Hastings Macleay Speech Pathology Team back row: Jacqui Highland, Zoe Yalouris, Anika Heinzel, Annie Cumberland, Rachel Hathaway and Kate Jones. Front: Klint Goers.
Celebrating Speech Pathology Week
Aug 19, 2023More than 1.1 million Australians have a communication or swallowing disorder and Speech Pathology Week aims to promote the profession and the work done by speech pathologists.
Speech Pathology Week runs from August 20-26 and this year’s theme is Communicating for Life.
Speech Pathologists diagnose communication difficulties, provide intervention, give education to family members and provide strategies for those with communication difficulties to ensure they have the right supports so these barriers can be overcome.
The dedicated Mid North Coast Local Health District Hastings Macleay Speech Pathology Team provide care for infants in special care to toddlers and school aged children via Community Health Services.
At the other end of the spectrum, the team also provide input across three hospitals (Kempsey, Port Macquarie and Wauchope) in acute care, cancer care, rehabilitation and palliative care.
Speech Pathologist Rachel Hathaway said the team recently took part in promoting the services of Speech Pathologists during Stroke Week, which ran from the 7-13 August.
“Two of our adult therapists, Anika Heinzel and Zoe Yalouris, recently delivered a presentation on communication partner training for the Network,” she said.
“Participants have been taught communication strategies that they could implement into their clinical practice in patients with aphasia after stroke.
“Adjustments that are made to our communication style and approach can make a big difference to those with a communication difficulty, particularly in the hospital setting.”
Learn more about Speech Pathology and Speech Pathology Week