, about Earth Day, coming up on April 22nd. 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...

In this week’s episode we speak with Dr Josephine Bampoe about the Ghanaian English assessment tool she created, and learnings that speech pathologists can apply to practice and research. She discusses multilingual assessment, converging evidence, principles of co-design, and global engagement that is ethical, multi-directional, and sustainable. Resources: Application of a framework for culturally...

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...

In this week’s episode, Professor Tanya Serry from La Trobe university and co-founder of the SOLAR lab, speaks about the systematic synthetic phonics approach to reading. Tanya speaks about the role speech pathologists can play in research, and trends or changes in reading instruction over the years. Tanya also worked on the upcoming revised guidance about literacy for members. SPA resources: Chil...

In this week’s episode, we recognise Swallowing Awareness Day by speaking with Stacey Baldac, SPA's Chief Speech Pathology Advancement, about a research project co-designed with people living with dysphagia. Stacey shares the importance of person-centred meals, communication, and collaboration in making mealtimes safe and enjoyable. Resources: UTS What's got us talking podcast: https://open.spotif...

In this episode we are rebroadcasting an episode from 2024 and reflect on the how a flexible approach to service delivery can improve the accessibility, adaptability, and efficacy of our supports There are many unknowns in the lead up to changes such as the introduction of Thriving Kids, and flexibility may help us weather these changes. We speak with Tania Kelly, Yadanar Tut, and Gaenor Dixon fro...

In this week’s episode, we speak with Amanda Hartmann about her experience with developing skills and confidence when working with AAC users. Amanda reflects on the changes over the time she has been a speech pathologist and shares some of her learnings. Speech Pathology Australia acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of lands, seas and waters throughout Australia, and offers our respect to Elde...

In this week’s episode, we speak with Philippa Edwards, head of special education, and Haley Moran-Green, speech pathologist, who have been collaborating on how to improve classroom engagement for students with complex communication needs (CCN), in a central Queensland school. Haley and Philippa discuss how they supported teachers to understand how to create an aided language display (ADL) specifi...

In this week’s episode we are joined by Mary and Nicole from SPAs Regulation team to discuss the updated processes for overseas qualified speech pathologists to work in Australia. Nicole and Mary discuss the updates to the process for a speech pathologist who has trained in a country other than Australia, and how they can apply to have their qualifications recognised to work in Australia. Resource...

In this week's episode, we explore how speech pathology reports can better support students when they’re written through a collaborative lens. SPA's Nathan Cornish-Raley is joined by Dr Sharon Klieve and Dr Hannah Stark from the University of Melbourne to unpack insights into teacher perspectives, accessible report writing, and practical recommendations that make a difference in classrooms. They h...

In this week’s episode, we explore an innovative practice education model where students receive interprofessional supervision to provide supports to First Nations communities in a rural area. In the first half of the episode, we speak with Ngarrindjeri woman and Aboriginal health worker, Bethany Kropinyeri, and physiotherapist, Meekah Zangari, who support students at the Riverland Mallee Coorong...

In this final episode of the summer listening series Nicole Hatch, Speak Up podcast reference group member reflects on the conversation about supporting new graduates in transitioning into the workforce originally from 2023. Practice owners Ishwari Samarakoon and Nicola Dann discuss the supports supervisors can offer, and then early career professional Steven Pitt and then new graduate speech path...

In this week on the summer listening series, Speech Pathology Australia’s First Nations Lead, Nikita Austin, a proud Wanaruah woman, reflects on the necessity of culturally safe practices as discussed in an episode from season five. Speech Pathology Australia’s Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Advisory Committee members from 2023, discuss cultural safety in speech pathology practice. The pane...

In this week’s summer listening series, SPA Early Career Reference Group member, Brit Fong, reflects on vocal health and how speech pathologists can support those who use their voice professionally. In the episode Anneke Flinn chats to Eliza Galvin and Louise Philpott, Senior Speech Pathologists, about their role supporting auctioneers attending the Australian Livestock and Property Agents Associa...

In this week’s episode, we rebroadcast a conversation between SPA Early Career Reference Group member, Holly McAlister, and mental health occupational therapist, Michelle Bihary, about developing skills and capabilities that support us to have courageous conversations. They discuss what early career and experienced professionals bring to the table, self-care, reasonable expectations, principles of...

In this week’s summer listening series we are rebroadcasting an episode from 2023 about twice-exceptional learners. Rebecca McKeon speaks with Anneke Flinn about Twice-exceptional, or 2e children, and shares ideas and resources for identifying strengths and needs, and supporting children who experience both giftedness and a learning difference. Resources: Gagnés Model of Differentiating Giftedness...

This week on the Summer Listening Series Bea Staley from the Speak Up podcast reference group reflects on a 2023 episode about making professional new years resolutions. We hear from two speech pathologists who have had major changes in 2023. Kim took the leap and started her own business, and Jen is just finishing her first year as a graduate speech pathologist. Some of the themes that came up in...

In this second episode of the 2025-2026 Summer Listening Series, Alice Pumfrey from the SPA 2025 conference support fund has selected rethinking functional neurological disorders. We start the episode with a reflection from Alice and go on to hear Matthew Ernst, Speech Pathologist and Regional Manager at Better Rehab in Queensland, speak with Dr. Cath Gregory, Speech Pathologist and lecturer, from...

Welcome back to the second season of the Summer Listening Series for 2025-2026! In this first episode Caitlyn Weber from the mental health and trauma working group reflects on a 2022 episode about adverse childhood experiences or ACEs. In this episode, SPA’s Senior Advisor – Mental Health and Trauma, Laura Caire, speaks with Sarah Verdon, Associate Professor in Speech and Language at Charles Sturt...

In this week’s episode, we talk about communication access when someone is critically unwell. We are joined by speech pathologist Associate Professor Amy Freeman-Sanderson who is a project lead on priority setting for communication and swallowing difficulty in critical illness, and Adam Smith who is a patient and carer representative on this steering group. Adam speaks about his lived experience a...

In this week’s episode, we discuss paediatric feeding and Avoidant / Restrictive Food Intake Disorder, or ARFID. We are joined by a multi-disciplinary panel to discuss collaborative supports. Psychologist Dr Katherine Bartlett, dietitian Rachel Tutill, and speech pathologist Val Gent discuss recent research about paediatric feeding needs including ARFID, as well as supports, and resources for clin...

With Board nominations opening on 28 November, in this week’s episode SPA President, Kathryn McKinley, is interviewed by Early Career Reference Group member, Sarah Cathro. They discuss governance, service, how the Board provides leadership, and how speech pathologists at every career stage can contribute to the profession. SPA resources: • Nominations for the SPA Board open 28 November. www.speech...