A Griffith Speech Pathology School student’s story
She sells seashells on the seashore.
The shells she sells are seashells, I’m sure.
For if she sells seashells on the seashore
Then I’m sure she sells seashore shells.
Did you garble that one? So did we.
When most people think about speech pathology, they probably think of the study of helping people who stutter or have a lisp. While it’s true that speech pathologists do help with those issues, their scope of practice is a whole lot broader, including speech delays, fluency, voice and resonance, swallowing and feeding, cognitive-communication, literacy… and much more!
Back in 2016, we chatted with Ritoo, a former OzTREKKer and Griffith speech pathology student. Originally from Vancouver, Ritoo first earned a bachelor’s degree in linguistics and psychology with a focus on child language development at Simon Fraser University.
Here’s her story about studying speech path Down Under!
Why speech pathology at Griffith University?
Ritoo became interested in speech pathology after watching her grandmother go through speech therapy to help her communication following a stroke. She had always had an interest in child language development and working with children with special needs, particularly children on the autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Therefore, she decided to pursue a career that meshed both interests together: speech pathology.
Stroke patients and children with special needs are just two of many populations that require support for their speech and language skills, which is why this career is so appealing. There are so many different paths one can take, making a difference in each one.
After applying to the Canadian system for four consecutive years to no avail, she chose to try her luck applying abroad. Griffith University stood out as a program she wanted to attend because of how it was structured: it is only two years in length, utilizes problem-based learning (PBL) for all topics, and provides clinical experience right away, starting in the first week of classes. Hands-on learning had always been important to her, and this program allows students to apply everything they learn to real environments. She would really recommend this program to anyone considering it.
What’s Not to Love?
She absolutely loved the program!
Every day, students learn about amazing topics which are delivered in interesting ways, be it through a problem-based learning session, a clinical skills tutorial, or a specialist lecture in which a renowned professional delivers a presentation incorporating firsthand experience. Every topic covered in PBL is supported by lectures and clinical practice, which consolidates the students’ knowledge on that topic. It is truly amazing how Griffith has structured this program to best teach its students.
Tough Love
Ritoo knew coming into the program that it was going to be tough, but she admits it was even harder than expected. Since it is a condensed two-year program (others are two-and-a-half years), students have a lot on their plate at any given time in the semester, which leaves little spare time. Students have a wonderfully supportive cohort and professors to guide them and keep them on the right track. Also, the first-year speech pathology students are matched with second-year students in a mentorship program, which provides the first years with tips and tricks to do well on assignments and exams. Keep in mind that a condensed program also allows you to graduate faster and start earning sooner!
Application Process
After completing the program, you’ll need to write the Canadian board exam, which will allow you to transfer your credentials from Australia to Canada. Although this is a tedious process, the program director ensures that the Canadian students meet all the required hours and coursework criteria prior to the last semester of courses, so you know you are in good standing when you finish.
Ritoo signed up for accommodation with the Griffith University Village (GUV) while she was still in Canada because she wanted the comfort of being close to campus for her first semester while getting oriented with the new location. She believes this was a mistake! The village is not cut out for people studying in a program as intense as the Master of Speech Pathology. It is a very young crowd, and there is a lot of partying at all hours of the day (and night). So, if one is looking for a quiet place to stay, she would not recommend GUV.
She decided to live about 20 minutes away from campus in Surfer’s Paradise and paid less per week for a two-bedroom apartment, only a couple of minutes’ walk to the beach. One can find lots of options on Flatmates, and some other suburbs to look for include Southport, Ashmore, Labrador, and Main Beach. The beaches are lovely! It’s so beautiful on the Gold Coast; any free minute you get, you can head to the beach to soak in the sun. The people there are great, very friendly, and always happy to help.
Advice for Newbies?
Do it! It’s such a great experience! The university is great, with state-of-the-art facilities and lots of places to study and eat. The tram line stops at Griffith University station and the Gold Coast University Hospital station, so it’s pretty easy to take transit to and from. There are a few shopping areas nearby the university to get groceries: Australia Fair and Harbour Town. However, she warns that all the shops close early every day except for Thursdays, which is “late-night shopping day.” She has found most of the products she would shop for back home, and the prices are relatively the same for most things. However, coffee and makeup are expensive, so she advises newcomers to bring their own!
Master of Speech Pathology at Griffith University
The speech pathology program at Griffith is located in their $150-million purpose-built Griffith Health Centre, which is part of an exciting Health and Knowledge Precinct which also incorporates the new $1.76-billion Gold Coast University Hospital.
Program: Master of Speech Pathology
Location: Gold Coast, Queensland
Trimester intake: March
Duration: 2 years
Application deadline: Rolling admissions; you’re encouraged to apply as early as possible.
Entry Requirements: You must have a completed undergraduate degree in an area other than speech pathology from a recognized university with a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.7/4.0 to proceed to interview. While prerequisite study areas are not required, desirable areas include psychology, health science, public health, medical science, human services, education, and linguistics. You must have a satisfactory performance in an interview with a speech pathology academic staff member.
Start Your Application to Griffith University Speech Pathology School!
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