Identifying and managing pseudoscientific practices S8E18

Building communication partner skills in dementia S8E25

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.

Virtual reality in voice therapy and beyond S8E24

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.

Culture, safety, & sovereignty: A conversation with Professor Chelsea Watego S8E23

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.

Rebroadcast: Autism diagnosis – the speech pathology role S8E22

In this week’s rebroadcast, Anneke Flinn and Robyn Stephen, Director and Principal Clinician at Melbourne Child Development, and Speech Pathology consultant at Melbourne Paediatric Specialists, discuss the speech pathologist’s role in Autism diagnosis. SPA and the presenters of this podcast acknowledge that this episode was originally recorded in 2024. As terminology and perspectives evolve over time, the original episode title and some of the language used may no longer reflect current preferred terminology. To support respectful and contemporary practice, the title of this episode has been updated. We recognise and respect that terminology preferences vary among neurodivergent people and communities, and we value approaches that honour diverse perspectives and individual preferences. Robyn has provided her own reflection on neuro-affirming care and the language we use when working with Autistic people. She also wanted to highlight that if you decide to delay a diagnostic decision for a few months whilst you monitor the child in a new setting such as kindergarten that this is not a watch and wait period as far as support is concerned. Intervention including parent and educator coaching should commence during this time as soon as possible using the child’s strengths to enhance their function. Rebroadcast reflection provided by Courtney Reddacliff, speech pathologist and member of the Podcast Reference Group. 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 and 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.

Rebroadcast: Self-care for health workers S8E21

In this rebroadcast episode from Season 6, members of SPA’s early career and podcast reference groups, Brittany Fong and Lauren Osborne, speak with mental health occupational therapist Michelle Bihary. They discuss the mental and emotional “wear and tear” of working in healthcare and practical self-care strategies. The episode opens with a reflection from SPA’s Immediate Past President, Kathryn McKinley, on why this conversation matters now, particularly in the context of recent NDIS pricing announcements. A range of resources from Michelle Bihary and SPA can be found in the Learning Hub: https://learninghub.speechpathologyaustralia.org.au/topclass/topclass.do?expand-OfferingDetails-Offeringid=1540616 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.