Speech Pathologists

Speech Pathologists evaluate and treat people with communication and swallowing difficulties. They often help rehabilitate speech following a stroke, and support people whose physical disability may impede their swallowing.

Speech Pathologist jobs also provide specialist support services to people with a disability and their families, enabling them to improve their quality of life and participation in the community.

Speech Pathologists need the following skills and qualifications:

  • Excellent written and verbal communication skills
  • Tertiary qualifications in speech pathology
  • Eligibility for registration with Speech Pathology Australia
  • Having a current driver's licence is often an employment requirement

Search for Speech Pathologist jobs or learn more about other frontline professional roles in the disability and community care sector.

Meet some Speech Pathologists

Beth King

Beth is a Speech Pathologist at the Royal Rehabilitation Centre in Sydney.

What's a typical day like for a Speech Pathologist?

A typical day would start with therapy with a client, followed by education sessions to raise awareness about the impact of my client’s communication and/or swallowing disorders.

I'd then do case meetings with other health professionals to discuss treatment plans for my clients and would finish by writing reports of the day.

 
Speech Pathologist - Beth King
What skills do you need?

Obviously superior communication skills are important for a 'specialist in communication' to possess! You will need to be flexible, caring, resourceful and people-oriented. The ability to problem solve is also important to help you make a diagnosis or choose a treatment approach.

 

Sarah Jurd

Sarah is a Speech Pathologist with the Cerebral Palsy Alliance (formerly The Spastic Centre) LifePoints - Rural, Mid and Far North Coast (NSW) program.

What do you do in a typical day at work?

I don’t think I really have a typical day in my role. Some days I may spend in the office completing funding applications, support letters, home or school therapy programs, or researching which course of action is best for a client. Other days I may spend in and out of the car seeing clients.

As I am a member of a rural team, visits to clients can take 10 minutes or 3 hours one way. Visits can happen at home, at school or in the community, depending on the client’s need. Some days I can have a combination of office and visit time.

 

  Speech Pathologist - Sarah Jurd

What kind of support do you provide to clients?

I guess for an example of what sort of support I provide, it is best to say it is a variety. At the moment I have a young client who is having trouble eating and I am working on different foods that are safe for her to eat, and activities that can help her learn how to bite and chew safely.

I also have a young boy who finds it hard to communicate using speech, so we are trialling different sorts of speech generating devices. It is amazing to see how much a child’s world can open up when they find a way to express themselves, and how much of a relief it is for not only them, but their entire family. Another child I am supporting needs support letters to help get a new laptop for school. The new laptop will have special software installed that will help him to access his school curriculum.

Read more about Sarah and her career as a Speech Pathologist.