ACQ_Vol_11_no_3_2009

Mental health

Adolescent mental health versus child development A new graduate’s perspective of working within these settings Shannon Walsh

My name is Shannon Walsh and I graduated from the University of Queensland in December 2008 with a Bachelor’s degree in speech pathology. I entered the workforce working one day per week at Barrett Adolescent Centre and four days per week at Therapy and Support Service for Children on a six-month contract, which ended in June 2009. This article is a brief account of my experiences working within these settings. Barrett Adolescent Centre (BAC) Barrett Adolescent Centre(BAC) is situated in the grounds of The Park Centre for Mental Health in Wacol, Queensland and provides inpatient care and schooling to adolescents with complex and severe psychiatric disturbances. The multidisciplinary team includes psychiatrists, psychologists, social workers, speech pathologists, occupational therapists, dieticians, leisure therapists, teachers, teacher-aides and nursing staff. The role of the speech pathologist within BAC involves recognising the reciprocal nature of communication abilities and mental health, and integrating this knowledge in the assessment, diagnosis, treatment and maintenance of mental well-being. During my time at BAC I worked with two clients, targeting the areas of pragmatics, receptive language and study skills. We also participated in a community access visit, which aimed to increase the students’ confidence and interaction with the public, and I found that this had a carryover effect on their participation in therapy sessions. Working in mental health emphasised to me more than anything the need for a holistic approach to intervention. The adolescent clients needed high levels of support to develop and maintain mental well-being, and this was a philosophy that I tried to incorporate into their management plans. My time at BAC allowed me to develop clinical skills in an area in which I had no practical experience, and my work there was tremendously rewarding. Therapy and Support Service for Children Therapy and Support Service for Children (TASSC) is a division of Child and Family Health Service (CAFHS), located in the Community Health Plaza of Ipswich, Queensland, which provides physiotherapy, occupational therapy and

speech pathology services to children with developmental delays and disorders. The speech pathologist’s role is to assess and provide intervention for children from birth to five years of age with delays or disorders in the areas of articulation, phonology, fluency, voice, motor speech, language and early feeding. TASSC has exposed to me a different range of clinical skills, and I now have increased confidence in my ability to manage a reasonably large caseload. The most prominent concept I have learned from TASSC is that no two clients are the same, and that therapy planning should consider the techniques to which the child responds well. I have also found that early success in therapy creates a feeling of confidence for the child, which, in my opinion, has been a strong indicator for positive outcomes. After graduating from university, I felt reasonably confident in my clinical skills in early speech and language, however working at TASSC provided countless opportunities for learning. The multidisciplinary team works together in a way I had not previously experienced, and I believe this greatly benefits the clients. My time at TASSC was thoroughly enjoyable and I feel fortunate to have had the experience. Conclusion As a new graduate speech pathologist entering the workforce I was unsure of the direction my career would take, and as I write this article, I remain unsure. The difference between then and now, however, is that I have had many experiences that will assist me in making career decisions in the future. In addition, the clinicians I have worked with have been role models for their high levels of knowledge and dedication to the profession. I feel a strong sense of pride in the speech pathology profession, and helping people achieve their goals has become more than a job – it is a need that drives my determination to deliver quality speech pathology services. My experiences thus far as a new graduate speech pathologist have been the first steps in what I hope will be a long and rewarding career. I look forward to continuing the journey.

Shannon Walsh

Correspondence to: Shannon Walsh Speech Pathologist Ipswich Hospital Ipswich, QLD 4306 phone: 0411 205 505 email: shannon_walsh@health.qld.gov.au

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ACQ Volume 11, Number 3 2009

www.speechpathologyaustralia.org.au