Job Kit Speech Pathologist

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Speech pathologist Work with people of all ages to support the development, rehabilitation and maintenance of effective communication and swallowing skills

Study speech pathology

CRICOS 00004G | PRV12008

Are you fascinated by the power of communication and eager to help others find their voice? Speech pathology could be your perfect calling.

Speech pathologists play a vital role in diagnosing communication and swallowing difficulties across all age groups and supporting individuals, families and communities with communication and swallowing needs. As a speech pathology student, you’ll delve into the science of speech, language, voice, hearing and swallowing. You’ll learn how to assess and provide intervention for a wide range of conditions. Your work may help children develop intelligible speech and build skills in using and understanding language or assist adults recovering from strokes or managing degenerative diseases to communicate and swallow effectively. You have the potential to profoundly impact individuals’ lives.

Find out more acu.edu.au/speech-path

Career opportunities are diverse and rewarding. You could work in hospitals, early intervention, schools, private practices, rehabilitation centres or community health organisations. There’s also the potential to specialise in a wide range of areas such as literacy, alternative and augmentative communication, dementia, head and neck cancer and to engage in future research and academic employment. The demand for speech pathologists is growing, ensuring a stable and fulfilling career with opportunities for advancement and specialisation.

By choosing speech pathology, you’re not just embarking on a career; you’re joining a community dedicated to improving communication and quality of life for others.

Your expertise will empower individuals to express themselves, connect with others, and lead more fulfilling lives.

FOREWORD

Contribute to the common good

jane mccormack Speech Pathologist and acu lecturer

le are always As speech pathologists, peop at the heart of the work we do

S

peech pathology wasn’t always on my radar. I come from a family of teachers and thought I’d probably become one too.

I wanted to support people’s learning. Then at school, one of my teachers suggested speech pathology as a career. It combined the service and teaching elements I was interested in, so I explored it during Year 10 work experience.

I really enjoyed it and have been fortunate enough to end up in an academic role that allows me to teach speech pathology. For me, it’s the best of both worlds.

As a speech pathologist, you’re tasked with supporting people to communicate effectively so they can share their ideas, express their opinions, communicate with friends and participate in all sorts of life activities. This may be through speech, sign or technological devices. You also assist with swallowing and feeding, which are really important to our daily lives. Just think about the role that mealtimes play, including the social and nutritional aspects, as well as the enjoyment that food brings! So the profession is one that is practical and really meaningful.

One of the reasons I find speech pathology so interesting is that it combines sciences and the humanities. ACU’s Bachelor of Speech Pathology requires an understanding of psychology,

Communication and swallowing are the two key areas of focus for speech pathologists, and I believe both are central to a positive and fulfilling human life” Doctor of Philosophy; Bachelor of Health Science (Speech Pathology) (Honours; Class 1) Speech pathologist, South West Healthcare, Warrnambool

anatomy, physiology an d neuroscience, and also draws on linguistics and phonetics, culture, ethics and community. It’s a goo d choice for people who enjoy science, but who wa nt to apply it in a way that feels very person-ce ntred and meaningful.

With the Bachelor of Sp eech Pathology, you can deliver real functional ou tcomes for individuals, families, and communit ies.

We’ve also redesigned the delivery mode to increase access from rur al and regional areas. We want students to be able to study speech patholog y without needing to leave their home community.

If you’re thinking about becoming a speech pathologist, consider the talents, and interests tha t you have – if you love sci ence and the arts, this could be the perfect job for you!

Associate Professor Jan e McCormack Head of Discipline, Speec h Pathology, ACU Certified practising member of Speech Pathology Australia

Associate Professor and Head of Discipline (Speech Pathology), Charles Sturt University

Assistant/Deputy Head of School (NSW), School of Allied Health, ACU

Senior Lecturer, Department of Human Communication Sciences, The University of Sheffield

Associate Professor and Head of Discipline (Speech Pathology), ACU

Check out CareerswithSTEM.com for more insights, information, inspiration and advice about careers in speech pathology!

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SPEECH PATHOLOGIST

DEEP DIVE

y e k s i n o i t a c i n Commu Set yourself up for success in a rewarding, in-demand career!

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speech pathologist is an allied health professional who works to assess, diagnose and support people with communication difficulties like speaking, listening and understanding language, as well as swallowing difficulties. They help using language therapy and speech exercises, as well as communication aids and devices.

Speech pathology is a super important career where you can make a real difference. If you’re keen to improve people’s quality of life in your 9-to-5, this is a study and career path to seriously consider. Explore opportunities in speech pathology, and what you need to study to get there, below!

