Theme: Students, the future of speech-language therapy - Te Whai Ao
SLT Awareness Week 2026 took place from 14–20 September 2026 and focussed on the future of speech-language therapy in Aotearoa New Zealand and the next generation of speech-language therapists entering the profession.
Te Whai Ao refers to the first light before dawn — a time of emergence, possibility, growth, and becoming. Within the context of this year’s campaign, it reflects the future of the profession, the energy and perspectives students bring, and the ongoing evolution of speech-language therapy across Aotearoa New Zealand.
Speech-language therapists work in diverse communities and settings to support communication and swallowing for people of all ages. As the need for these services continues to grow, so too does the importance of inspiring future clinicians and promoting speech-language therapy as a meaningful and impactful career pathway.
A key focus of this year’s campaign was students — the future of the profession. Throughout the week, NZSTA showcased student voices, experiences, aspirations, and the many different pathways into speech-language therapy.
SLT Awareness Week 2026 also aligns with Te Wiki o te Reo Māori, recognising the significance of language within culture, identity, whānau, and community. This alignment reflects NZSTA’s commitment to a bicultural future and to strengthening communication access, participation, and connection for all people across Aotearoa New Zealand.
Why did our students chose speech-language therapy?
BSLP Year 4 placement
It’s not just about what happens during a day on placement. Our students are already finding ways to share their knowledge and celebrate the profession within their workplaces.
BSLP Year 4 students, Molly Stagg, Sofia Töes and Emily Shrimpton, created this awesome display for SLT Awareness Week while on placement at Christchurch Hospital.
The display showcases the breadth of speech-language therapy, from communication and swallowing to the different pathways into the profession. What a fantastic way to share their learning and help bring SLT to life for the wider hospital community!
Thank you, Molly, Sofia and Emily, for helping us celebrate SLT Awareness Week!
Where could being an SLT take you?
How the NZSTA supports accreditation
Throughout SLT Awareness Week, we’ve been celebrating the future of our profession through student voices, student stories and student perspectives.
We’ve heard why students chose speech-language therapy, what they’re discovering along the way, and what they’re looking forward to as they begin their careers.
But what shapes the next generation of speech-language therapists?
It’s more than what happens in a classroom.
Students are shaped by their educators, clinical experiences, university communities, whānau, the communities they learn alongside and the profession that welcomes them.
We saw this in action during the University of Auckland speech-language therapy programme reaccreditation visit. The day began with a pōwhiri at Waipapa Marae, followed by conversations with university senior leaders, programme staff and students at the Grafton campus.
NZSTA’s Programme Accreditation Framework supports high-quality speech-language therapy education in Aotearoa New Zealand, working alongside university programmes to help prepare graduates for the profession they are entering.
This is Te Whai Ao: the future taking shape.
Students are the future of speech-language therapy, and we all have a part to play in shaping what comes next.
Find out more about NZSTA’s Programme Accreditation Framework:
Awareness Week Quiz
A career in speech-language therapy can take you in more directions than you might expect.
From studying to clinical practice, research, postgraduate study, leadership and specialist areas, there are many different ways to find your place within the profession.
Our SLT Awareness Week quiz night in Ōtautahi Christchurch was a great example of those different pathways coming together.
Teams brought together students, speech-language therapists and postgraduate researchers, with people at different stages of their journeys into and through the profession. And, naturally, there were some very creative team names along the way!
Congratulations to The Throat Clearers, Sorry Tika, our winning team, made up of two students, an SLT and PhD candidate, and an SLT post-doc.
Taking out second place was Las Vagus, with three SLTs and one student. Another great mix of experience and perspectives coming together for the night!
There was also a tie for Best Team Name between The Cranial Nerds and When in Doubt, Schwa It Out, while It’s Not Aphas-ia took out the special Grandfather Passage round created by our Executive Director, Annette Rotherham.
What we loved most was seeing students and SLTs connecting, sharing knowledge, having a laugh and getting to know each other beyond the classroom or workplace.
A special thank you to NZSTA member Bernice Goh, who organised the event and brought everyone together for such a fun evening. Thank you also to Annette, our Executive Director, for helping host parts of the night, and to all the SLTs and students who helped make the evening happen.
Previous Awareness Weeks
15 September - 21 September 2025
In 2025, NZSTA Awareness Week celebrated how communication is at the heart of wellbeing — for individuals, whānau, and entire communities. Speech-language therapists work in diverse spaces to support communication, swallowing, connection, and identity — all key to holistic hauora.
At the same time, this campaign turned the mirror inward, encouraging SLTs to reflect on their own wellbeing and how we can support one another as a professional community.
Each day, we focused on a different pillar of wellbeing:
23rd – 29th September
The theme of this year’s awareness week is celebrating difference, inspired by the whakataukī E koekoe te tūī, e ketekete te kākā, e kūkū te kererū. We encourage members to consider how to use this theme in any SLT awareness week events they may be considering.
The association will celebrate the week in a number of ways.
