From June 25–27, 2026, we had the pleasure of attending the Speech Pathology Australia (SPA) 2026 Conference at the Gold Coast Convention and Exhibition Centre (GCCEC).
Focused heavily on advocacy and contemporary, evidence-based practice, the event drew practitioners and researchers nationwide. Like previous years, the conference continued to offer us a fascinating opportunity to connect with industry professionals that share our curiosity and enthusiasm for the profession.
Key themes discussed at the conference this year
The conference kicked off with CEO Lyn Brodie and the board unveiling the SPA Strategic Plan for the coming year emphasizing advocacy, the NDIS, and workforce regulation. Leading researcher Prof. Cristina McKean delivered a keynote lecture on child language development. Her keynote explored reflection in a changing world and how the profession can continue to evolve through collaboration and shared learning. There was also a deeply insightful session by Dr. Anita Heiss which highlighted First Nations leadership and how to build a culturally responsive practice.
Major industry challenges were also discussed
The conference took place against a backdrop of major sector changes, making it a pivotal year for advocacy discussions. Some of these included:
NDIS pricing freeze
Attendees expressed deep concern over the NDIA recommending a maximum price limit of $193.99/hour. This marked seven consecutive years without an increase despite rising operating costs.
Medicare expansion
Celebrated as a massive advocacy win, the government's introduction of Medicare-funded access for individuals under 25 with cleft lip/palate, stuttering, and speech disorders was a major focal point.
HPSS award wages
Members engaged heavily in discussions regarding the five-stage minimum wage increases being implemented for speech pathologists to correct historic undervaluation.
Our top takeaways from the conference
Leveraging the power of automation
In a year rife with pressure due to industry shifts such as the NDIS changes and rate stagnation, there is a growing demand to understand and deploy automation as an efficiency multiplier. For us at splose, this proved to be a relevant conversational starter. Practitioners were keen to learn about how our platform streamlines client onboarding and can help reduce no-shows, which helps guard revenue and time for their practice.
AI as a required standard of excellence
The majority of practitioners we spoke to acknowledged they want to start using AI tools. For the ones that are using some AI, their usage has mostly been bolt-on. They were looking for options that fit more intuitively into their practice.
For each of these customer types, we were immediately able to demonstrate value. Those looking to adopt AI were excited to see how splose AI transformed session transcripts and client history into structured, formatted drafts.
Those currently using some variation of AI tools were impressed by how splose AI offered access directly into document templates without having to switch between context windows. They also saw the value in investing in a system that was fully customisable to their documentation style and could be deployed across their practice as one, consistent block library.
The need to eliminate friction
Several practitioners expressed an interest in exploring new practice management platforms. But were hesitant to commit because they were concerned about the time cost of switching platforms. This perceived friction was a key observation for us. Over the course of the conference, our team successfully demonstrated how seamless switching to splose could be both in terms of data migration and subsequent onboarding of every clinician within a practice.
As we wrapped up, we left with a strong, positive sentiment that providers are keen to prove their value. With focussed session on the theme of ‘private practice’, we saw practitioners explore new ways to unlock capacity. This gave splose a unique opportunity to demonstrate its utility from day one of being deployed within a practice. From streamlining the onboarding process to optimising client sessions with AI, splose continues to demonstrate how it's built from the ground up with practitioners in mind.
Thank you
We loved meeting and speaking with so many Speech Pathologists who stopped by our booth, shared their journey, or just came over to say hello. We continue to be amazed by the incredible work every practitioner does in clinics, schools and homes.
And of course, a heartfelt thank you to Speech Pathology Australia for hosting such a thoughtful and empowering event. We’re proud to support speech pathologists with tools that make practice life easier and more impactful and will be back with even more ideas (and coffee) next year.
