Speak Out April 2020 DIGITAL VERSION. pdf

Branch News

Northern Territory

NT 71 members as at March 2020

Photo by Georgia Politis – In the lens photography

New speech pathology programs for the NT

Charles Darwin University’s College of Health and Human Sciences is excited to announce the development of two new speech pathology programs: An undergraduate dual degree Bachelor of Health Science and Master of Speech and Language Therapy and a graduate-entry Master of Speech and Language Therapy. Based in the capital city of Darwin, at the heart of Australia's Tropical North, Charles Darwin University is uniquely positioned to explore issues of national and regional importance in health service delivery including tropical medicine, Indigenous health and mental health. The College of Health and Human Sciences has developed the speech pathology programs as part of a suite of new allied health courses, including dual degree and master’s options in occupational therapy and nutrition. These courses will enhance the college’s allied health portfolio, which also includes programs in psychology, clinical psychology, social work and exercise and sports science. Dean of the College of Health and Human Sciences, Professor Dominic Upton said there was high demand for allied health professionals in the health care system, aged care, community care, mental health and disability

services both within the Northern Territory and nationally. The college intends to build a health workforce which is able and inspired to meet the unique needs of the Northern Territory, including an understanding of effective service provision in rural and remote areas and the development of reflective and responsive practitioners who are able to work side-by- side with Indigenous communities, providing culturally safe and effective services. The innovative undergraduate dual degree programs provide students with the opportunity to fast-track specialisation in less than the usual five years. Both the dual degree and Master’s programs provide flexibility in study options, with students able to complete programs on a part-time basis and online. The college has received enquiries from interested students, excited by these flexible study options which have "opened the door," to enable them to study speech pathology. In designing the new speech pathology courses, the college’s intent is to develop programs "in the NT, for the NT, with the NT," prioritising areas such as intercultural communication, interdisciplinary practice and the use of technology and innovative service delivery models. These skills and competencies will serve graduates well in their chosen career

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April 2020 www.speechpathologyaustralia.org.au

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