Speech and Language Therapy
Our graduates are prepared for a career in a variety of workplaces, including in acute care and rehabilitation settings, government departments, education contexts, private practice and not-for-profit organisations and to work in rural and remote practice. You will be able to work with individuals, groups, and communities.
Practice education
Practice education includes learning through simulation and community-based placement opportunities. Practice education provides students with the opportunity to integrate speech pathology knowledge and skills in practice environments.
Students will complete a developmental trajectory of practice education experiences across the course of approximately 640 hours. These placements support students to reach the skills, knowledge, attributes, and competencies required to reach readiness to enter the profession of speech pathology.
In the first year of the Master's program, students will attend a simulated placement on campus in Darwin (NT) in the second semester. In the second year, students will complete a practice education placement (20 days) and go on to complete two community-based practice education placements (a total of 60 days) in their final semester of study. Students with a part-time study plan should discuss how these requirements fit into their program of study.
Reasonable travel for community-based practice education placements is an expectation within the speech pathology course. Students are required to self-fund attendance on practice education placements, including covering any costs associated with travel and accommodation. Options to apply for funding to assist with covering these costs are available through CDU Scholarships and Faculty of Health Placements Central. First Nations students can access the away-from-base funding through CDU if their attendance at the placement meets the eligibility requirements.
Intensives
In addition to the placement and work-integrated learning, there are residential schools involved in units each semester. Together, residential school and placement experiences support students to develop the skills, knowledge, attributes, and competencies required to reach readiness to enter the profession of speech pathology. They are also a great way to meet fellow students and build professional relationships and networks.
In the first year of the Master's program, students are required to attend five consecutive days of residential school each semester. In the second year, students attend two consecutive five-day residential schools (10 days total). Students with a part-time study plan should discuss how these requirements fit into their program of study.
Students are required to self-fund attendance at residential schools, including covering any costs associated with travel and accommodation. First Nations students can access the away-from-base funding through CDU if attendance at residential schools meets the eligibility requirements.
Career pathways
Students will be prepared for a rewarding career in a variety of workplaces, including in hospitals, private practice, not-for-profit organisations, aged care, government departments, community health, and education settings.
Prize giving
The Faculty of Health awards prizes to students studying Speech and Language Therapy. We look forward to celebrating with students at our annual prize-giving ceremony.
Inherent requirements
The Faculty of Health strongly supports the right of all people to pursue a course in Speech and Language Therapy to achieve their potential and career objectives. The faculty is committed to making reasonable adjustments to teaching and learning, assessment, practice experiences and other activities to address the impact of students' disabilities so that they are able to participate in their courses.