Celebrating Speech Pathology Week 2023

Speech Pathology Week runs from 21 – 26 August to promote the speech pathology profession and the work done by speech pathologists.

With 1.2 million Australians living with communication disability, speech pathologists help individuals to communicate confidently and live to their full potential.

This week’s theme is communicating for life, which highlights the vital role speech pathologists play in supporting quality of life across the lifespan.

As a team, we’re also celebrating the invaluable contributions of all our speech pathologists and change makers who are having a profound impact on NDIS participants’ lives. Thank you!

We spoke with our Speech Pathologist Lead, Jade, on how Everyday Independence speech pathologists support people with disabilities to maximise their quality of life.

How do our speech pathologists help?

Our speech pathologists play a vital role in helping people get great outcomes from their NDIS-funded therapy services. They help children, teenagers and adults who have difficulties with their speech, language, fluency and voice. Our speech pathologists also help people with difficulties swallowing and eating to make their mealtimes safer.

Everyday Independence speech pathologists work out in the community, the Everyday Way, where participants spend their time.

The Everyday Way is a holistic approach that looks at a person’s life from a range of angles in their everyday environment to support their communication where it’s most meaningful to them. This approach goes beyond traditional speech therapy sessions by supporting communication where it truly matters – in the individual’s everyday environment. By considering various facets of an individual’s life and experiences, Everyday Independence speech pathologists ensure that communication support is tailored and relevant. 

Supporting people of all ages

For children in the early years, we know that feeling safe and regulated is key to being able to process information, engage with social relationships, and self-advocate. This is why our speech pathologists work closely with the child and key people in their life to find opportunities in their everyday routines to improve their communication.

At this age, the focus may be on developing language skills, better expressing themselves, regulating their emotions, or improving their social skills to make friends and connect with others. It’s about providing the right support from the start to change their life trajectory.

For teenagers and adults with communication difficulties, our speech pathologists build their skills and confidence to achieve the speech and communication goals important to them. For some, that may be joining in conversations, being more independent, or sharing a meal with family and friends.

According to research, three out of five people with disabilities may have difficulty participating in the labour force*. For those wanting to join or continue in the workforce, our speech pathologists can recommend assistive technology to help them to express themselves, build the capacity of the workplace to support the individual and build the individual’s communication and social skills.

As Speech Pathology Week unfolds, it’s evident that speech pathologists here at Everyday Independence are catalysts of change in the realm of communication. Their unwavering dedication to fostering effective communication skills ensures that participants, spanning various age groups, can embrace a life enriched by meaningful interactions, enhanced self-expression, and boundless opportunities. Let’s celebrate the incredible journey of transformation paved by speech pathologists and their commitment to empowering communication, not just during this week but every day of the year.  

_{*ABS Survey of Disability, Ageing and Carers—2015}