TY - JOUR
T1 - Diversity in the Australian speech-language pathology workforce
T2 - Addressing sustainable development goals 3, 4, 8, and 10
AU - Nancarrow, Susan
AU - McGill, Nicole
AU - Baldac, Stacey
AU - Lewis, Tara
AU - Moran, Anna
AU - Harris, Nichola
AU - Johnson, Trish
AU - Mulcair, Gail
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© 2023 The Speech Pathology Association of Australia Limited.
PY - 2023
Y1 - 2023
N2 - Purpose: Individuals have multiple intersecting identities, unique perspectives, and experiences which provide opportunities for new ways to interact, support inclusion and equity, and address the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). This commentary explores the diversity of the speech-language pathology workforce in Australia. Result: A survey of Australian speech-language pathologists (SLPs; n = 1,638) distributed in November and December 2021 explored personal characteristics and experiences of the workforce. Almost 30% of SLPs who responded reported having experiences or perspectives that were relevant to service users and a quarter described other lived experiences, which included disability, cultural and linguistic background, mental health, caring responsibilities, neurodiversity, and being LGBTQI+. Conclusion: This commentary affirms the value of diversity among allied health professions to enrich practice with individuals and communities. By understanding the diversity of the speech-language pathology workforce and perspectives of historically marginalised or invisible groups, the profession can introduce strategies to more meaningfully engage and support people with diverse backgrounds and perspectives in the workforce and enhance service equity and accessibility for people with communication and swallowing disabilities. This commentary focusses on SDG 3, SDG 4, SDG 8, SDG 10.
AB - Purpose: Individuals have multiple intersecting identities, unique perspectives, and experiences which provide opportunities for new ways to interact, support inclusion and equity, and address the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). This commentary explores the diversity of the speech-language pathology workforce in Australia. Result: A survey of Australian speech-language pathologists (SLPs; n = 1,638) distributed in November and December 2021 explored personal characteristics and experiences of the workforce. Almost 30% of SLPs who responded reported having experiences or perspectives that were relevant to service users and a quarter described other lived experiences, which included disability, cultural and linguistic background, mental health, caring responsibilities, neurodiversity, and being LGBTQI+. Conclusion: This commentary affirms the value of diversity among allied health professions to enrich practice with individuals and communities. By understanding the diversity of the speech-language pathology workforce and perspectives of historically marginalised or invisible groups, the profession can introduce strategies to more meaningfully engage and support people with diverse backgrounds and perspectives in the workforce and enhance service equity and accessibility for people with communication and swallowing disabilities. This commentary focusses on SDG 3, SDG 4, SDG 8, SDG 10.
KW - Communication disability
KW - cultural responsiveness
KW - decent work and economic growth (SDG 8)
KW - diversity
KW - good health and well-being (SDG 3)
KW - quality education (SDG 4)
KW - reduced inequalities (SDG 10)
KW - speech-language pathology
KW - Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)
KW - workforce
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85148286447&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=85148286447&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1080/17549507.2023.2165149
DO - 10.1080/17549507.2023.2165149
M3 - Comment/debate
C2 - 36773003
AN - SCOPUS:85148286447
SN - 1754-9507
VL - 25
SP - 119
EP - 124
JO - International Journal of Speech-Language Pathology
JF - International Journal of Speech-Language Pathology
IS - 1
ER -