annual Report of Speech Pathologists

Speech Pathologists
Board of Queensland
Address:
Level 8 Forestry House

160 Mary St.

BRISBANE QLD 4000
Postal:
'Executive Officer'

GPO Box 2438

BRISBANE QLD 4001
Telephone:
61 7 3225 2507
Facsimile:
61 7 3225 2527
annual
Speech
Email:
speechpathology@healthregboards.qld.gov.au
Pathologists
Website:
www.speechpathboard.qld.gov.au
Board of
report
Queensland
2008-09
Address:
Level 8 Forestry House

160 Mary St.

BRISBANE QLD 4000
Postal:
'Executive Officer'

GPO Box 2438

BRISBANE QLD 4001
Telephone: 61 7 3247 4862
Facsimile:
61 7 3225 2527
Email:
optometry@healthregboards.qld.gov.au
Website:
www.optomboard.qld.gov.au

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Contents
Foreword
1
Constitution, goals and functions
3
Membership of the Board
4
Board and committee meetings
4
The Register
5
Registered speech pathologists
5
Administrative structure
5
Access
6
Review of activities and operations
6
Registration Act
6
Registration Regulation
6
Complaints under the Registration Act
6
Investigations under the Registration Act
6
Complaints under the Professional Standards Act
6
Investigations under the Professional Standards Act
7
Disciplinary proceedings
7
Health assessment (Part 5, Professional Standards Act)
7
Undertakings by registrants
7
Health assessment
7
Cost of health assessments
7
Health monitoring
7
Investigations (Part 5, Professional Standards Act)
8
Health assessment committees
8
Ministerial authorisations
8
Ministerial directions
8
General registration with conditions
8
Criminal history checking
8
On-line renewal services
8
Recency of practice and continuing professional development programs
9
Council of Australian Governments: National registration and accreditation
9
General registration, guide, application form and supporting policies
10
Other Board activities for 2008-09
10
Newsletters
11
Office submissions
11
Combined meeting of the Chairpersons of the Queensland health practitioner registration Boards
11
Service agreement
12
Strategic plan
12
Statement of reasons: Judicial Review Act 1991
12
Freedom of information
12
Privacy of information held by the Board
13
Consultancies
13
Overseas travel
13
Fees
13
Board Code of Conduct
14
Annual report supplement: Statement of affairs
14
Organisational chart
16
Financial report for the year ended 30 June 2009
19
Copies of this annual report are publicly available at:
www.speechpathboard.qld.gov.au
and at no cost by contacting the Office as follows:
by telephone: (07) 3234 0713
in writing: GPO Box 2438, Brisbane Q 4001
Speech Pathologists Board of Queensland 2008-09 Annual Report and Financial Report

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Chiropractors Board of Queensland 2007-08 Annual Report and Financial Report

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Foreword
The Hon Paul Lucas MP
Deputy Premier and Minister for Health
Parliament House
BRISBANE QLD 4000

