In this week’s episode, Leigh Andrews from Change Communication in the UK and Lauren Gibbs from Launch Housing in Victoria, speak with Mary Woodward, SPA’s Senior Advisor, Justice. Leigh and Lauren tell Mary about the benefit speech pathologists can bring when supporting people who are experiencing homelessness, and some of the resources that support their work. Lauren and Leigh speak about different types of homelessness, and how to support someone who may be experiencing homelessness.

Resources:

Are you a speech pathologist working with unhoused people? We would love to hear from you: [email protected]

Launch housing: https://www.launchhousing.org.au

Change Communication: https://www.chgcomm.org/

ASK IZZY – https://askizzy.org.au/

Leigh’s research on communication needs amongst rough sleepers in London (open access) https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111/1460-6984.12572?msockid=0561f54d760a6f7c277ae19677c86e7f

Leigh’s book: https://www.jr-press.co.uk/

The Plain English Campaign: https://www.plainenglish.co.uk/

Royal College of Speech and Language Therapists policy statement on homelessness: https://www.rcslt.org/news/new-homelessness-and-speech-language-and-communication-policy-statement-launched/

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.

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 [email protected]

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.