Keeping you informed

• Monthly e-mail updates containing what’s new, upcoming events, important dates and information
• Clinical Issue of the Month – a new knowledge-sharing initiative for 2010
• Access to information on upcoming conferences, seminars and workshops nationally and internationally
• The NZSTA quarterly newsletter, Communication Matters, posted to you and/or available on-line as part of your subscription.  See Publications
• The annual peer reviewed New Zealand Journal of Speech-language Therapy posted to you and available on-line as part of your subscription.  See Publications
• Access to special interest groups which offer valuable support and professional development opportunities
• Access to a network of SLTs through online forums and area meetings.

Recognising and Encouraging Excellence

• Heavily discounted member rates for professional development events, including workshops, seminars, teleconferences and podcasts (coming soon)
• Heavily discounted registration for the NZSTA Biennial Conference – Wellington 2010:  Practice Worth Spreading –   April 22^nd and 23^rd 2010 at Te Papa, Wellington
• The opportunity to apply for the NZSTA awards and funding grants. These offer financial support to attend conferences or workshops and assistance to undertake research either nationally or internationally.

Exclusive on-line Resources

• Access to the NZSTA website ‘members area’ with resources available to download
• Access to the website discussion forums.

Participation

• The opportunity to contribute to your profession through area meetings, working groups, consultation groups, and clinical issue of the month
• The opportunity to share your experience, knowledge and skills with members in a supportive environment by presenting at an area meeting or at a professional development event
• The opportunity, support and encouragement to get research published and/or present it.

Additional Benefits for Full Members

As a full member you are also able to:

• Apply under the Mutual Recognition Agreement (MRA) that NZSTA signed in 2008 with Speech Pathology Australia, RCSLT, ASHA, IASLT and CASLPA.  The MRA is an agreement which allows members of signatory associations to apply for mutual recognition of their credentials from another signatory association.

• Use the letters MNZSTA after your name to recognise your membership status of your professional Association

• Stand for election to area representative and governance roles within NZSTA.

Additional Benefits for Provisional Members

As a provisional member you will be mentored while you gain experience on the pathway to full membership. 

Once you become a full member you will have access to the Mutual Recognition Agreement. This enables members of signatory associations (e.g., NZSTA) to apply for mutual recognition of their credentials from the other signatory associations – currently Speech Pathology Australia, RCSLT, CASLPA, ASHA, and the Irish Association of SLTs. Put simply, it is a time and cost effective way of becoming a member of the overseas Associations.

Additional Benefits for Student Members

As a student member the following benefits are also available to you:

• Student representatives in each NZ university training programme.  Networks are being developed by your representatives with the other programmes
• Being part of your professional association as the first step on the pathway to gaining full membership
• Eligibility for nomination for the student achievement award – presented to one student from each NZ training programme
• For post graduate students, eligibility to apply for the Research Excellence Award

Once you graduate and become a provisional member of the Association you will receive mentorship while you gain experience before progressing to full membership

Once you become a full member you will have access to the Mutual Recognition Agreement. This enables members of signatory associations (e.g., NZSTA) to apply for mutual recognition of their credentials from the other signatory associations – currently Speech Pathology Australia, the RCSLT, CASLPA, ASHA, and the Irish Association of SLTs. Put simply, it is time and cost effective way of becoming a member of the overseas Associations.