Observing International Day of People with Disability
News 4 DecemberLet’s reflect on our inclusive practices during International Day of People with Disability.
15 November 2022
Share
The Speech Pathology Speed Sessions team has been awarded the Vice-Chancellor’s Award for Excellence in Stewardship.
The team, comprised of Senior Lecturer (Speech Pathology) Dr Kerry Ttofari Eecen, Senior Lecturer (Speech Pathology) Dr Kieran Flanagan, Head of Discipline (Speech Pathology) and Deputy Head (Interim), School of Allied Health NSW Associate Professor Jane McCormack and Administrative Officer Anita Drakulic, were recognised for their work coordinating a free, evidence-based and sustainable professional development program for practising speech pathologists, ACU alumni and students.
The Speed Session program was originally started as a teleconference program in 2015 by Dr Simone Arnott. Since that time, it has transformed into a series of monthly pre-recorded 30-minute web-based lectures by experts in speech-language pathology and related fields. The sessions are shared with a distribution list that has grown to more than 1800 subscribers.
Dr Kerry Ttofari Eecen is the Speed Sessions program coordinator. She said the program is made possible by the generosity of volunteer presenters.
“All the presenters are volunteers. They’re mainly from the Speech Pathology discipline at ACU, but we have also asked academics from other disciplines within ACU to present, as well as ACU Counselling and the Research Impact office. We invite external speakers from other universities and the community to present as well,” she said.
Kerry said volunteer presenters are just one of the factors that make the program a strong example of stewardship.
“It’s a sustainable program because we’ve set up the processes, we've set up the infrastructure and it can be used by other disciplines or departments at ACU.”
The feedback from stakeholders has shown the program’s impact both for speech pathologists and their clients.
“We receive a lot of emails and verbal feedback to our professional practice coordinators from speech pathologists in the community about how useful they find this program,” Kerry said.
“They’re happy that it’s free and also that the sessions are quick so they don’t have to spend a lot of time accessing them – they’re bite sized sessions that can be accessed any time, so people can view them at their convenience.”
For speech-language pathology consumers and clients, the program is also valuable, as each session is based on up-to-date research that can inform effective service provision.
“Speech pathologists using evidence-based practice benefits the clients,” said Kerry.
She said the team was honoured to receive the Excellence in Stewardship Award.
“The program was originally founded on the belief that, as academics, we are in a privileged position to have access to so many resources that a lot of people out there don’t have,” she said. “The founding principle was that it’s our duty as academics to share knowledge with people in the community. That’s consistent with ACU’s commitment to community service, so it’s a real honour to be recognised in this way.”
The monthly Speed Sessions are currently focused on speech pathology, but plans are in place to expand the program to the other allied health disciplines.
“We're planning to extend the program to the whole of the School of Allied Health from next year, using the same processes,” said Kerry.
If you would like to join the Speed Sessions mailing list, please contact professional.practice@acu.edu.au.
Let’s reflect on our inclusive practices during International Day of People with Disability.
A message from Vice President Fr Anthony Casamento csma: Ok, let’s not kid ourselves. If you are like me, December can feel like chaos. Yet, amid this chaos, the Church gives us the Season of Advent -...
Associate Professor Grant Duthie from the SPRINT Research Centre and Professor Jo Ingold from the Peter Faber Business School have won a prestigious government grant that will see them work with the b...
A message from the Provost, Professor Julie Cogin: As we approach the end of the year it’s fitting to look back and reflect on everything we’ve achieved over the past 12 months.
Find out the end-of-year deadlines and operating hours for a range of staff and student services within Corporate Services including Service Central, People & Capability and Student Administration.
The popular medicines database MIMS Online is upgrading to a new platform and changing its name to eMIMSelite.
ACU’s Peter Faber Business School has earned accreditation from AACSB, the US-based organisation that accredits business schools worldwide.
16 Days is a global campaign observed annually from November 25 to December 10 and serves as a critical reminder of the pervasive and often invisible violence that affects millions of people. Watch a ...
Include an additional survey item in the Student Evaluation of Learning and Teaching (SELT) survey for units that are offered in ACU Online Term 4 (202476).
With the end of the year approaching, it's time to ensure a smooth closure of the university’s 2024 accounting books and financial year-end work. Check the finance end-of-year deadlines for 2024.
Discover the stories that shape teaching. Ballarat and North Sydney kick off the campus showcase series next week, displaying the importance of connection and storytelling in the classroom. Register t...
All staff are encouraged to complete a new training program, aimed at helping you understand how you can contribute to supporting veterans and their families.
Role of Chair training is now available through the ACU Staff Learning Hub.
A message from the Executive Dean of Health Sciences Professor Suzanne Chambers: The Faculty of Health Sciences research space has seen colleagues come together in a spirit of shared learning and conn...
Orientation is an exciting time for new students, but also a great time for staff to take part in the ACU community. Help us welcome new students during Orientation Week and the first few weeks of sem...
ACU’s Graduation and Protocol team has been recognized at the 2024 Association for Tertiary Education Management (ATEM) Awards for Excellence for their innovative Reader Module project.
Semester 2 results will be released on 29 November - here’s how to help students get the information they need.
Reading lists are getting a refresh and will launch at ACU in January 2025. The library has been busy preparing for the change.
Let's be honest, this year has been tough. Whether from work demands, family pressures, or rising costs of living, many of us have felt the strain. By adopting good self-care practices, we can maintai...
A message from the Executive Dean of Theology and Philosophy, Professor Richard Colledge: Bringing academic excellence to the table of engaging with others is the heart of all we do.
Visit Service Central to access Corporate Services.