Welcome

The Organising Committee and New Zealand Speech Language Therapists' Association are delighted to invite you to Unmasked: Revealing Realities and Relationships, NZSTA's Biennial Conference, to be held in Christchurch, April 9 - 12, 2006.

The notion of Unmasked relates to revealing the links between the clinical realities of Speech Language Therapy in New Zealand and technology, current thinking, and trends in the wider field of communication and swallowing disorders.

Unmasked will provide a forum to update on contemporary research and explore topics of practical relevance to our professional lives through a wide variety of up-to-the minute paper presentations, in-depth seminars and engaging workshops by local and international presenters and respected keynote speakers. Professional and social relationships will be well catered for with daily opportunities to meet and relax together after the presentations.

The Hotel Grand Chancellor, known for its excellence as a conference facility and its quality accommodation options, is the venue for Unmasked. When it's time to unwind and with Christchurch's abundance of restaurants, designer shops, outdoor and cultural activities at its doorstep, the conference venue offers ready access to recreation opportunities. Outside the city limits there are wide ranging activities reflecting the diversity of the conference experience itself - from wineries to whale watching, culinary tours to jetboating, Akoroa's boutique French village experience to the alpine thermal springs of Hanmer. The week of conference leads into the Easter holiday season - an excellent time to consider extending your stay in the Garden City and soaking up all it has to offer.

Join us at Unmasked which promises to be an inspirational and dynamic professional development experience and a unique opportunity to re-energise professionally and socially.

Julianne Johns

Conference Convenor