Competent communication is essential to managing everyday life and relationships, participating in study and work, and engaging with services. The first in a series of three, this webinar introduces a visual metaphor to explore how communication expectations change according to the setting a young person participates in. It examines the fictional experience of a young woman with seemingly reasonable everyday communication skills, who struggles in her post-secondary studies, part-time work and job seeking. The webinar explores the communication expectations of each setting and includes practical ideas to support a young person’s engagement and participation.
Who is this webinar for?
This webinar is suitable for anyone working with adolescents and young people in education, employment and support service settings (e.g. housing, health, drug and alcohol, mental health, peer support).
What will you learn in this webinar?
- The range of communication expectations young people manage in their everyday lives
- The additional communication skills young people need when enrolled in education and training, joining the workforce and attending support services.
- How to identify the communication expectations of your setting.
- How to adjust, adapt and accommodate young people’s communication needs.
Prior knowledge or reading
Please download the handout and slides prior to viewing the webinar. The handout includes an optional activity which viewers may complete during the webinar.
Presenter
Mary Fleming, Chief Speech Pathologist, Alfred Child and Youth Mental Health Service (1995 - 2018)
Mary has over 20 years’ experience working in a child and youth public mental health setting. Working in multi-disciplinary teams, Mary provided assessment, treatment and group interventions exploring the interaction between social, emotional, behavior and communication difficulties. She is passionate about promoting the importance of communication competence to social and mental wellbeing.
Suzanne Lim, Senior Clinician, Speech Pathologist, Eastern Health Child and Youth Mental Health Service, Melbourne
Suzanne, who graduated in 1983, is a highly experienced mental health speech pathologist. Her current role at Eastern Health Child and Youth Mental Health Service involves working with outpatient teams, adolescent inpatient and group programs, outreach and early psychosis services. Her work includes primary and secondary consultation, assessment, and interventions at a group and individual level. Suzanne has passion to build understanding, empathy, connection and hope for clients, their families and others involved with the young person. She believes that speech pathologists can play a unique role in building an understanding of the relationship between communication skills and mental health.