Gain the comprehensive education needed to work successfully as a speech pathologist. Speech pathologists provide services across the lifespan to people whose educational, vocational, personal and social functioning is affected by communication or swallowing impairment resulting from developmental difficulties, social disadvantage, illness or accident.

What you will study

First year

A typical first year may include:

• core topics in introductory anatomy and physiology, anatomy and physiology of speech, child development and learning, psychosocial aspects of speech pathology, research methods in speech pathology, linguistics and phonetics, and an introduction to clinical skills and practice.

Second year

A typical second year may include:

• core topics in communication development and disorders from birth to pre-school and school age to adolescence
• study of motor speech disorders, and voice and swallowing disorders
• practice experience in a range of settings.

Third year

A typical third year may include:

• core topics in acquired language disorders and complex disorders involving child and adult populations
• a number of speech pathology practicums.

Fourth year

A typical fourth year may include:

• a core topic in research methods in speech pathology
• study of clinical skills and practice covering transition to practice
• a number of extended speech pathology practicums.

Your career

Speech pathology graduates are employed in a wide range of settings around the world and work with people of all ages, their careers/families, services, communities and other professionals across a wide variety of agencies. Employment prospects are good, although opportunities in the public sector are naturally influenced by government policy.

Potential occupations include:

• graduate speech pathologist
• early childhood intervention worker
• project officer
• job capacity assessor
• rehabilitation consultant.

Potential employers include:

• healthcare sector (including hospitals, rehabilitation centres, community health services, mental health services)
• aged care sector
• disability services sector
• education sector (including mainstream, special schools and special education units)
• early childhood education sector
• private practice