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The time for talk is over. The time for action is now. That is the key message from the Australian Senate鈥檚 Community Affairs Committee鈥檚听report into speech pathology services听in Australia.
President of Speech Pathology Australia 听Deb Theodoros听said, 鈥淔or the first time we have a clear听road map听that all governments can follow to deliver adequate speech pathology services to the Australian community.
鈥淔or the first time, we have a parliamentary committee that has reported on the issue of speech pathology services in Australia. And for the first time we have official confirmation that early and effective intervention in speech and language disorders saves taxpayers鈥� money.
鈥淭he committee has outlined in clear terms what government must now do.鈥�
Currently more than听1.1 million Australians听have a communication or swallowing disorder that impacts on their quality of life. Roughly the same number of Australians who live with diabetes! And three times the number of Australians who suffer from dementia.
The committee鈥檚 report confirms that听one in nine Australian preschool children听stutter and without intervention by a speech pathologist will suffer long-term social and economic distress. And that adults (aged 34 years) who had a language impairment at the age of five, are seven times more likely to have poor reading skills, have five times higher odds of mental health difficulties, and three times the odds of unemployment.
The report also found that Australians are waiting too long for treatment. Figures uncovered by the committee indicate that25 per cent of parents听reported being on waiting lists longer than six months, with 15 per cent waiting more than one year; and 18 per cent waiting a further year after assessment for treatment.
Debra* who gave evidence to the Senate Committee said, 鈥淭his Senate Report must be a beginning. We must not allow it to be the final word.
鈥淚 wanted to tell my son鈥檚 story because I believed it could make a difference. I hope that my time and efforts have not听been in vain.听鈥淚 cannot stress enough that early intervention is critical. The costs to individuals and our community from delays or failing to act is just too high.鈥�
The Senate鈥檚 Community Affairs committee鈥檚 report recommends:
路听听听听听听听听听an analysis is immediately conducted to identify the cost of the current level and听adequacy听of speech pathology services in Australia;
路听听听听听听听听听government at all levels work to develop policies that acknowledge and recognise the need to increase听access听to treatment for people with speech and language disorders;
路听听听听听听听听听funding is provided for an appropriate听research institute听to conduct an audit of the adequacy of existing speech and language services for children;
路听听听听听听听听听further statistics on speech and language disorders are collected through the National Census conducted by theAustralian Bureau of Statistics;
路听听听听听听听听听the 鈥榩ostcode lottery鈥� of finding a speech pathologist in听rural and regional Australia听is addressed ;
路听听听听听听听听听the current funding model for speech pathology services in aged care residential homes is reconsidered as part of the federal government鈥檚 ongoing听aged care reforms;
路听听听听听听听听听the听impact听of the National Disability Insurance Scheme on the demand and supply of speech pathology services is investigated;
路听听听听听听听听听speech pathology students at Australian听universities听receive further clinical exposure and experience.
Speech Pathology Australia听is committed to seeing the recommendations of the Senate Committee鈥檚 report implemented in full within a reasonable timeframe.
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