Speech pathologist Job Description: Top Duties and Qualifications

What does a speech pathologist do?

Speech pathologists work with children and adults in different healthcare settings, ranging from public hospitals to private practice. Their day-to-day work involves diagnosing and treating patients with disorders related to language, speech and fluency. Patients with communication impairments following a stroke or brain injury, or those with hearing loss or dementia, also frequently seek help from speech pathologists.

Many speech pathologists have a background in linguistics or psychology, which helps them work with patients of all ages. A speech pathologist advises their patients on how to manage communication and speech difficulties and creates customised treatment plans to address individual needs.

Speech pathologist skills and qualifications

To perform their role well, a successful speech pathologist should have the following skills and aptitudes:

• Excellent listening and communication skills
• Enjoy working with people
• Compassion and patience
• Good analytical and critical thinking skills
• Adaptability and ability to deal with changing or unexpected situations
• Confident demeanour and sound decision-making skills

Speech pathologist experience requirements

Speech pathologists acquire clinical skills and knowledge through their formal education. You can decide whether you would prefer to hire a speech pathologist with a certain number of years of experience or a newly qualified one.

Either way, you should check that the speech pathologist you want to hire has up-to-date immunisations as required in Australia and is registered with Speech Pathology Australia. A first aid certificate and Working with Children check as well as a police check or, if applicable, an NDIS worker check can also be an advantage.

Speech pathologist education and training requirements

Practising as a speech pathologist in Australia requires an accredited university degree, such as a Bachelor of Speech Pathology or a Bachelor of Applied Science in Speech Pathology. Some speech pathologists complete an undergraduate degree in another subject such as psychology, counselling or linguistics, and add a Master of Speech Pathology.

In addition, Australian speech pathologists must be registered with Speech Pathology Australia in order to become a Certified Practising Speech Pathologist (CPSP). This certification must be kept current by providing evidence of required CPD activities and recency of practice. 

Speech pathologist salary expectations

According to Indeed Salaries, the average salary for a speech pathologist is $84,697 per year, although some private entities are paying much higher salaries in the six-figure range. Notably, while speech pathologists in all major Australian cities, such as Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane, are reporting similar rates close to the national average, Cairns appears to be an outlier, with Cairns-based speech pathologists recording significantly above-average salaries.

Job description samples for similar positions

There are a few roles that share some similarities with that of a speech pathologist. Read through the descriptions to determine if you need to hire one of these experts in addition to or instead of a speech pathologist:

• Occupational therapist
• Occupational therapy assistant
• Clinical psychologist
• Special education teacher

Speech pathologist job description FAQs

Here are the answers to some frequently asked questions employers have about the speech pathologist role:

What’s the difference between a speech pathologist and a speech therapist?

Fundamentally, there is no difference between a speech pathologist and a speech therapist, and both terms are often used interchangeably. In Australia, this role used to be primarily known as ‘speech therapist’ but is officially called ‘speech pathologist’, which is now the preferred designation.

What makes a great speech pathologist?

Although technical skills and knowledge are of course essential, a great speech pathologist loves people and is truly passionate about helping their young and older patients alike. Enthusiasm and creativity will also help a speech pathologist relate to their patients and do their job better.

Does a speech pathologist have to learn Auslan?

No, a speech pathologist is not required to learn Auslan (Australian Sign Language) as part of their training. However, given the nature of their work, knowing Auslan can certainly be an advantage. In some situations, a speech pathologist may use an Auslan interpreter to better communicate with their patients.