TEENA CAITHNESS

About

I have been fortunate as a Speech Pathologist to achieve success in my chosen field of lifelong developmental disability.  I am a specialist in Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC).  I take great pride in working with former Speech Pathology students as they become professionals.  I have been the recipient of the Speech Pathology Australia Elinor Wray Award 2010.  I have lived and worked in both Victoria and New South Wales.  In 2004-2008 while living in NSW I ran training for disability support workers, Inclusive Communication And Behaviour Support for DADHC, and trained over 2,000 staff across the state.  I also have been involved in writing, creating publications and audiovisual materials used for training in complex communication needs and my passion, the use of Key Word Sign and natural gesture.  I like challenges and applying my skills.  My career objective is to ensure that people with complex communication needs have access to quality services, especially speech pathology, that are evidence based, and provided by individuals and their organizations driven to achieve excellence.  I am so pleased that Speech Pathology Australia has a commitment to the NDIS and supporting members to navigate this scope of practice.