Speech pathology is a fast-growing sub-sector in the Australian healthcare industry.  Speech Pathology Australia (SPA) is the national body for speech pathologists in Australia. SPA is recognized by the Australian government, the Department of Education, and the National Alliance of Self-Regulating Health Professions (NASRHP) as the professional body for speech pathology in Australia.

Becoming a speech pathologist involves several different procedures, which include following different education programs and obtaining the relevant qualifications. You must be adequately qualified to work as a speech pathologist in Australia. Here is a guide on how to become a speech pathologist in Australia and more about this profession.

Who is a speech pathologist?

Speech pathologists work with patients with communication barriers. They help patients overcome issues that keep them from speaking. It includes mental illnesses and learning shortcomings that help people recover from traumatic conditions or major injuries.

A speech pathologist may also work with patients to help get their voices back and correct issues related to pain when speaking and communicating. They also work with communication disorders, including speech delays, stuttering, and swallowing or feeding issues that typically result from cognitive disorders.

Speech pathologists may work in a variety of settings to correct various communication problems that patients face.

How can you become a speech pathologist?

Here are the steps involved in becoming a speech pathologist in Australia.

Earn a degree related to the subject

A degree in a related subject area is essential to work and succeed in any healthcare sub-sector in Australia. A degree related to speech pathology is generally required to become a professional speech pathologist in Australia. These degrees include a Bachelor of Speech Pathology or Bachelor of Applied Science, majoring in Speech Pathology subject area.

These degrees teach aspiring speech pathologists about communication barriers and how to cure various issues that affect voice problems, comprehension, reading, and writing. A degree related to speech pathology generally takes four years to complete. It also lets students observe speech therapy sessions and obtain key skills and characteristics that could benefit their job search in the future.

Obtain a master’s degree

The next step to take after earning a bachelor’s degree related to speech pathology is to obtain a master’s degree to prepare yourself as a professional speech pathologist. An example master’s degree course to follow is Master of Speech and Language Pathology. It allows you to gain more detailed insight into how to treat speech and various communication disorders. It teaches you how to interact and work with patients from many different backgrounds.

There are also several other postgraduate degrees that you can undergo, which include linguistics, neuroscience, or psychology. Obtaining a master’s degree related to speech pathology allows you to easily build credibility within this sector and implant confidence in your patients about the ability and skills you have to treat speech and communication disorders.

Register with the required regulatory bodies

Before you start practicing as a speech pathologist in Australia, you must register with SPA. It is how you can become a certified practicing speech pathologist that allows you to practice in Australia. All speech pathologists in Australia must acquire this registration which confirms that you have the required skills, training, and understanding to treat a variety of speech delay conditions and communication disorders.

Becoming a certified professional helps secure your role as a professional speech pathologist by demonstrating your skills and proving that you have the characteristics required to become a successful therapist.

Prepare an updated resume

Once you’ve earned the relevant educational qualifications, including bachelor's and master’s degrees, and are certified with SPA, it’s time you start your job search. However, it’s crucial to have an updated resume at this point, in order to successfully look for a job related to your subject area.      

Create an updated resume stating your educational qualifications upon completion of registering with SPA. Highlight areas related to work experience, educational qualifications, and job-related skills when preparing your resume as a speech pathologist. Your chances of successfully landing a job increase by addressing the employer’s expectations. Therefore, it’s vital to closely study job descriptions related to the role of a speech pathologist before you create your resume. This process also helps you identify the relevant experience and skills that you should include in your resume.

Meet the required professional standards

Continuing Professional Development (CPD) points are typically required to maintain practicing in many sub-sectors of the Australian healthcare industry. Even as a speech pathologist, you are required to undertake CPD-related activities and acquire 20 CPD points annually. SPA makes it mandatory for all licensed speech pathologists to complete annual standards training that makes sure you have updated industry knowledge and skills.

The training also helps you understand the latest industry research related to speech disorders and that you can work with patients coming from different social and cultural backgrounds. It also helps you understand different areas of speech development. Therefore, it is essential that you continue to meet these standards throughout your career as a speech pathologist.

Responsibilities of a speech pathologist

The duties and responsibilities of a speech pathologist may vary based on the type of practice or healthcare facility that he works in. They may also vary according to the specialization of various disorders such as learning impairments or brain disorders. Here are the typical responsibilities of a speech pathologist:

Diagnose speech disorders in patients and closely observe their conditions.

Work with patients that have speech impairments, and stutters, and develop techniques to help them cope with these conditions and disorders.

Work with patients to acquire speech and communication techniques to enhance their listening, understanding, speaking, and communication skills.

Arrange patient appointments and generate patient reports.

Treat patients with conditions that they acquire due to accidents, injuries, or surgeries.

Compile treatment plans for patients.

Consult with different speech pathologists’ patients.

Liaise with medical specialists to identify the cause of speech disorders and conditions.

Research new treatments related to speech and communication disorders and other conditions related to speech pathology.

Work settings of a speech pathologist

Speech pathologists generally work in health, disability, and education facilities. However, the work settings and context continue to change for this profession. They work as clinicians, researchers, educators, consultants, advocates, managers, policy advisors, and in other related roles. Speech pathologists may work attached to the government sector, private practices, non-profit organizations, and with other speech pathologists working in solo practice or with other disciplines.

Speech pathologists salary

The average salary of a speech pathologist in Australia is $83,264 for a year. This number varies based on the clinical facility. Speech pathologists working in private practices may earn a different amount than those working in hospitals or general healthcare facilities.

Skills you require as a speech pathologist

Speech pathologists are required to have both soft and hard skills that are specific to their job role. Here is a list of skills a speech pathologist should possess:

Communication skills

Compassion

Patience

Active listening skills

Technical skills

Creativity

Ethics

Knowledge of various learning styles and techniques

Mastering these skills will help you grow and become successful in your career as a speech pathologist.

Medfuture is a renowned healthcare recruitment agency that connects qualified, experienced, and skilled speech pathologists with reputed healthcare facilities. Visit our website to view a list of the latest speech pathologist jobs across all states and suburbs in Australia.