In Māori, the concept of "connections" can be expressed through the term "Ngā Hononga." This phrase encompasses the idea of linking, joining, or bonding together. It resonates with the notion of establishing relationships, networking, and fostering connections, which aligns well with the context of a symposium focused on bringing people together.
Date: 21 - 22 October 2024
Where: Te Wānanga o Raukawa, Ōtaki - Te Ara ā Tāwhaki (auditorium)
The symposium will use wānanga based learning experiences as well as provide learning opportunities that are evidence-based and relevant to clinical practice.
COST: NZSTA member $300, non-member $600, SLT student $100 (ticket prices include GST and full board)
Registrations are now closed
LEARNING OUTCOMES:
- Be inspired by innovative clinical practice across a range of speech-language therapy practice
- Be immersed in a powhiri, noho and poroporaki, and learn the tikanga associated with these experiences
- Shape your professional identity by deepening your understanding of the origins of our association and speech-language therapy as a profession
- Learn waiata, how and when to use them in your workplace
- Attend to your broader hauora (health/wellbeing) with activities throughout the two days that respond to the four walls of Te Whare Tapa Wha.
WHAT CAN I EXPECT:
The symposium will open with a powhiri to welcome us and close with a poroporoaki. You will be supported by our kaumātua, Matua Rukingi, to understand and follow the tikanga (protocols) of this space. Please ensure your travel arrangements allow you to be on-site in Ōtaki by 9 am and that you can stay until at least 3.30 pm on Tuesday.
Throughout your time in Ōtaki, you will have the opportunity to be immersed in the wānanga environment, learn more about the whakapapa (history/origins) of our Association and our profession, listen to uplifting and inspiring speakers, as well as whakawhanaungatanga (building connections) with your fellow attendees as we share kai, kōrero, and space.
Accommodation is on-site and will consist of a combination of dorm-room-style single beds and noho marae style for those comfortable sleeping in a shared wharenui space. You are obviously welcome to book accommodation off-site, but you are strongly encouraged to take up the opportunity to immerse yourself in this experience. Please bring your own towels and sleeping bag.
Final programme
Speaker Profiles
Dr. Amy Scott is a Senior Lecturer and programme coordinator for the Better Start Literacy Approach microcredentials in the Child Well-being Research Institute at the University of Canterbury. She trained as a speech-language therapist at the University of Canterbury, and now works in education, supporting thousands of teachers across Aotearoa to implement evidence-based literacy and oral language teaching in their junior school classrooms. Outside of work, Amy loves adventures in nature, wrangling her two awesome tamariki, reading, and eating (ideally at the same time!).
Kō Bianca Vowell tōku ingoa. I whakapapa to Ngāi Tahu, the Cook Islands and the UK and Ireland. I was born in New Zealand and moved to Hong Kong at 5 yrs old. I’ve since moved back and forth between the two countries and consider myself a Third Culture Kid. I have been working at Massey University as a Lecturer in the Bachelor of Speech-Language Therapy with Honours Programme since early 2022. I currently live with my 5 year old son and my parents in Richmond, Tasman.
Originally from sunny South Africa, Charmain studied at Canterbury University and commenced her career working at the Ministry of Education. With a passion for teaching, learning and providing communication support, Charmain is a Clinical Educator at Canterbury University and, as part of her PhD, is researching speech outcomes for children and training and supports for non-SLTs. A mum of two, Charmain can often be found outdoors exploring the hills in and around Ōtautahi.
Ko wai au? Nō Amerika ōku tīpuna, i tipu ake ki Vermont, ko Rangituhi te maunga te rū nei taku ngākau, e noho ana au ki Tītahi Bay (ināianei...) - my family is based in the US and I grew up in Vermont, and I'm now a dual citizen of the US and NZ. I currently live in Tītahi Bay, but I'll be driving up to my new home in Whangaparāoa...the day after Ngā Hononga! My speech-language therapy experience has had some surprisingly beneficial connections with my other hobbies, including choral singing, community theatre, and translating pop songs into Klingon
Tēnā koutou, originally from India, I moved to Aotearoa New Zealand to pursue research at the University of Canterbury. As a Speech-Language Therapist, I am committed to advocating for the profession and supporting individuals with speech, language, and communication challenges, ensuring their voices are heard and valued. Outside of work, I am passionate about fitness and enjoy exploring Aotearoa’s beautiful outdoors through hiking and walking.
Kia ora tātou! I'm a bit of a mixed bag - born in the Hawke's Bay, raised in Christchurch and with whakapapa to Taranaki, England, and Scotland. My PhD research at the University of Canterbury works on grounding speech and language therapy in Māori knowledge and perspectives, with a particular focus on mate wareware (dementia). Outside of study I love learning languages, belting karaoke, and spending time with friends and family.
Durbanite turned Aucklander here! When I'm not teaching dysphagia, adult neuro or hearing disabilities, I'm force-feeding my culinary experiments to Harold, my brave partner of 31 years. Between saving swallows and revolutionising speech therapy, I dream of owning a bookshop where I can read and caffeinate all day. Just your average superhero in disguise, with a side of bunny chow nostalgia!
I'm originally from Pakistan, studied at Hongkong and came to Aotearoa to advance my research in speech-language therapy, with a focus on early language development. Outside of work, I am a wife and mother of 2 toddlers, we love exploring New Zealand's stunning landscapes and participating in community activities. I have been working on a my most recent research "Family Support Programme" in Aotearoa, focusing on early intervention strategies to enhance language skills in children with hearing differences. By analyzing data using LENA, I aim to refine communication strategies by studying caregiver-child interactions to optimize language development. Looking ahead, I plan to explore the long-term impact of these strategies across diverse cultural contexts and leverage advanced technology, like AI-driven analysis, to create more personalized and effective speech therapy approaches.