Dear Deputy Premier
I am pleased to present the annual report and financial statements of the Speech Pathologists Board of Queensland for the year
ended 30 June 2009.
The Board’s energies have been focused on significant matters affecting regulation of the profession over the past 12 months,
particularly:
•
national registration;
•
continuing professional development;
•
criminal history checking;
•
on-line renewal and restoration of registration; and
•
registration policies, particularly English language and good standing requirements.
National registration
Australia’s Ministers for Health decided not to include the profession of speech pathology into the national registration and
accreditation scheme for health professions.
The Intergovernmental Agreement of March 2008 provided for a process for consideration of the inclusion of other health
professions into the national scheme. The speech pathology profession (under a joint venture between the Board and the
professional association, Speech Pathology Australia) forwarded a sound submission to the Practitioner Regulation Subcommittee
which was tasked with assessing the partially regulated health occupations against criteria set by the Australian Health Ministers’
Advisory Council. This submission was not successful.
In a meeting with the Chairperson on Thursday 25 June 2009, the Deputy Premier confirmed that he was committed to the
ongoing registration of speech pathologists in Queensland and had asked for a review of the decision which excluded speech
pathologists from being included in the national scheme. That review has now been completed and Australia’s Ministers for
Health again decided not to include speech pathologists into the national scheme.
This Board maintains that the best outcome for Australian health consumers regarding the management of risks to public safety
that may arise from speech pathologists working in unregulated environments is for eventual inclusion in the national scheme
and will be continuing to advocate this position.
Continuing professional development
The Board has endorsed a continuing professional development program for speech pathologists, providing an opportunity for
registrants to undertake continuing professional development as an ongoing professional responsibility.
Criminal history checking
From 1 July 2009, all new applicants will be checked independently for criminal history through the Queensland Police Service.
New Board policies and procedures will contribute to ensuring only those who are fit to practise are registered.
On-line renewal and restoration
The introduction of on-line renewal and restoration of registration from May 2009 followed six months of detailed planning,
development and testing and resulted in 60.73% of registrants renewing registration on-line.
Registration policies
The Board completed a significant review of its registration form and policy framework. The new form has been designed to
respond to issues including on-line publication, clarity, consistency and the Board’s image. The new form is supported by best
practice policies endorsed by the Board.
Other highlights for the Board during the reporting period were awarding $8,600 in grants for enhancing clinical practice for
projects addressing current practice for children with autism spectrum disorders in Queensland, working with children with
sensory feeding difficulties and enhancing rehabilitation program quality and growth of the profession in Queensland with a net
increase of 100 registrations over the 30 June 2008 figure.
I’d like to thank retiring members Dr Julie Marinac and Mrs Valerie Cocksedge whose term of appointment expired in July 2008.
Their expertise and leadership was appreciated by all Board members. I’d like to welcome new members Dr Wendy Pearce
and Ms Anne-Marie Hunter to the Board. My appreciation is extended to all current and former members of the Board and its
committees for their efforts during the year.
The Board also records its appreciation for the administrative and operational support provided by the staff of the Office of
Health Practitioner Registration Boards in assisting the Board to fulfill its statutory functions and obligations.
Meredith Kilminster
Chairperson
Speech Pathologists Board of Queensland 2008-09 Annual Report and Financial Report
1.

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2.
Chiropractors Board of Queensland 2007-08 Annual Report and Financial Report

