Congratulations Trinh Foundation: 12 years old

Recently Trinh Foundation Australia (TFA) marked 12 years of supporting the development of the speech-language pathology (speech and language therapy) profession in Vietnam.

TFA's Mission
To improve the quality of life of Vietnamese people through collaborations and
To develop knowledge and skills in management of communication and speech disorders in Vietnam.

Their latest newsletter outlines many of their achievements: https://mailchi.mp/22b69149187d/benefits-of-volunteering-in-vietnam-4943873?e=bec50f8ff8

Our VietSpeech team has had a lot of involvement over the years, and some of our involvement has been highlighted in this newsletter
1. Dr Sarah Verdon is a Trinh Foundation Board Member

Regular TFA Board meetings are held virtually by Zoom, about 10 times each year, and once a year we meet face to face for our annual strategic planning day- this year on 7 March...

2. Kate Margetson has begun a new (extra) position with the Trinh Foundation

"TFA are pleased to announce the commencement of our newest project with our partners Humanity and Inclusion at the end of this month. This exciting project, supported by USAID, will be associated with Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) in Vietnam, and is planned for two phases. Phase one involves mapping followed by a Needs Assessment of current AAC across Vietnam. We are delighted that previous TFA volunteer Ms Kate Margetson has accepted a consultant role for this important and needed project. Kate, who will work remotely from Australia, has extensive experience in this area, having developed an iPad app when volunteering at the Kianh Foundation in Vietnam in 2015-16. She will be ably assisted in Vietnam by the current leader of the Vietnamese Speech Therapy network Dr Thao. (UPNT Graduate 2010-12). Following completion of phase one, recommendations will be made to Humanity and Inclusion regarding the development or application of an existing APP to suit the Vietnamese context as phase two of the project. This APP will meet the critical needs of a large cross section of the Vietnamese community who experience significant communication impairment."

3. Dr Sarah Verdon, Dr Ben Pham and Prof Sharynne McLeod currently are supervising Masters students' research in Vietnam

"And thanks also to the Australian academics and Dr Ben Pham in Hanoi who have used the unexpectedly available time as a result of the suspension of teaching in the Master degree to work intensively with the students on their thesis research proposals and ethics applications, while also still working in the new normal in Australia and Vietnam. "

4. Prof Sharynne McLeod's congratulations were published in the newsletter:

“Congratulations to Lindy McAllister and Sue Woodward for their vision and long-term commitment and all of the dedicated board members, students, staff, volunteers, lecturers, clinical educators, family members, donors and so many others who have worked hard towards the goal of the right to communicate for everyone in Vietnam.” Professor Sharynne McLeod - Charles Sturt University and volunteer lecturer