STAR Space - Speech Therapy & Reconnection

11/02/2026

Share this to help others understand Aphasia. 🧠

APHASIA TALKS: Real Words, Real Impact 💬

"Aphasia affected more than my speech.
My whole life turned upside down.
My job. Answering the phone.
Writing a text. Even ordering a cup of coffee.
Please be patient. My thinking is fine."

These words matter. This voice matters.
Aphasia changes communication.
It doesn't change who you are.
Your thoughts are there.
You deserve patience and understanding.

Share this to help others understand aphasia. 🧠

We are ARC. ❤️ We are Family.
Ending the Isolation of Aphasia.

Visit our website for your FREE aphasia wallet card today.
www.aphasiarecoveryconnection.org

11/02/2026

Many people expect voice care to be complicated. Often, it is about small, kind supports repeated over time. Hydration, rest, and pacing can gently reduce strain without needing major changes. These moments of care can fit into real, busy lives.

10/02/2026

Vocal strain does not always arrive suddenly. It often builds gradually through everyday use. Many adults live with these signs for a long time, unsure if they matter. Learning to recognise early signals can help reduce worry and support long-term vocal wellbeing.

09/02/2026

Okay, we’re a bit geeked out that Annette Rotherham is presenting at Monday’s session 🤓
If you’ve followed her PhD work on couple conversations in aphasia or her clinical practice in older persons’ mental health, you’ll know why. Plus Emma Lett sharing live insights from her ward-based QI initiative.

This is the kind of lunchtime learning we’re here for. Looking forward to sharing our new learnings with our STAR community

Big thanks to New Zealand Rehabilitation Association 🤩

Join us? 👇

09/02/2026

Many people are surprised by what TBI actually affects.

It’s not just speech.
It’s thinking, listening, fatigue, attention, and how you communicate day to day.

These are some of the most common themes that come up in speech-language therapy sessions.

Do these lessons on this TBINetwork post resonate with you?
And if you’re unsure whether speech therapy is relevant — this might be your sign to reach out.

Brain Injury is more than anyone knows...

09/02/2026

STAR Space supports New Zealand Speech-language Therapists' Association advocacy for more funded speech-language therapy across Aotearoa - to protect safety, dignity, and participation for all.

Please help amplify this message by liking and sharing.

Mondays for Change shines a light on the issues too often left out of the conversation.

More than 6,000 disabled New Zealanders under 65 live in residential homes, many with significant swallowing and communication needs.

We’re calling for 23.3 additional SLT FTE so these homes are safe to eat in and free to communicate in.

👉 speechtherapy.org.nz/advocacy

08/02/2026

The voice supports connection, work, and identity. Many adults keep going even when their voice feels strained or unreliable. This is not weakness. It is often a sign of how much the voice is being asked to do. Acknowledging that effort can be grounding and reassuring.

07/02/2026

Some voices carry a lot. Teaching, caring, leading meetings, supporting others, or simply getting through long days. When the voice feels tired, it can be worrying or frustrating. For many adults, this is a shared experience, especially during busy seasons of life. Taking a moment to notice the voice is often the first gentle step.

07/02/2026

In our communities, voices sound many different ways.
Some are strong, some are quiet, some are still finding their rhythm again.

Making space for all voices helps people feel safer to speak when they can and how they can.
That care matters.

06/02/2026

Voice care does not have to be a big task.
Often, it lives in small, quiet moments across the day.

These moments are not rules.
They are options that support comfort and ease.

05/02/2026

The muscles that help create voice are sensitive and responsive.
They often hold onto stress without us realising.

Learning about them can help explain why voice feels different at different times.
There is comfort in knowing there is a reason.

04/02/2026

Voices change with stress, health, sleep, emotions, and environment.
Noticing these patterns is not about fixing them.
It is about understanding your own voice story.

If your voice could speak about its day, what might it say?