Bachelor Of Health Science (speech Pathology)
Sydney Morning Herald
Wednesday May 22, 2002
Charles Sturt University Albury Campus Phone 6051 6750 www.csu.edu.au
CSU's course teaches students how to assess, diagnose, plan and deliver intervention programs for people with speech, voice, language, fluency and swallowing disorders to help patients develop communication skills and prevent communication or swallowing problems.
There is an emphasis on practical clinical experience and students undertake placements in locations within Australia and abroad.
Twice a year, six-to-10-week placements in an orphanage and school of the deaf in Vietnam are offered.
Accreditation The course is accredited by the Speech Pathology Association of Australia. By the completion of their studies, students attain clinical and professional competence as defined by the Competency-Based Occupational Standards for Entry Level Speech Pathologists in Australia.
Where Classes are held at the Albury campus.
Duration The course takes four years full-time. Students may be eligible to enrol in the honours degree, which is integrated into the four-year program.
Cost Students are liable for HECS charges (this year's charges were $5125 a year) and a student facilities and services charge (about $130). Students may also apply for grants such as those offered by the university or the NSW and Victorian departments of health.
When Applications are made via the Universities Admission Centre or the Victorian Tertiary Admission Centre. Applications for next year's entry close on September 27 for both centres. For more information, contact CSU student administration on 6051 6754.
Who is it for? The course was introduced to expand professional opportunities for students from rural and remote backgrounds and to offset shortages of health professionals in non-metropolitan areas. While there is a strong rural focus, graduates are prepared for practice in metropolitan and rural settings.
Prerequisites No HSC subjects are specified as prerequisites but applicants are advised to study English and biology. Non-recent school-leavers are assessed on work or industry experience and academic ability.
Books and equipment Students should budget about $200 a semester for textbooks but second-hand texts are usually available. Students have to pay for travel and accommodation for field work placements.
Success rate CSU reports that all of its first graduates (last year) have found jobs in places as diverse as Cambodia and Alice Springs.
*what graduates say
Lynelle Wyllie-Smith, 24, speech pathologist, Albury Community Health Centre, Albury. Graduated last year.
``I chose to study at CSU because of the emphasis on rural practice. I'm from a rural area and plan to always work in rural setting.
A large proportion of the four years involved clinical work at the university clinic and community health centres, hospitals and schools. We were given a lot of practical experience which was great when we began working independently.
``It was a very challenging course. All the areas we looked at from pediatrics to adults were fascinating and lecturers presented the information in an interactive way.
``From my perspective, speech therapy is a very satisfying career because I see children with difficulties in speech and language and I know that after a block of therapy their quality of life will improve and this will have an impact on their future in terms of school progress, academic achievement and social skills."
Sally Clarke, 22, speech pathologist, Children's Hospital, Westmead. Graduated last year.
``Throughout the course there was a big focus on computer-based learning particularly helpful skills you can use at work and an emphasis on cultural awareness. We are seeing more and more children of people from non-English-speaking backgrounds and we were taught how to work with people from other cultures.
``It was good that placements started in the first year and [staff] did their best to place you in the local area, if you preferred.
``I also went to Vietnam with CSU which was a great experience. We worked in an orphanage in Ho Chi Minh. It was a great way to apply the skills that you had learnt in an environment where they had never had any speech therapy. You had to work with interpreters, which is a skill you need here.
``We offered a consultative service [in Vietnam], working with staff to help the children develop language and speech abilities. We also looked at feeding because you use the same muscles in speech and swallowing.
``A lot of children have disabilities such as cerebral palsy and we showed them how to feed these children by sitting them up and only feeding them small amounts of food at a time, and we developed staff awareness of these issues."
Kate Conroy, 23, speech pathologist, Wangaratta District Base Hospital, Victoria. Graduated last year.
``In 1996, I went on an exchange program to Germany and I couldn't speak German well so I knew what it was like to have a language difficulty.
``Having that insight, I felt I would like to help those with speech and language difficulties.
``CSU really stands out in terms of supporting their students their follow-up, especially while you are on placement is really supportive and they are really receptive to students' suggestions.
``They try to prepare students for the work environment, so as to ensure a smooth transition into the workforce.
``[Doing rural placements] gives you a broad scope of the different disorders you may come across in speech pathology, rather than in a city clinic that is very specialised in areas such as voice or language."
*what employers say
Amanda Simon, deputy head, speech pathology department, Westmead Childrens' Hospital.
``I was on the interview panel [that] selected Sally Clarke.
``One of the things we were particularly impressed with was that she had participated in a university program where they go to orphanages and schools of the deaf in Vietnam as volunteers.
``I think she learnt a lot professionally and personally by going on that trip. The fact she did it on a voluntary basis and that the university offered such a challenging learning experience, impressed us."
johagan@mail.fairfax.com.au
© 2002 Sydney Morning Herald