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Constitution, goals

>
educational institutions; and

>
entities responsible for accrediting courses or
and functions
accrediting institutions to educate persons for
the profession;
•
to inform registrants and the public about the
Constitution
operation of the legislative scheme in its application
The Speech Pathologists Board of Queensland is
to the profession;
constituted under section 9 of the Speech Pathologists
•
to examine and advise the Minister about the
Registration Act 2001 (the Registration Act) as a body
operation of the legislative scheme in its application
corporate with perpetual succession.
to the profession;
The Board is subject to the provisions of the Health
•
to monitor and enforce compliance with this Act;
Practitioner Registration Boards (Administration) Act
•
to undertake research, relevant to the legislative
1999, the Health Practitioners (Professional Standards) Act
scheme, into the regulation of the profession;
1999 (the Professional Standards Act) and the Financial
Administration and Audit Act 1977.
•
to collect and give to persons information about the
practice of the profession by registrants; and
Goals
•
to perform other functions given to the Board under
Consistent with section 7(1) of the Registration Act, the
the Registration Act or another Act.
Board’s primary goals are:
In addition, the Board has a variety of functions under
•
to protect the public by ensuring health care is
the Professional Standards Act. Those functions are listed
delivered by registrants in a professional, safe and
under section 11 of that Act as follows:
competent way;
•
to receive complaints about its registrants and, if
•
to uphold standards of practice within the profession;
appropriate, refer the complaints to the Health
and
Quality and Complaints Commissioner;
•
to maintain public confidence in the profession.
•
to consult and cooperate with the Commissioner in
investigating and disciplining its registrants and in
Functions
relation to complaints about impaired registrants;
The Board is directly responsible for the administration
•
to immediately suspend, or impose conditions on the
of the Registration Act and the Speech Pathologists
registration of its registrants if the registrants pose a
Registration Regulation 2001 (as amended from time to
serious potential risk to the wellbeing of vulnerable
time).
persons;
The Board’s major functions are set out in section 11 of
•
to conduct investigations, whether because of
the Registration Act as follows:
complaints or on its own initiative, about the conduct
and practice of its registrants;
•
to assess applications for registration;
•
to deal with disciplinary matters relating to its
•
to register persons who satisfy the requirements for
registrants that can be addressed satisfactorily
registration;
through advising, cautioning and reprimanding;
•
to monitor and assess whether registrants comply
•
to bring disciplinary proceedings relating to its
with any conditions of registration;
registrants before Panels or the Tribunal;
•
to keep a register of, and records relating to,
•
to implement orders of Panels or the Tribunal relating
registrants;
to the Board’s registrants;
•
to promote high standards of practice of the
•
to establish health assessment committees to assess
profession by registrants;
the health of registrants who may be impaired and
•
to develop or adopt programs for the continuing
make decisions about impaired registrants;
professional education of registrants and encourage
•
to monitor its registrants’ compliance with conditions
their participation in the programs;
imposed, or other disciplinary action taken, or
•
to develop or adopt training programs in the practice
undertakings entered into under this Act;
of the profession that are relevant to a person’s
•
to cancel or suspend, or impose conditions on its
eligibility for registration;
registrants’ registration as a result of action taken
•
to confer and cooperate with interstate regulatory
under a foreign law;
authorities;
•
to consult and cooperate with other boards, foreign
•
to confer and cooperate with entities engaged in
regulatory authorities and other relevant entities
the development of national policies about the
about the investigation and disciplining of its
regulation of the profession;
registrants and the management of its registrants
•
to confer and cooperate with the following entities
who are impaired; and
about the education of persons in the practice of the
•
to exercise other functions given to the Board under
profession:
the Act.
Speech Pathologists Board of Queensland 2008-09 Annual Report and Financial Report
3.

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Membership of the
Board and committee
Board
meetings
Membership of the Board during the reporting period
Regular ordinary meetings of the Board are usually
constituted the following members appointed in
convened on the third Monday of each month
accordance with the membership categories specified in
commencing at 5.15pm.
section 15 of the Registration Act.
A total of 10 Board meetings and 18 Committee meetings
were held during 2008-09. The table below records
Registrant members
the number of these meetings attended by each Board
Dr Lyn Hodgson
Dip Sp Thy, B Ed St, MSc, PhD
member:
Ms Meredith Kilminster B Sp Thy [Chairperson]
Board member*
Board
Committee
Dr Julie Marinac*
B Sp Path (Hons), PhD
meetings
meetings
Dr Sandra McMahon
B App Sc (Sp Path), PhD
L Hodgson
10
11
Dr Wendy Pearce^
B App Sc (Sp Path), PhD
M Howard
10
-
Ms Alison Smith
B Sp Thy, Grad Dip Edu
A-M Hunter
10
-
Dr Elizabeth Ward
B Sp Thy (Hons), Grad Cert Ed,
B Kent
10
1

