Study the Bachelor of Allied Health (Speech Pathology)

Study the Bachelor of Allied Health (Speech Pathology) at Flinders

Choose to study Speech Pathology at Port Pirie, in the
Riverland at Renmark or in Mt Gambier.

Speech Pathologists work with people whose educational, vocational, personal and social functioning is affected by communication or swallowing impairment resulting from developmental difficulties, social disadvantage, illness or accident.

Speech Pathology graduates are employed within both public and private healthcare providers and work with people of all ages.

Studying speech pathology offers you the opportunity to study where you live, work and play without having to move to Adelaide. The degree has been designed with a rural focus and offers industry-led topics that prepare students for working in a wide range of settings. There is a strong focus on working in in culturally responsive ways particularly with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.

Alternatively, learn more about studying Speech Pathology in Adelaide.

Fast facts

Course facts at a glance.

Domestic

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International Student

I am not a citizen of
Australia or New Zealand.

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I am a
Domestic Student

I am an Australian or New Zealand Citizen.

I'm an Australian Permanent Resident
(including Humanitarian Visa holders).

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Prerequisites

None

Assumed knowledge

None

2024 selection rank

79 (Mount Gambier) 76 (Port Pirie) 76 (Renmark)

Guaranteed selection rank

N/A

Adjustment factors available

Yes

SATAC code

245101 (Port Pirie) 245111 (Renmark) 245011 (Mt Gambier)

Delivery mode

In person:

– Port Pirie
– Renmark
– Mount Gambier

Online: No

Duration

4 years full-time
Deferrable: Yes

Annual indicative fee

2024: $8,948

How are these fees calculated?

Start dates

– March

Student and ATAR profile

Save course

Student and ATAR profile

Apply via SATAC

*This course is available to study at Mt. Gambier, Port Pirie or Renmark. Please choose the relevant SATAC code when applying.

Why study Speech Pathology at Flinders

The speech pathology degree is developed in partnership with local communities including local health networks, service providers, and accrediting bodies.
Topics are taught by Flinders speech pathology experts and industry practitioners.
Study is student-centred, with small class sizes with supportive staff.
Regional placement opportunities allow you to study and help your community.

Your career

Speech pathology graduates are employed in a wide range of settings around the world and work with people of all ages, their carers/families, services, communities and other professionals across a wide variety of agencies.

Potential occupations include:

speech pathologist
project officer
researcher
manager
policy advisor.

Potential employers include:

healthcare sector (hospitals, rehabilitation centres, community health services)
disability services
education providers (mainstream schools, special schools, special education units)
early childhood education services
aged care providers
mental health services
community based services
private practice
non-government organisations
paediatric services
youth justice services
sports clubs or codes.

Accreditation

The Bachelor of Allied Health (Speech Pathology) course is pending formal accreditation by Speech Pathology Australia (SPA).

What you will study

A Bachelor of Allied Health (Speech Pathology) degree offers flexible step-in-step-out options for students to study for 1, 2, 3 or 4 years with a range of job opportunities available at each point.

Students who complete the full 4-year program will be eligible to work as a speech pathologist. Students who step out after 1 year will be awarded a higher education diploma, after 2 years an associate degree and after 3 years a non-accredited degree.

First year A typical first year may include:	core topics in communication and interprofessional practice, allied health practice, human bioscience, rehabilitation studies, lifespan development, healthcare, research and study skills and Indigenous health
Second year A typical second year may include:	core topics introducing communication and swallowing across the lifespan, foundational clinical skills for speech pathology practice, social and psychological perspectives of health, anatomy and physiology of speech, communication development and disorders from birth to pre-school and school age to adolescence, and working with families and communities practice experience in a range of settings
Third year A typical third year may include:	core topics in adult communication, swallowing across the lifespan, and health promotion and leadership clinical placements
Fourth year A typical fourth year may include:	core topics in advanced speech pathology practice with children and adults, and transition to contemporary professional practice industry project clinical placements

Study program

Practical experience

The Bachelor of Allied Health (Speech Pathology) degree is highly practical with opportunities for hands on learning throughout the degrees.

Students will have the opportunity to participate in several placements and practical experiences throughout the four-year program. From simulation to industry engagement to part time and full-time placement opportunities, students you will be integrated into speech pathology services available in rural and remote areas as well as metropolitan areas as relevant.

ATAR and Student Profile Information

ATAR and Selection Rank profile

The table below shows ATAR and Selection Rank data for students offered a place wholly or partly on the basis of ATAR commencing in Semester 1, 2024. It is limited to applicants that have recently completed secondary education (within the last two years). Data may reflect multiple courses available within a suite of courses.

