Are you considering a career in speech pathology?
What is a speech pathologist?
Speech pathologists coordinate the management of clients, work as part of a multidisciplinary team, consult with other agencies, provide workshops and support family members and other caregivers. A speech pathologist is an important member of an early intervention team, an aged care services team and a school therapy team.
The role of speech pathologists is to advocate strongly for appropriate care and services for people with communication disabilities.
Speech pathologists work with children and adults with communication difficulties caused by congenital or developmental problems, illness, and emotional or physical trauma. These difficulties include multiple problems with speaking, understanding what people say, reading, writing, voice problems and stuttering. Speech pathologists also work with children and adults who have swallowing difficulties or need alternative, non-verbal ways to communicate. They work in hospitals, schools, health centres, special schools, universities and sometimes with professionals in the workplace.
Where do speech pathologists work?
Speech pathologists usually work in hospitals, community health centres, nursing homes, schools, rehabilitation services, special schools and classes (such as for children with hearing impairment or developmental delay), in rehabilitation centres and in private practice.
Where can I see a speech pathologist at work?
Some private speech pathologists will accept brief visits by prior arrangement from people interested in finding out more about what speech pathologists do. They will show you the clinic and talk to you about their job. Telephone a clinic near you to see if this is possible.
Most large hospitals employ speech pathologists and so do many community and area health centres. They may let you observe for an hour or two.
Australian universities offer undergraduate and graduate-entry professional certification programs in speech pathology, as well as a wide range of postgraduate options in specialized areas. Speech pathology programs in Australia aim to equip students with the theoretical knowledge, skills and professional attributes necessary for a career in speech pathology. Graduate qualifications in speech pathology from Australian Speech Pathology Schools are recognized internationally, and graduates are eligible to apply for certification in Canada.
The following OzTREKK Australian universities offer graduate-entry speech pathology programs, which allow graduates to apply to become certified as speech pathologists:
- Griffith University Speech Pathology School
- Macquarie University Speech Pathology School
- University of Melbourne Speech Pathology School
- University of Queensland Speech Pathology School
- University of Sydney Speech Pathology School
It is recommended that Canadian students understand the certification requirements and procedures of their Canadian provincial licensing body prior to applying or accepting an offer of admission to a speech pathology degree.
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