Speak Up

In this week’s episode we're joined by Kirsty McGovern-Hooley (RSM Australia), Dr Erin West (SPA), Georgia Cunningham (ORS Group) and Kate Pollard (Melaleuca Therapies) to discuss the latest NDIS reforms and what they mean for speech pathology practices, providers and participants. Together, they explore the proposed NDIS Bill 2026, pricing and compliance changes, business sustainability, advocacy efforts, and practical strategies for navigating change while continuing to support participants and deliver high-quality services.

Resources:
RSM Australia: https://speechpathologyaustralia.org.au/Public/Member-Services/Member-benefits/RSM-Australia.aspx

Industry Legal Group: https://speechpathologyaustralia.org.au/Public/Member-Services/Member-benefits/Industry-Legal-Group.aspx

SPA resources:
Submission: NDIS Bill: https://speechpathologyaustralia.org.au/resource?resource=1221

Supplementary submission: NDIS Bill: https://speechpathologyaustralia.org.au/resource?resource=1233

SPA appearance at Senate Inquiry: https://www.youtube.com/live/CrVlldIGgww?si=IWrxfLZOIwQglXlv&t=23794

Private practice and business supports for members: https://speechpathologyaustralia.org.au/Public/Member-Services/Professional-practice/Private-practice-and-business-support-for-members.aspx

Business models for speech pathology practices: https://speechpathologyaustralia.org.au/Public/Member-Services/Professional-practice/business-models-for-sp-practices.aspx

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 speakuppodcast@speechpathologyaustralia.org.au

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 speakuppodcast@speechpathologyaustralia.org.au

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 Dr Natalie Douglas who shares practical tips and advice for speech pathologists supporting communication partners caring for people with dementia.

Resources:
Preferences for Everyday Living Inventory (PELI)
https://www.preferencebasedliving.com/for-practitioners/practitioner/assessment/

Montessori for Dementia, Ageing & Adult Care | Montessori Australia https://montessori.org.au/montessori-ageing-dementia

IPPI protocols: Individualized Positive Psychosocial Interaction (IPPI) Program https://www.preferencebasedliving.com/ippi/individualized-positive-psychosocial-intervention-protocol-ippi/

Home | Dementia Australia
https://www.dementia.org.au/

Adria Thompson Dementia Education
https://www.belightcare.com/

Coaching & Consultations | Dementia Collaborative
https://www.dementiacollaborative.com/coaching-consultations

Alzheimer's Association | Alzheimer's Disease & Dementia Help
https://www.alz.org/

Books – Dementia Care Training & Education | Redesigning Dementia Care | Brush Development
https://brushdevelopment.com/books/

The 36-Hour Day, Eighth Edition: A Lifeline for Caregivers | Hopkins Press
https://www.press.jhu.edu/newsroom/36-hour-day-eighth-edition-lifeline-caregivers?srsltid=AfmBOoqbaGfADrhGaNq7TR-tNoKGG5L2VZnY0LBuKSOcK-WPOKa6MUgb

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 speakuppodcast@speechpathologyaustralia.org.au

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 Jannis Hansa, speech pathologist, epidemiologist and researcher at the University of Applied Sciences Osnabrück in Germany, about the use of virtual reality (VR) to support real-world generalisation in voice therapy. Jannis discusses the challenge of helping clients apply therapy skills in everyday situations, how immersive VR environments can simulate real-life communication demands, the benefits and limitations of VR in clinical practice, and the importance of user-centred design in developing new therapy tools.

Resources:
Hansa & Hansen. (2025). User-centred qualitative evaluation of a fully immersive, head-mounted virtual reality application prototype to facilitate real-life transfer in voice therapy. IJSLP, 28, 303-315. https://doi.org/10.1080/17549507.2025.2473075

SPA members can access the article for free. For non-SPA members the first 50 people who click this link will be able to download the article for free: https://www.tandfonline.com/eprint/YMK7ZFDQBBNIZUYM8RUF/full?target=10.1080/17549507.2025.2473075

Hansa, LeFarth, Hansen. (2026). User experiences with fully immersive virtual reality applications in the context of speech-language pathology. A scoping review. IJLCD, 61(4), https://doi.org/10.1111/1460-6984.70289

Nudelman et al. (2026). Immersive Virtual Reality in the treatment of communication disorders: A scoping review. AJSLP, 1-17. https://doi.org/10.1044/2026_AJSLP-25-0059

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 speakuppodcast@speechpathologyaustralia.org.au

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 are celebrating NAIDOC Week. SPA’s First Nations Lead, Nikita Westbury, speaks with Professor Chelsea Watego, a Munanjali and South Sea Islander woman with a career spanning 20 years in Indigenous healthcare, research, advocacy, and innovation.

Nikita and Chelsea discuss what transformative change looks like when we talk about eliminating racism, facilitating self-determination, and uplifting Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander voices.

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 speakuppodcast@speechpathologyaustralia.org.au

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.