Speak Out OCTOBER 2021 DIGITAL EDITION

EARLY CAREER

for yourself and your clients. If you are anxious about speaking up in these positions, seek help from a supervisor or colleague to learn strategies to improve your communication. Professional supervision and development Current restrictions shouldn’t change the level of supervision that any clinician receives. This includes supervision of time and caseload management as well as clinical practice. It is important to remember that there are more opportunities for professional development available than just professional development courses. There are many incidental opportunities including joint sessions and observations with colleagues, reviewing current literature, and discussing caseload management with colleagues and supervisors to learn how others are managing their clients. While COVID-19 restrictions have limited many workplace processes, it has also highlighted new possibilities for utilising digital communication with clients, families and other professionals. Consider what unique digital skills you can develop when entering the profession. Extending clinical experiences For students who have missed out on clinical placement experiences, there are multiple strategies to manage anxiety and gain clinical experience. Reflect on the transferrable skills and knowledge you already have to know what to develop further. Reflect on the unique skills you’ve learnt because of the pandemic including resilience, adaptability and working online. Use Speech Pathology Australia’s professional standards and clinical guidelines to identify your current skills and opportunities to continue learning. When you return to clinical placement or begin working in the profession, be transparent about the skills and knowledge you have and those you don’t. There is no shame in communicating your current abilities and limitations as it will enable your supervisor to support your professional development. It is impossible for any clinician to "know everything", so you should not feel pressure to be perfect when entering the profession. Ensure you have access to clinical supervision, especially if you are the only speech pathologist working in a multidisciplinary group or workplace setting. If this is not the case, access to clinical supervision is available through Speech Pathology Australia. Aim to have experiences with mixed caseloads so that with supervision and support you can move into an area you are interested in but don’t have experience/confidence with.

"Reflect on the unique skills you’ve learnt because of the pandemic including resilience, adaptability and working online."

A final note COVID-19 has not only affected us, but also our clients. Navigating online communication, significant routine changes and limited access to established support networks can be especially challenging for people with communication disability. Consider how you can use your experiences to empathise with and support your clients when you enter the profession. Many thanks to Dijana Dragicevich and the Royal North Shore Hospital Speech Pathology Team.

About Ben Benjamin Mason is a fourth Year

undergraduate student at The University of Sydney. Speech Pathology Australia student representative since 2019. He is currently completing an honours thesis on the topic of Primary Progressive Aphasia and is interested in working in the area of communication rehabilitation.

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October 2021 | Speak Out