Notes:
<5 – less than 5 ATAR based offers made
N/A – This course uses additional selection criteria and therefore Selection Rank is not published

ATAR-based offers only across all offer rounds	ATAR - Excluding adjustment factors	Selection Rank - ATAR plus any adjustment factors
Highest rank to receive an offer	99.10	99.95
Median rank to receive an offer	80.83	85.90
Lowest rank to receive an offer	67.80	75.15

Student Profile

The table below gives an indication of the likely peer cohort for new students in this course. It provides data on students who commenced study in this course in Semester 1, 2024 including those admitted through all offer rounds and international students studying in Australia. Applicant background groupings are based on educational background, not basis of admission. Data may reflect multiple courses available within a suite of courses.

Notes:
<5 – the number of students is less than 5
N/P – Not published: the number is hidden to prevent calculation of numbers in cells with less than 5 students

Applicant background (Semester 1, 2024)	Number of students	Percentage of all students
Higher education study (includes a bridging or enabling course)	21	45%
Vocational education and training (VET) study	7	15%
Work and life experience	<5	<5
Recent secondary education - Admitted solely on the basis of ATAR (regardless of whether this includes the consideration of adjustment factors such as equity or subject bonus points)	13	28%
Recent secondary education - Admitted where both ATAR and additional criteria were considered (e.g. portfolio, audition, extra test)	<5	<5
Recent secondary education - Admitted on the basis of other criteria only and ATAR was not a factor (e.g. special consideration pathways)	<5	<5
International Students	0	0
All students	47	100%

Hear from our students

“

Rural placements give you the opportunity to experience a little bit of everything … and set you up with a variety of clinical management skills you won’t often get in metro centres on placement. I’ve made lifelong friends from my own rural placements while at Flinders, and I couldn’t recommend them enough.

Rebecca Keeley, Bachelor of Speech Pathology graduate

”

How to apply

Choose your preferred course.

Check the entry requirements and admission pathways available to you.

Choose other courses to include in your preferences.

Visit SATAC and submit your application online.

Apply via SATAC

Applicants can apply for this course using Year 12 qualifications, previous higher education study, TAFE/VET qualifications, or through adult entry (STAT/Foundation Studies/tertiary preparation course).

Find the entry path that’s right for you.

Explore our pathways

Criminal history check

In order to complete this degree, students will need to fulfil requirements to undertake compulsory field placements.

SA Health require that all employees, volunteers and students on placements who will be in contact with children, young people, vulnerable adults and recipients of Aged Care Services to comply with State and National legislation requiring them to have a valid criminal history screening check. The screening process is managed by the Department of Human Services (DHS) Screening Unit. Learn more on the Screening SA website.

Rural and remote sub-quotas

Preference will be given to applicants from a rural and remote background.

Applicants with a rural and remote background must within 10 working days after submitting their SATAC application, submit a Statutory Declaration to SATAC which confirms that they have lived in non-metropolitan areas of Australia (Remoteness Classifications RA2 to RA5) for at least 2 consecutive years, or 5 years cumulatively, from birth (i.e. during any period of their life). This is assessed based on an applicant's primary residential address.

Applicants can check their eligibility in accordance with the Australian Government's Health Workforce Locator. Enter the address you wish to search in 'Find Address', select the classification 'ASGS Remoteness Area' '2016' and then 'Search Location'.

Am I eligible?

Indigenous subquotas

Preference will be given to Indigenous applicants. Such applicants must apply to SATAC in the normal way.

Applicants must also, within 10 working days after submitting the SATAC application, submit a Statutory Declaration to SATAC confirming the applicant is of Aboriginal or Torres Strait Island descent.

Download a Statutory Declaration form

Choosing your preferences

When choosing your preferences through SATAC, other Flinders degrees you might want to include in your list are:

How to apply

Select your course.

Check entry requirements.

Check your eligibility for credit.

Apply online

Obtain certified documents.

Submit your application and documents.

View further details

English language pathways

If you don’t meet our English language entry requirements and need to improve your English language proficiency, you can do so through Flinders University Academy – or our approved English Language Instruction Course for Overseas Students (ELICOS) providers.

This means that you can attend the required English language tuition at approved ELICOS providers and gain direct entry into university without an IELTS or TOEFL test.

Find out more

Academic program pathways

If you don’t meet our academic entry requirements, you can still gain entry to Flinders University through Flinders University Academy. With a range of diplomas, foundation and English language courses, students can find a direct pathway into the destination degree of their choice.

Find out more