Course overview
The Speech Pathology Practice Education courses provide students with a broad range of practice placement experiences across seven separate placements commencing from Year 2, Semester 2 of the four-year program. These placements provide opportunities for students to develop relevant speech pathology knowledge and skills in a range of service provision contexts representing speech pathology practice across the lifespan, and to demonstrate the speech pathology practice competencies to the level required to enter the profession. This course is the fourth of seven practice education courses that students must complete, approximately 20 days in duration, and students placement-based learning and assessment will be facilitated by a practice educator. Assessment for this course is comprised of the COMPASS� assessment, completed in the placement; and students reflection and mapping of their knowledge, skills and attributes in their progressive Speech Pathology Professional Standards portfolio. In this capstone Practice Education course, students must demonstrate COMPASS� entry level, and across their practice education program (seven practice education courses), have demonstrated progressive competency development towards COMPASS� entry level in communication and swallowing practice across the lifespan. Additionally, in this capstone Practice Education course, a final practice-based simulation examination is completed to triangulate the entry-level practice education attainment of students, and to assure their readiness to enter the speech pathology profession.
Course learning outcomes
- Demonstrate professional knowledge, skills and attributes and sound clinical reasoning to an Entry Level performance level to ensure high quality, evidence-based speech pathology practice.
- Apply speech pathology knowledge, skills and attributes in selecting and conducting appropriate swallowing and/or communication assessment in partnership with individuals, families and communities, at an Entry Level performancee level.
- Construct person-centred communication and/or swallowing goals in collaboration with individuals, families and communities and informed by relevant assessment and contextual information to an Entry Level performance level.
- Design and plan ethical, evidenced based communication and/or swallowing interventions in collaboration with individuals, families and communities at an Entry Level performance level.
- Communicate effectively with a range of stakeholders, including individuals with communication and/or swallowing difficulties to assess, implement, evaluate and document intervention at an Entry Level performance level.
- Use the Speech Pathology Australia Professional Standards (2020) to engage in reflection about speech pathology practice and the development of professional identity.
- Demonstrate appropriate transfer of speech pathology knowledge, skills and attributes to facilitate high quality, effective communication and swallowing practice across the lifespan that is responsive to the needs of individuals, families and communities.