Flinders University

Master of Speech Pathology

Graduate

Details

University Location Adelaide, South Australia
City Population 1.4 million
Student Population 26,100
Int'l Student Population 5,100
Main Campus Bedford Park
Program Campus Bedford Park
Program Duration 2 years
Estimated Annual Tuition $49,500 AUD (2024 fees; subject to increase)
Semester Intake March
Next Available Intake 2025
Application Deadline Rolling admissions*

Overview

This coursework program is founded on principles designed to encourage lifelong learning in the practice of speech pathology. It involves an innovative, integrated inquiry-based curriculum, incorporating a problem-based learning format. This approach is supported by a wide variety of teaching and learning strategies including lectures, workshops, clinical skills tutorials and practicum.

A variety of assessment methods are used, including peer and self-assessment, performance within authentic tasks and competency-based assessment of practical work.

Program

The program is highly integrated and comprises three streams of study:

1. Professional Studies and Communication Sciences
In the professional studies and communication sciences stream, the content is delivered via problem-based learning tutorials. It involves working through a weekly case study in small groups facilitated by a tutor and followed up with independent learning. These case studies are also supported by lectures and other learning resources and cover the areas of professional practice: speech, language, voice, fluency, swallowing and multimodal communication. These areas are considered in relation to lifespan development and socio-cultural context and how they impact health and well-being.

2. Speech Pathology Skills and Practice
In the speech pathology skills and practice topic stream, you are allocated to work-integrated learning placements under the supervision of placement educators. Regular clinical skills tutorials on campus support development of skills and knowledge.

The Flinders University Speech and Language Early Intervention Clinic is a private clinic run by Speech Pathology & Audiology in the College of Nursing and Health Sciences. The clinic provides speech and language assessment and therapy services to children between 18 months and 6 years of age. Ongoing services are available for children under 6 years of age.

This clinic is run by an experienced speech pathology clinical educator who is employed by Flinders University. As a speech pathology student in the clinic, you will gain additional clinical placement hours and will be directly supervised by the speech pathology clinical educator.

3. Research Methods
The research methods stream aims to ensure you become familiar with evidence-based practice in the discipline of speech pathology. It also supports you to understand, critique and apply research methodology, so that you are an informed consumer of research, can use it to inform your practice and are able to develop an understanding of yourself as a practitioner-researcher.

You will experience work-integrated learning from the start of your program, practicing your skills under the supervision of clinical educators. Extensive practical experience commences in the first three weeks of the course and continues throughout. Placements may be in Adelaide, country areas of South Australia or the Northern Territory, and in some circumstances overseas.

Clinical Placements
You will typically undertake four clinical placements—two in Year 1, and two in Year 2. Placements are provided in a range of settings including childcare centres, state and independent schools, disability services, hospitals, rehabilitation centres, community health centres, and aged care facilities. These will take place in Adelaide, regional areas of South Australia and the Northern Territory and, in some circumstances, overseas.

Based on feedback from former OzTREKK students, Flinders professors do their best to ensure their Canadian students achieve the minimum 20 audiology hours and other requirements needed for practice in Canada.

Admission Requirements

Completed bachelor’s degree
You must have a completed undergraduate degree from a recognized university with a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.7/4.0 (approximately 70%+).

Admission Timeline

*Applications are assessed on a rolling-admissions basis. You are encouraged to apply as early as possible. For the 2024 intake, the program filled by July 27, 2023.

1/1

“I like the program.”

I like the program. Dislike some of the organizational aspects of the course and some difficulties with placement (not sure if this is just at my uni or others as well). I like the class size and approach with problem-based learning. Course delivery could sometimes be improved. Prepare yourself that work, social, and school can be tough to balance (the department recommends students not to work as the course is intense), be prepared that it can take a while to find a good group of friends.

Kellita K
Master of Speech Pathology
Flinders University, 2023