A wide range of employment opportunities
Speech pathologists work in a wide range of work contexts throughout Australia and overseas.
Community Health services
Community health services focus on meeting the broader health and well-being needs of the local community, and employ speech pathologists to provide services to people with communication disorders. For information about community health services in Queensland see QH Community Health.
Disability services
Many agencies that provide services for people with disabilities employ speech pathologists to develop the communication skills and/or swallowing difficulties of their clients. In north Queensland this includes, but is not restricted to: Autism Queensland; Cerebral Palsy League; Cootharinga Society of North Queensland; Disability Services Queensland.
Early intervention
Many agencies provide assessment and intervention for young children early in their life. Early intervention aims to improve the child’s communication and social skills and may reduce the need for intervention at school or later in life. In north Queensland this includes but is not restricted to: Autism Queensland; Cerebral Palsy League; Cootharinga Society of North Queensland; Disability Services Queensland; Queensland Health.
Hospitals
Many private and public hospitals employ speech pathologists to assess and treat patients with a wide range of medically based communication and swallowing disorders. In north Queensland this includes, but is not restricted to: Cairns Base Hospital; Mackay Base Hospital; Mater Hospitals; Mt Isa Hospital; The Townsville Hospital; Queensland Health.
Mental health services
Speech pathologists may also be employed in mental health services to assess and treat communication disorders in people with a range of emotional, behavioural and psychiatric disorders. For information about mental health services in Queensland see: QH Mental Health Services.
Nursing homes
Many nursing homes employ speech pathologists to assess and treat residents with communication and swallowing disorders. Often these difficulties may result from a stroke or dementia.
Private Practice
Increasing numbers of speech pathologists establish private practices where they may provide generalist assessment and therapy services for a wide range of communication impairments or provide specialist services in their specific areas of expertise. Many owner-operators also employ other speech pathologists to work in their practice. In North Queensland this includes: Townsville Speech Pathology Services.
Rehabilitation
Rehabilitation agencies employ speech pathologists to assess and improve the communication skills of people who wish to find work or participate more fully in family and community life. Often this includes people who have lost their ability to communicate due to an accident or illness. In north Queensland this includes, but is not restricted to: Acquired Brain Injury Outreach Service; Disability Employment Services.
Schools
Government education departments and private school bodies employ speech pathologists to assess and provide intervention for children with speech, language and language-based learning disabilities. Some speech pathologists in private practice will have contracts to provide services in private schools. Employing bodies in north Queensland include: Education Queensland; National Catholic Education Commission; Catholic Education Cairns; Catholic Education Rockhampton; Catholic Education Townsville.
Universities
Speech pathologists are employed in universities to teach in speech pathology and related degrees.