In this week’s episode, we start a conversation about Foundational Supports with Dr Erin West from SPA’s Policy and Advocacy team. Erin will discuss a conceptual model that SPA are using to advocate to ensure that Foundational Supports reflect the need of the children and families speech pathologists support, and that speech pathologists working across all contexts are reflected in the model.

As a member benefit, this episode has also been recorded in video format to show the Foundational Supports model as a visual conceptual representation. If you would like to follow along visually and you are a SPA member, you can find the video podcast in the Learning Hub.

Resources:

Listen to Erin speak about the NDIS review in this podcast from 2024:

https://soundcloud.com/speechpathologyaustralia/disability-pride-and-anti-ableist-practice-s6e26?si=7fed4f05b3ad456b9413fdcda8a7d4c7&utm_source=clipboard&utm_medium=text&utm_campaign=social_sharing

SPA resources:

S7E35.5 Foundational Supports (Video, members only): https://learninghub.speechpathologyaustralia.org.au/topclass/topclass.do?expand-OfferingDetails-Offeringid=1498530

NB. In this special Members Only video episode, Dr Erin West takes us through the visual conceptual model Speech Pathology Australia is using to advocate for Foundational Supports. The Foundational Supports model is a member benefit, so please do not share this recording with people who are not members of SPA.

Foundational Supports – Key principles: https://speechpathologyaustralia.org.au/resource?resource=1066

Submission on Foundational Supports - General and Early Childhood: https://speechpathologyaustralia.org.au/resource?resource=1015

Submission: NSW Committee on Child & Youth Disability Supports: https://speechpathologyaustralia.org.au/resource?resource=1098

You will find a comprehensive list of blog posts on the resources list on the Learning Hub, as well as the above resources. Free access to transcripts and for a full list of resources 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 [email protected]

Speech Pathology Australia acknowledge the Traditional Custodians of lands, seas and waters throughout Australia, and pay respect to Elders past and present. We recognise that the health and social and emotional wellbeing of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples are grounded in continued connection to culture, country, language and community and acknowledge that sovereignty was never ceded.

Disclaimer: © (2025) 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.