Study at Flinders University and become a competent, reflective and innovative practitioner in the field of speech pathology.

This coursework program is founded on principles designed to encourage lifelong learning in the practice of speech pathology. It involves an innovative, integrated enquiry-based curriculum, incorporating a problem-based learning format. This approach is supported by a wide variety of teaching and learning strategies including lectures, workshops, clinical skills tutorials and practicum.

A variety of assessment methods are used, including peer and self-assessment, performance within authentic tasks and competency-based assessment of practical work.

Why study Speech Pathology at Flinders?

• Flinders is the only university in South Australia teaching Speech Pathology and Audiology.  The Flinders Department of Speech Pathology and Audiology has joined with that of the Flinders Medical Centre to jointly provide clinical services, teaching and research. This is unique in Australia and allows Speech Pathology students to visit patients in the medical wards and participate in many of the outpatient services offered by the hospital.
• Flinders University operate Speech Pathology and Audiology Clinics for the community. Their vision is to be a major force within the area of communication disorders through the achievement of the highest standards in, and providing an optimal balance between, teaching, research and clinical services combined with flexibility in response to the needs of students, clients and the community.
• Flinders University facilities include 2 group-therapy rooms and 3 state-of-the-art soundproof audiology rooms, all with facilities for direct student observation, and 9 individual clinical rooms, all linked by closed circuit video to a central monitoring facility for the Speech Pathology program.

Flinders’ Master of Speech Pathology consists of 72 units.  The program is highly integrated and comprises three streams of study:

1. Professional Studies and Communication Sciences
   • In this stream, the content is delivered via problem-based learning tutorials. It involves working through a weekly case study in small groups facilitated by a tutor, and followed up with independent learning. These case studies are also supported by lectures and other learning resources. The case studies cover the areas of professional practice: speech, language, voice, fluency, swallowing and multimodal communication. These areas are considered in relation to lifespan development and socio-cultural context and how they impact health and well-being.
2. Speech Pathology Skills and Practice
   • In this stream, students are allocated to work-integrated learning placements under the supervision of placement educators. There are regular clinical skills tutorials on campus to support development of skills and knowledge on placement.
3. Research Methods
   • This streams aims to ensure students become familiar with evidence-based practice in the discipline of Speech Pathology. It also supports students to understand, critique and apply research methodology, so that students are informed consumers of research, can use it to inform their practice and are able to develop an understanding of themselves as a practitioner-researcher.

Clinical Work Experience

Students will experience work-integrated learning from the start of the course, practising their skills under the supervision of clinical educators. Extensive practical experience commences in the first three weeks of the course and continues throughout the whole program. Placements may be in Adelaide, country areas of South Australia or the Northern Territory, and in some circumstances overseas.

Applicants will be required normally hold an undergraduate degree from a recognized higher education institution, and typically have achieved a minimum GPA of 65%.  The GPA can run higher as program is competitive.

The Master of Speech Pathology program at Flinders University is officially accredited by Speech Pathology Australia.

KOM Consultants understands the process and requirements needed to enter the profession in Canada. Contact KOM Consultants for more information.  All students applying directly through KOM will be supported with the latest information on the accreditation process.