PhD [Deputy Chairperson]
Public members
M Kilminster
9
1
Mrs Valerie Cocksedge* OAM, Dip Home Sc
S McMahon
9
11
Mr Max Howard
Grad Cert Bus (Econ), MBA
W Pearce
10
2
Ms Anne-Marie Hunter^
A Smith
10
3
E Ward
10
5
Lawyer
Ms Barbara Kent
BA/LLB
*J Marinac and V Cocksedge’s terms of appointment expired on
12 July 2008 before any meetings were held
*Terms of appointment expired 12 July 2008
^ Appointed when the Board was reconstituted from 24 July 2008
In addition to Board meetings, selected Board members
served on the following Board Committees:
The Board members’ term of appointment expires on 23
July 2012.
•
Grants Committee comprising Dr Ward, Ms Smith and
Ms Kilminster (ex-officio) - the role of this Committee
is to assess grant applications, assign and distribute
grant moneys annually;
The Speech Pathologists Board of Queensland as at 15 December 2008 is (pictured l to r)
back row: Sandra McMahon, Anne-Marie Hunter, Max Howard, Alison Smith, Lynette Hodgson
front row: Barbara Kent, Meredith Kilminster, Elizabeth Ward, Wendy Pearce
4.
Speech Pathologists Board of Queensland 2008-09 Annual Report and Financial Report

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•
Re-Entry / Fitness to Practise Committee comprising
The net change in registrant numbers over the past year
Dr Hodgson, Dr McMahon and the Chairperson, Ms
is the result of significant numbers of additions to and
Kilminster (ex-officio) - the role of this Committee is
deletions from the Register.
to consider and make recommendations to the Board
During the 2008-09 year, 139 new registrations were
about matters relating to the fitness to practise of
processed by the Board and a further 25 former
applicants for registration;
registrants were restored to the Register.
•
Data Analysis Committee comprising Ms Hunter, Dr
An analysis of the registration database as at 30 June 2009
Pearce, Dr Ward and Ms Kilminster (ex-officio) – the
provides the following information.
role of this Committee is to review the labour force
survey reports and make recommendations based on
Gender
these reports;
•
97% of registrants were female; and
•
Website Review Committee comprising Ms Smith, Dr
Pearce and Ms Kilminster (ex-officio) - the role of this
•
3% of registrants were male.
Committee is to review the Board’s website; and
Age groupings
•
Health Assessment Committee comprising various
members as needed - the role of this Committee is to
Age grouping
% of registrants
assess any impairment issues of registrants.
Under 25 years
9%
25 – 34 years
43%
The Register
35 – 44 years
22.5%
45 – 54 years
18%
The Board maintains a Register of speech pathologists
pursuant to section 11(d) of the Registration Act.
55 years and over
7.5%
As at 30 June 2009 the Register contained a total of 1,304
Total
100%
names, representing a net increase of 100 over the 30
June 2008 figure*(see note below). The 1,304 registrants
Geographical distribution
comprised 1,291 general registrants, 12 provisional
•
77% of registrants gave their addresses on the
general registrants and one short-term general registrant.
Register as within south east Queensland (postcodes
4000 to 4399 and 4500 to 4581), comprising 50%
These figures represent a ‘snap shot’ in time as at 30 June
within Brisbane and 27% elsewhere in south east
and do not include restorations to the register for the
Queensland;
period 1 July 2009 to 30 September 2009, registrants who
surrender or do not renew their registration or those who
•
18% of registrants had Queensland addresses outside
otherwise have their registration cancelled after 30 June.
south east Queensland; and
The Register, available to the public at
•
5% of registrants had addresses outside Queensland.
www.healthregboards.qld.gov.au, contains current
registration data.
The geographical statistics are based on an analysis of
postcode addresses of the registrants as shown on the
The following bar chart illustrates the growth since 1996
Register. In some cases, the Register address differs from
in the number of registered speech pathologists at 30
the practice address of a registrant. Registrants with
June each year*(see note below).
addresses outside Queensland have chosen to retain
Queensland registration, even though, in most cases, they
do not currently practise their profession in Queensland.
Registered speech
pathologists
Administrative
structure
1400
1304
1204
1200
T
S
1117
N
940 1008 1058
1000
837 862
Administrative and operational support for the Board’s
I
S
T
R
A
772 814
800
746
691
day to day operations is provided by the Office of
F