Pay day

According to SEEK, the average annual salary for a speech pathologist ranges from $85,000 to $100,000.

to-do list On the job, you could be tasked with…

Talking with people and administering assessments that will help n identify their communicatio or swallowing needs

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Identifying intervention goals with individuals and families

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Developing intervention plans for individuals and ds families based on their nee

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Working with individuals in intervention sessions or to practise communication ng cki tra swallowing skills and ls progress towards their goa

WORDS: LOUISE MEERS | IMAGES: SUPPLIED / SHUTTERSTOCK

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Working with other health professionals to make sure people are receiving holistic care

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Speechie shortage Jobs and Skills Australia rep orts a shortage of speech pathologists across all states and territories. Speech Pathology Australia says, “Av ailabilit y of speech pathology ser vices is not mee ting the level of need and demand in Australia... not all people who need speech pathology ser vices can access them.” So there’s no bet ter time to jum p on this study and career path – you’ll be in high dem and when you graduate!

Educating families and the wider community about communication and swallowing needs

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See the world while you study n link

ACU you ca Did you know that at th local and global wi its your theoretical un nt experiences? community engageme Speech Pathology, With the Bachelor of ort-term you can jump on a Sh Experience in International Study m and India, countries like Vietna or study at ACU’s Rome campus.

Where you’ll work • Hospitals • Aged care • Schools • Community health centres • Rehabilitation centres • Mental health services • Justice system • Private practices • Academia and research

Get there

Who you’ll work with Young children

Support development of their communication skills, verbally or non-verbally.

School students

Work with educators to promote language, literacy and social communication.

Adults

Help people whose capacity for communication and swallowing has been impacted.

gist, you’ll To become a speech patholo pathology ech spe a ke erta need to und ech Spe qualification accredited by ’s ACU like Pathology Australia, gy.

Bachelor of Speech Patholo gram will pro gy holo pat ech spe ACU’s ess ass give you the skills you need to vide pro as l wel and diagnose needs, as is t tha t por sup intervention and sitive and person-centred, culturally sen be can evidence based. The degree ney Syd , rne bou studied in Brisbane, Mel ra ber Can ’s ACU At and Canberra. red with a campus, the program is offe re flexible mode of delivery, whe l areas iona reg students from rural and y. stud to cate don’t need to relo ut the Scan here to learn more abo and its ogy hol Pat ech Spe Bachelor of ments and course details, entry require pathways

The elderly

Work with those experiencing progressive neurological conditions, to ensure they can communicate effectively and swallow safely.

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Get hands-on experience ACU speech pathology studen ts undertake community-based experiences in first year, and work placements every year after, including a simulation experience. Here, students engage in highly realistic interactions with high-tech manikins and actors to develo p and practise interpersonal and decision-making skills. Other placements occur across a range of settings, like school s, hospitals, early intervention services and/or private practices. Students work wit h people across the lifespan, under the supervision of qualified speech pathologists .

Students are spoiled for cho ice as ACU has over 500 speech pathology placement partne rs!

These include: •A ustin Health •B arwon Health • C abrini • E pworth •H ealthscope • K nox Private Hospital

•M ercy Health

•M etro North Health – Queensland Government •N SW Health •R amsay Health • S t Vincent’s Hospital • T herapy Alliance Group • T he Royal Melbourne Hospital • T he Sydney Children’s Hospitals Network •U nitingCare •W estern Health

SPEECH PATHOLOGIST

REAL PEOPLE

Student speechie

Pathology, Bachelor of Speeching) ACU (ongo

WORDS: SAMANTHA WHEELER | IMAGES: SUPPLIED

tant, Allied health assisclinic private paediatric

ACU speech pathologist student, Maddy Harris, is already reaping the benefits of this hands-on degree!

M

ping addy has always loved hel so , ple peo th and working wi lth made hea ied all in h a career pat of options, like sense. She looked at lots d physiotherapy, occupational therapy an s what but speech pat holog y wa erest. She’s int her ued piq ly ultimate ACU’s now in her fourth year of y. log Bachelor of Speech Patho ddy Ma U, AC In her first year at e orc rkf Wo h alt was selected by He OW GR the of rt pa be Queensland to es people Rural program, which giv d medical studying allied hea lth an connect with the disciplines the chance to al trips in rural nu communit y. She took an the first three years for nd areas around Queensla of her degree. ence of working rurally Maddy loved the experi different communities. and meeting people from selected for that.”

“I felt pretty lucky to get a placement with Now she’s under taking , which provides ACU’s own hea lth clinic care, supported by student- delivered hea lth university supervisors.

maddy harris speech pathology student

i’m just loving the ad ult space, and I could defi ni te ly see myself working in it”

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Maddy is currently worki ng in communit y rehab with adu lts and focusing on neurologica l disorders like Parkinson’s disease.

