Speech Pathology Services at Northern Health
Speech pathologists at Northern Health work as important members of the health team in acute care, rehabilitation, aged care, community and paediatric services. Speech Pathologists work collaboratively with their Allied Health, medical and nursing colleagues to address issues related to swallowing function, cognition, hearing and communication. The Northern Health Speech Pathology department employs 15 speech pathologists and 2 Allied Health assistants who each work at one or more NH campuses.
The NH speech pathologists provide a variety of services including (but not limited to):
Working with children:
- Establishing swallowing safety to ensure adequate nutritional intake
- Assisting children to achieve their developmental milestones with regards to play, language and cognition.
- Educating and involving parents, carers and others to facilitate the normal development and learning of children.
Working in Acute Care, Rehabilitation and Aged Care:
- Assessing and providing therapy for disorders of swallowing, communication and/or cognition as a result of stroke or degenerative neurological disease (e.g. Parkinson’s disease, Motor Neurone disease)
- Screening hearing and assisting clients to access hearing aids if suitable
- Assisting in the provision of a diagnosis for those with cognitive impairment indicative of dementia, therapy and family assistance for those diagnosed with dementia
- Performing videofluoroscopy swallow procedures as part of dysphagia (swallowing) assessment and management
Speech Pathology management has a strong commitment to staff development, research, client-centred care and evidence-based practice. We are supported by the Allied Health Directorate, which has a strong emphasis on building links and resources that are allied health focused. All staff are involved in quality improvement, professional development, supervision and student education.
Service and Programs
Acute and Community Care Programs
The Northern Hospital
TNH Speech Pathologists provide services to clients in all the locations listed below.
-
Emergency Department (ED) / Short Stay Unity (SSU)
-
Medical Assessment and Planning Unit (MAPU)
-
Inpatient General Medical Units (Units A & B)
-
Inpatient Surgical Unit (Unit D & E)
-
Videofluoroscopy clinic
-
Child and Adolescent Health Unit (CAHU)
-
Special Care Nursery (SCN)
-
Outpatient clinics
-
Orthopaedic and Aged Rehabilitation Service (OARS)
Craigieburn Health Service
CHS Speech Pathologists provide both adult and paediatric clients with services delivered in an outpatient setting.
-
Adult rehabilitation
-
Paediatrics
Panch Health Service
PHS speech pathologists are part of the interdisciplinary paediatric allied health team.
Continuing Care Programs
(Bundoora Extended Care Centre/Broadmeadows Health Service)
INPATIENTS
3 inpatient wards each at BECC and BHS cover Rehabilitation, Geriatric Evaluation and Management and Palliative Care (BHS only).
OUTPATIENTS
The outpatient services offered are Community Therapy Service (CTS), Cognitive Dementia & Memory Services (CDAMS– BECC) and HARP services. Community Therapy Service can see clients in the centre, their homes or in low-level residential care facilities. The speech pathology department also provides a private consultative service to residential care facility clients on a fee-for-service basis charged to the facility.
Careers
The Speech Pathology department is structured to provide clear career development opportunities within a supportive environment. There are opportunities for Allied Health Assistants (Grade 1 & 2) and new graduate speech pathologists through the grading levels (1,2 & 3) to senior clinical and management positions. Allied Health also frequently has project opportunities for those wishing to expand their skill set beyond their specific disciplines. Several speech pathologists have taken advantage of such opportunities whilst retaining their speech pathology position.
Link to NH Careers Page
Student Clinical Education Information
The Northern Health Speech Pathology Dept has had a strong partnership with Latrobe University for the past few years implementing innovative ways of providing student clinical education. Several team placements are offered to groups of 4 final year students ensuring experience of at least 2 NH sites (on one placement) and potentially an even greater number of services within those sites.
The Northern Health Speech Pathology Dept also offers clinical placement for 3rd year Latrobe University students.
Research and Achievements
The Speech Pathology Service actively supports Speech Patholgists actively wanting to undertake research in their field of speciality.
Allied Health Learning and Research page
Contact Us
alliedhealthenquiries@nh.org.au
Links to External Organisations
Speech Pathology Australia
| 
