Reflections from 2026 AVA Conference

We asked the 2026 AVA Scholarship recipients to reflect on the recent AVA Conference...here is Alexandra Dirie's reflection:

I was offered the opportunity to attend the AVA conference, “One but Many” as a recipient of the AVA Student Scholarship. The weekend was filled with learning and opportunities to connect with others over a shared passion for voice. As a Speech Pathology student with a background in singing, I was excited to find a space where science, artistry and clinical practice sat side by side.

The keynote addresses by Dr Ron Morris and Dr Irene Bartlett approached voice with both scientific insight and a deep appreciation of artistry. Dr Bartlett’s second keynote workshop had us up and moving first thing on Sunday, setting an energetic, connected tone for the day. These sessions built on my university learning and offered a valuable professional lens that I had not previously experienced.

I particularly enjoyed learning about research conducted by Speech Pathologists and ENT colleagues. Melanie Smart’s research on a speech pathology-led vocal cord check pathway for patients undergoing thyroid surgery, and Dr Jae Murphy’s presentation on advanced-practice speech pathology at Austin Health, showed Speech Pathologists acting as a first point of contact within ENT-supervised services, helping to reduce wait times which I was surprised to learn were extremely long. I left inspired by the idea of Speech Pathologists upskilling to work in these roles, with appropriate training and ENT oversight, and by what that could mean for timely access to voice care.

The most valuable part of the weekend was multidisciplinary networking. At the rooftop drinks I was able to speak with Speech Pathologists, ENT professionals, singers and singing teachers, all brought together by a shared passion for voice. Hearing about their pathways offered me a clearer picture of the many ways to specialise in voice, and how imperative collaboration is within the field.

I am grateful to have attended the conference on a student scholarship, and I encourage students with a particular interest in voice to get involved with the AVA and attend future learning opportunities as it is a fantastic way to connect with clinicians and professionals in the field. As a student member of the AVA, I look forward to further opportunities and involvement within the Australian voice community.