She loves studying at AC U because it’s a tight-knit universi ty. “I’ve made so many friends in my cou rse and the tutors all know you by name.”

Looking ahead, Maddy is excited to jump into the workforce. She loves working with adu lts and is also looking for ward to a paediatric placement next semester.

Maddy wants to work wi th big organisations such as Queensland He alt h or the Queensland Department of Educatio n someday.

As a new grad speech pat hologist, she’ll be in high demand and will have so many opportunities and pat hs to explore!

. .. f o e f li e h t in y a Ad T S I G O L O H T A P H C A RURAL SPEE

aped her path to rural allied sh s nt me ce pla U AC r’s tte hla y, Chloe Sc From Brisbane to the Kimberle

health

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fter studying teaching for 12 months, Chloe Schlatter realised it wasn’t the right pathway for her. She chatted with her lecturers and came across speech pathology. “It wasn’t someth ing I always knew I wanted to do,” she says. “But I’m glad I found it because I absolut ely love being a speechie.”

After graduating with a Bac helor of Speech Pathology (Honours) at ACU in Brisban e, Chloe now works as a spe ech pathologist with Western Aus tralia Country Health Ser vice in the Kimberley.

“I work as a rural generalist, we cover birth to death, so the whole lifespan,” she exp lains. “My day looks differe nt every single day as we do a lot of remote travel out to different communities.”

Chloe’s ACU placements, spa nning both metropolit an and rural Queensland, proved invaluable in securing her graduate position and prepar ed her for the challenges and rewards of working in rural Western Australia.

“There seems to be a lot mo re connection and it is ver y family centred,” she says

chloe schlatter speech Pathologist

i found I really loved living and working rurally.”

A typical day at a community visit 7.00am

11am

g A team of specialists includin ist, a rap the al tion upa occ an myself, ous physiotherapist and an Indigen and t therapy assistant (ITA) mee by start travelling via car from Der out to community.

WORDS: SAMANTHA WHEELER | IMAGES: SUPPLIED

8.30am

I start my day at the school, nt popping in and out of differe n, dre chil erve obs to classrooms be may and s her chat to teac sions conduct some one-to-one ses with students.

Head to the clinic in the com munity, set-up for the afternoon and get some lunch.

12pm

Spend the rest of the afterno on doing home visits. We’ll try to find people we might be having difficulties contacting or do a general check in and see how they’re going. We might brin g some people into the clinic if we nee da bit more time to provide the m with our services.

4pm

We end the day by heading bac k to the car to go back to Derby.

Bachelor of Speech Pathology (Honours), ACU

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Speech pathologist, Western Australia Country Health Service

SPEECH PATHOLOGIST

Get the job!

Electives checklist

Start laying the groundwork for your speech pathology career right here, right now

Finalising high scho ol subjects?

These electives will set you on the right path for a career in speech pathology . ✔ English ✔ Biology ✔ Chem istry ✔ Physics

Listen Speak Up: A Speech Pathology Australia Podcast Listen to convos with those working in the speech pathology space. This podcast covers everything from self-care for health workers to the role of speech pathology in palliative care. It gets bonus points for having episodes that are short and easy to listen to!

Watch

Parker’s Story (Vimeo) Meet Parker, a young man with Developmental Language Disorder. He has always wanted to sky-dive, but will his communication difficulties get in his way? Find out in this video!

Tristan’s voice (YouTube) Eight-year-old Tristan is working with his speech pathologist Elizabeth to communicate all the ideas he wants to share with the world.

Choose this career if you… ✔ Wa nt to help others

for a liv ing ✔ Would like to work in a ra nge of setti ngs ✔ Are keen to special ise in an area of interest, like paed iatric speech or feedi ng and swall ow ing ✔ Love meeti ng peop le of all ages and from all wa lks of life

Fill your feed @speechpathaus

speech The national peak body for the tralia. pathology profession in Aus

ology @adventuresinspeechpath

ech Rebecca is an Australian spe the in ers oth s help who gist patholo ting speech trea nt fide con e mor feel industry es great sound disorders. She also mak speech therapy materials!

Celebrate Speech Pathology Week

This takes place every year in August and is all about celebra ting the range of ways people communicate and the amazing work speech pat hologists do.

Head to the Speech Patholo gy Australia website for fun digital assets and hashtags you can use to help spread the word: bit.ly/spee chpathologyweek

That’s So Jayah

res Speech pathologist Jayah sha to work like it’s t day-in-the-life videos of wha ple. peo s help it how in speech pathology and

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This edition was published on 26 May 2025.