This presentation will examine the results of a student research project as part of the fulfillment of a Master of Speech Pathology degree from the University of Canberra. Intermediaries are impartial officers of the court who facilitate the communication of vulnerable witnesses and defendants during legal processes. The study examined the differences in intermediary service delivery in the Australian Capital Territory (ACT), Tasmania (TAS) and New Zealand (NZ) and compared these with intermediary schemes in other Australian jurisdictions, England and Wales, and Northern Ireland (NI). In doing so, the strengths, training and service needs of each jurisdiction will be highlighted and examined.

Objectives:
The objectives were to compare intermediary service delivery across various jurisdictions, examine their strengths and identify training or service needs for these programs. The aim of the presentation is to provide a concise overview of the research, methods, results and conclusions of the study.

Method:
The study consisted of a mixed-methods cross-sectional survey distributed to the directors of the intermediary schemes in the six participating Australian jurisdictions and NZ, NI and England and Wales. Data on demographics, geography, strengths, training, and service needs of each intermediary program was gathered.

Results:
Intermediaries in the ACT, TAS and NZ are highly respected, highly trained, and offered various wellbeing supports. However, geographical constraints created by jurisdiction size, and the disparity between the location of referrals and intermediaries, are perhaps the greatest challenges faced by intermediary schemes in these jurisdictions.

Conclusion:
This presentation will examine the emerging intermediary profession and the strengths and challenges facing various jurisdictions as they strive to break down barriers to communication in the justice system. The findings add to a small body of research and will prove useful for jurisdictions to evaluate their services to determine what is working well and what could be improved.

At the conclusion of the presentation attendees will take away:
1. Intermediaries are highly trained and well-respected within the legal system.
2. All intermediary schemes, except the ACT, face challenges in meeting demand for intermediary services, particularly in rural, regional and remote areas due to the limited availability of intermediaries in these areas.
3. The highly casualised workforce and resulting fluctuating availability and competing employment demands of intermediaries may limit the ability of schemes to meet demand.

This presentation will share the findings of exploratory research into the feasibility and social validity of delivering Alternative and Augmentative Communication (AAC) camps for children with a disability who do not use speech to communicate, utilising NDIS funding. The aim of this study was to determine whether a 2-day intensive camp had similar outcomes for children with disability as longer duration camps, as well as the feasibility of funding an intensive, short-stay therapy service through participants' NDIS plans. The research objectives were to assess the impact of an intensive AAC camp on the knowledge, skill and use of AAC by a child and their family and to investigate the psychosocial impacts of attending the camp. The methods used included a pre and post camp survey of participants' caregivers, a post-camp interview with the participants, and a post camp survey for staff. Qualitative data collection allowed for varied attendee perspectives to be examined including the voice of the children, which has been lacking from previous studies. The results demonstrated that the intensive nature of the camp was as effective as longer duration camps, making it a suitable option for future AAC service provision. Attendance at the camp had positive psychosocial and communication benefits for the participants and their families, including improvements in mood, motivation, attitude towards AAC, communication confidence, and a greater sense of community and acceptance both during and following the camp. This research supports the role of an intensive AAC camp as a feasible addition to AAC service provision, and as a reasonable and necessary use of NDIS funding.

1. AAC camps have a positive impact on psychosocial wellbeing of children and families.
2. Intensive AAC camps are a reasonable and necessary use of NDIS funding.
3. AAC camps delivered in a condensed, intensive format yield similar outcomes to longer camp formats