"Together, we can empower every voice to be heard, unlock the potential in every child, shaping a brighter future through the power of speech therapy, creating a world where communication knows no boundaries."
Sally Clendon, PhD is an Associate Professor in the Speech and Language Therapy programme in the Institute of Education at Massey University. She also holds an Adjunct Associate Professor position in the Child Well-being and Research Institute at the University of Canterbury and is part of the research team for the Better Start Literacy Approach. Sally has expertise in supporting communication and literacy learning for children with complex learning support needs including those who use augmentative and alternative communication (AAC).
My name is Sally Kedge. I’m Tangata Te Tiriti, being very lucky to have lived in Tāmaki Makaurau since 2002. I’m originally from England. I’m a speech-language therapist and run a social enterprise, Talking Trouble Aotearoa NZ which partners with children, young people and adults involved with justice, care and protection and mental health processes to improve communication environments. The Talking Trouble team provide speech-language therapy, and communication assistance in courts, Family Group Conferences, police interviews, at the Parole Board, and in related settings, and also deliver professional development and projects with stakeholders. Outside of work, I’ve got a busy family and I’m passionate about music, growing and making things, podcasts and swimming at the beach with the dog.
I am a mokopuna of the great leaders of Te Rarawa and Ngati Kuri. I live in, Kaimaumau a small coastal village in the far far North on the whenua of Ngāi Takoto. I wear (too) many SLT pōtae, Massey University as Kaiakiaki, Talking Trouble as a court appointed communication assistant and Kōrero Connect - my space to be unapologetically Māori and provide Whatu, a kaitiakitanga kaupapa māori model of SLT supervision.
Symposium registrations FAQ's
Registration at the symposium, Ngā Hononga, includes the two-day event, all refreshments (morning tea and afternoon tea, lunch, dinner and breakfast), and overnight accommodation.
Ōtaki is around 1 hour’s drive from Wellington Airport and slightly longer than this from Palmerston North Airport.
Please be respectful of the tikanga of being invited into this incredible space. We will be formally welcomed onto the wānanga with a powhiri on Monday morning and farewelled on Tuesday afternoon. In order to protect the mana of this process, we ask that all attendees be on site in Otaki no later than 9.45 am on Monday morning, and that your travel arrangements allow you to stay until the symposium is formally closed on the Tuesday. In some cases, this might mean arriving in the region the night before - there is loads to explore in the surrounding area if you have the time and inclination!
Otaki has the highest number of reo Maori speakers in the country, is close to the incredible coastline of the Kapiti Coast, and has loads of accommodation nearby if you’re arriving the weekend prior to the symposium. Ōtaki Beach is an open sandy beach popular among swimmers and surfers. Te Horo Beach is a 10-minute drive, Raumati Beach is 30 minutes away, and for PSA members, there is tidy and affordable PSA accommodation at the beach.
One of our key hopes for this symposium is the opportunity to connect with your colleagues from across the motu. Wherever you’re coming from, there will be some driving involved. If you’re keen to connect with others planning a road trip, jump over and join our facebook page where we’ll support connections between attendees looking to share travel arrangements from Wellington airport or across the motu.
You can also explore Public transport options from Wellington Airport here.
Individual sleeping spaces are available, with a single bed separated with a partition. A bottom sheet, pillow, and pillowcase will be provided, but bring a sleeping bag or duvet.
Your symposium registration includes morning and afternoon teas, lunch on both days, dinner, and breakfast on site. Please note the venue is entirely alcohol free.
Café Ngapurapura is on-site and has you covered!
You can pay by credit card (MasterCard or Visa), Google Pay or PayPal.
The tikanga of Te Wānanga will include a powhiri to welcome us on site on the Monday, and a poroporoaki to farewell us on Tuesday. For this reason we won’t be offering one day registrations, and shared registrations will not be permitted. You are encouraged to come and enjoy the full two day experience.
If you need to cancel your registration, you may reassign it to another person.
Full Refund: Cancellations received on or before 15 September 2024 will receive a full refund minus a $50 processing fee.
Partial Refund: Cancellations received between 16 September and 10 October 2024 will receive a 50% refund.
No Refund: Cancellations received from 11th October 2024 are non-refundable.
Substitution Policy: Substitutions are allowed at no extra cost until 11 October. Substitutions after this date will incur a $50 processing fee, and dietary requirements may not be honoured depending on the date.
No-Show Policy: No refunds will be given to participants who do not attend the symposium without prior notice of cancellation.
Event Cancellation or Postponement: In the unlikely event that the symposium is cancelled or postponed due to unforeseen circumstances, registrants will be offered a full refund. The organisers are not responsible for any travel or accommodation costs incurred.
How to Request a Refund or Make a Substitute: To request a refund, please email us at admin@speechtherapy.org.nz. Include your registration details and reason for cancellation.
To request a substitute, please email us at admin@speechtherapy.org.nz. Please include your name, contact details, and the substitute's name and contact details, plus their dietary requirements.
No discounts apply to group bookings.
Registrations closed at 5pm on Monday 14th October so we could ensure we have accurate numbers for catering and accommodation.
You will receive an email (to the email address you provided) saying you are registered and a link back to your registration details.
You should receive a copy of your receipt once payment is made. If you would like a tax receipt, please contact the office.
We will be supported in the powhiri by our Kaumatua, Rukingi Haupapa.
