Australian Catholic University

What you'll study

This honours program provides a comprehensive mix of theoretical knowledge, practical skills and supervised clinical experience. Early years cover anatomy and physiology of speech and swallowing, phonetics and phonology, language development, and foundations of communication across the lifespan. Core topics include:

• Assessment and intervention for paediatric speech and language disorders
• Adult neurogenic communication disorders and dysphagia
• Voice, fluency and complex communication needs
• Augmentative and alternative communication (AAC)
• Research methods, evidence-based practice and statistics
• Professional practice, ethics and interprofessional collaboration

The program integrates simulated learning and successive blocks of supervised clinical placements in hospitals, rehabilitation services, community health, and schools. The final honours year emphasises independent research, typically including a thesis or major project, alongside advanced clinical practice units.

Entry requirements

Entry is normally from secondary school with a competitive entry score (such as an ATAR or equivalent) plus demonstrated proficiency in English. Applicants with a previous tertiary qualification or relevant health or allied experience may be considered through alternative entry pathways. Selection may involve an interview or written statement to assess communication, motivation and suitability for clinical practice.

All students must meet professional suitability requirements for clinical placements, which commonly include background checks, immunisation records and compliance with mandatory health and safety screening (for example, Working with Children checks or equivalent). Specific campus or pathway requirements can vary, so applicants should consult the university for current advice.

Career prospects

Graduates are eligible to pursue professional accreditation and registration pathways required to practise as speech pathologists. Career settings include:

• Public and private hospitals and acute care
• Community health and rehabilitation services
• Primary and secondary schools and early intervention centres
• Private practice and consultancy
• Aged care and palliative care services
• Research and academia, particularly for honours graduates progressing to postgraduate study

Speech pathologists work in multidisciplinary teams and may specialise in areas such as paediatrics, neurorehabilitation, swallowing disorders, voice or AAC. Career progression can lead to senior clinical roles, management, specialist practice or research and teaching positions.

Why study at Australian Catholic University

ACU’s program is designed to meet professional education standards and prepares students through a mix of strong clinical placements, simulation facilities and research-led teaching. The university emphasises person-centred care, ethical practice and interprofessional learning across health disciplines. Small cohort sizes and academic support aim to provide close supervision during clinical education and the honours research project, helping graduates transition to accredited practice and further study.