Based at the Geelong Waterfront campus, our hands-on, collaborative approach to learning throughout the course ensures that you will graduate ready to practice. Coursework includes carefully constructed learning experiences to prepare you to work meaningfully and effectively with clients in speech pathology practice. Realistic cases help you to develop and apply your understanding of communication and swallowing development and disorders, and the assessment and intervention processes that speech pathologists use. You will learn to work effectively with people with complex communication needs, including those who use Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC), and to practice competently in deaf communities, including using Auslan (Australian sign language). You will also undertake critical learning around Australian Aboriginal health and wellbeing so that you can provide culturally appropriate support, and will work alongside students from other courses to develop strong interprofessional practice and teamwork skills. The course also provides you with a solid foundation in research literacy, which is essential to effective practice.

Our practical experiences take you on a scaffolded journey from novice learner through to competent, independent practice. Developed in partnership with local services, these experiences are designed to allow you to experience, understand and demonstrate speech pathology practice in a range of settings and services. In-practice observations in your first trimester support the foundational knowledge you develop during this time. As you progress through the course you will complete a further four credit points of supervised placements in various services and settings, as well as specialised simulation-based placements in our dedicated on-campus learning facility.

Selection is based on a holistic consideration of your academic merit, work experience, likelihood of success, availability of places, participation requirements, regulatory requirements, and individual circumstances. You will need to meet the minimum academic and English language proficiency requirements to be considered for selection, but this does not guarantee admission.

Please note, there are limited places in this course and entry is competitive, therefore only full and completed applications will be considered. Applicants are strongly encouraged to submit a full and completed application as soon as possible. Applications for this course may close prior to the published closing date if all places are filled.

To be considered for admission to this degree you will need to meet the following criteria:

• Bachelor degree in a relevant discipline – included but are not limited to: linguistics, biomedicine, health sciences, nursing, midwifery, neuroscience, public health, psychology, education, allied health, arts with relevant specialisations (e.g., social sciences, psychology, social inclusion and equity, human pathology, communications, journalism, linguistics, brain and behaviour).
• An undergraduate level (AQF level 7) unit in human anatomy and physiology