R
E
G
606 657
600
Health Practitioner Registration Boards under a service
B
E
R

O
M 400
U
agreement between the Board and the Office. The
N 200
Board is one of 12 health practitioner registration
0
Boards receiving such support from the Office which is
1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009
constituted under the Health Practitioner Registration
YEAR
*Note: During the preparation of this annual report, it came to
Boards (Administration) Act 1999. The Office has a
the Board’s attention that the 2007-08 registrant numbers were
permanent staff establishment of 51 full-time equivalent
understated because of corrupted data. The revised estimate for
positions (as at 30 June 2009) and a variable number of
2007-08 is now shown in the above graph.
temporary positions.
Speech Pathologists Board of Queensland 2008-09 Annual Report and Financial Report
5.

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Members of the staff of the Office with primary
responsibilities for the administrative tasks of the Board as
Review of activities
at 30 June 2009 were:
and operations
Executive Officer
Mr Jim O’Dempsey
Principal Coordinator
Ms Peter Collie
Registration Act
Registration Assessment Officers Ms Angeline Lim
The Registration Act was not amended during the

Ms Hildred Fua
reporting.

Ms Megan Maguire
Registration Regulation
The Principal Coordinator is assigned the task of handling
and managing the day to day administrative affairs of
The Speech Pathologists Registration Regulation 2001 was
the Board (and other health practitioner registration
amended during the reporting year by:
Boards) under the direction of the Executive Officer and
•
Health Legislation Amendment Regulation (No. 5)
the Directors, Board Support and Advice and Registration
2008 SL No. 420 s 1, pt 17, which
Services.

>
allowed the Board to waive the restoration
Other Office staff support the Board with services in
component of a restoration fee; and
human resource management, financial management,
information technology, counter enquiries, records

>
inserted into Schedule 1 Qualifications for
management, investigation of complaints about
general registration ‘Master of Speech Language
registrants, health assessment and management of
Pathology’ University of Sydney and ‘Master of
impaired practitioners and general administrative
Speech Pathology’ Flinders University; and
assistance.
•
Health Legislation Amendment Regulation (No.
Further information regarding the interrelationship
1) 2009 SL No. 43 pts 1, 14, which increased fees
between the Board and the Office is provided in the Office
payable under the Registration Act in line with
annual report.
movements in the Consumer Price Index. Details
of the fees now applicable are provided in the Fees
section of this report.
Access
Complaints under the
Registration Act
The Office of the Board is located at:
The Board received two complaints which were dealt with
Level 8, Forestry House
under the Registration Act.
160 Mary Street
The complaints concerned qualified speech pathologists
BRISBANE QLD 4000
practising without having current registration.
Correspondence to the Board should be
In one complaint, the Board issued a warning to the
addressed to:
speech pathologist about breaching the Registration
Act and, in the other, issued a reminder about the
The Executive Officer
requirements of the Registration Act and of notifying the
Speech Pathologists Board of Queensland
Board about changes of mailing address.
GPO Box 2438
BRISBANE QLD 4001
One complaint was carried over from 2007-08, relating to
advertising by a person who was not a registered speech
Board communication links are:
pathologist. The Board issued a warning to the person
Telephone: (07) 3225 2508
about breaching the Registration Act.
Facsimile: (07) 3225 2527
Investigations under the
E-mail:
speechpathology@healthregboards.qld.gov.au
Registration Act
Website: www.speechpathboard.qld.gov.au
There were no investigations conducted and no Board
Copies of this annual report and the annual report of
funds were spent during 2008-09 on investigations or
the Office are accessible to members of the public at the
inspections under part 5 of the Registration Act.
Office and on the websites of the Board and Office.
Complaints under the Professional
Standards Act
The following information relates to the Board’s handling
of complaints, investigations, disciplinary proceedings and
6.
Speech Pathologists Board of Queensland 2008-09 Annual Report and Financial Report

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