Online awareness posts
Daily infographic focused on understanding communication differences – e.g., AAC, stuttering, aphasia, language, speech, artificial voice, selective mutism. If you have anything in particular you would like us to profile – please get in touch!
Online awareness campaign with daily posts of stories celebrating communication difference. Please see the social media post below and consider making a submission!
Social media post – initial call for stories
Share Your Story: Celebrating Difference!
E koekoe te tūī, e ketekete te kākā, e kūkū te kererū.
We believe that every voice is unique and that diversity in communication enriches our world. As we celebrate Speech-language Therapy Awareness Week, we want to hear your stories of embracing and celebrating differences—whether it’s about a unique way of communicating or the incredible impact of speech and language therapy.
Have you or a loved one experienced a unique communication journey?
How is communication your superpower?
Have speech and language therapy services made a difference in your life, helping you embrace and celebrate your individuality?
Are you an SLT offering speech language therapy services with a difference?
Share your stories with us! Whether it’s a personal experience, a moment of triumph, or a heartfelt message, we want to celebrate the power of diversity and the incredible ways we all express ourselves.
To participate in this celebration of difference, email us with your story - communications@speechtherapy.org.nz. Feel free to include any creative expressions—art, poetry, a video, or even a song! The most creative expression will be awarded a gorgeous prize pack!
We’ll pull together these stories in a series of social media posts during our upcoming SLT Awareness Week – by submitting your story, you give permission for us to share.
Submissions close Sunday September 8th!
Shared story event
Come along to a special Ngā Pakiwaitara session on Tuesday 24th September, 10.30am at Tūranga Library in Christchurch, to celebrate Speech-language Therapy Awareness Week 2024. Along with our friends from Tūranga Library, we’ll be sharing stories and songs in English, te reo Māori and New Zealand Sign Language, celebrating the beautiful diversity of communication in Aotearoa. There’ll be stickers, a colouring in competition, and spot prizes! Hope to see you there.
If you would like to run something similar in your area, contact your local library, or consider a similar event at a local school or ECE.
Suggested books for shared reading
More Than Words by Roz MacLean
Boy by Phil Cummings
All The Ways to Be Smart – Davina Bell
Wanda’s Words Got Stuck – Lucy Rowland
Colouring in competition
Children under 12 are welcomed to enter our NZSTA awareness week colouring in competition! Please download and print the colouring in page and send the completed entry back to communications@speechtherapy.org.nz by Wednesday September 18th, to be in the draw to win a prize pack! We encourage the addition of beautiful native New Zealand birds to the page, to compliment the whakataukī that our theme is based on this year.
Digital resources
There are a range of digital resources available for printing and displaying for awareness week, including A2 and A3 posters and a sticker template.
A3 poster
Ngā Reo o Aotearoa poster - jpg format
Ngā Reo o Aotearoa poster - pdf format
Sticker - png format
Sticker - jpg format
Working together, in partnership, towards a common goal
18 – 24 September 2023
Speech Language Therapy Awareness Week is coming up on the 18th-24th of September! This year’s theme is ‘Kotahitanga’, a Māori concept referring to working together in partnership towards a common goal. As part of awareness week, the NZSTA will be preparing a seven-day social media campaign, showcasing examples of SLT partnerships in the spirit of kotahitanga. We invite submissions from SLTs around the country, celebrating their partnerships. This could be with a client or patient, an organisation, or multidisciplinary based.
Submissions closed on Thursday 24th August.
Resources:
Awareness-Week-Resources/Awareness-Week-2023-A2-poster.pdf
Awareness-Week-Resources/Awareness-Week-2023-A3-poster.pdf
Awareness-Week-Resources/Awareness-Week-2023-Animated.mp4
AROHA
Aroha mai, aroha atu
18 – 25 September 2022
#aroha
#NZSTA22
#payitforwardwitharoha
Aroha mai, aroha atu = Aroha received, aroha given.
After a couple of years of uncertainty and difficulties navigating a global pandemic, this year’s theme could provide a much-needed pick-me-up! Let’s show some aroha for our profession and everyone within it! Aroha means more than ‘love’.
Many Māori kīwaha (phrases) like this one are small but broad and deep. It is based on life experiences and is value loaded. It is not an academic exercise and is hard to learn. It is simply who you are and how you do.
Aroha is expressed in many of the arts like waiata and is shown in so many ways. It is when you add your own view of love based on a memory with someone or something that triggers your emotions, and that is aroha. - good, bad or sad.
Dr Rangimarie Pere, in her book Te Wheke says, ‘Aroha is an important concept in regard to the survival and true strength of whanaungatanga (kinship ties, extended family across all universes) … Aroha is not to be talked about; it is only meaningful when actioned … Caring for people and sharing is also quite commonplace for Māori people who have retained the traditions of old.’
What does aroha mean to you, and how can you reciprocate aroha to others?
Te wero to members: pay it forward with aroha
Congratulations to Polly Newton for the winning video entry - how many ways can you say Aroha.
You can watch the winning entry below and with other video uploads on our Facebook page.
Resources:
