In a bid to address the increasing demand for essential services, Federation University’s Berwick campus has initiated a groundbreaking approach by launching a student-led pathology clinic. This innovative move aims to fill the void in accessible services within the local community, particularly focusing on speech pathology services.
The newly established clinic, operated by Masters students such as Ashlee Dendle, Lynleigh Berry, Sophie Semerdjian, and Nicole Dalton, offers a range of crucial services at affordable rates. These services include paediatric screenings in educational settings like pre-schools and primary schools, as well as assessment and treatment for youth between the ages of 4 and 16. The clinic specifically targets issues related to pronunciation, articulation, early literacy skills, and language skills.
The pressing need for such services is evident, given the extensive waiting periods of up to eight months for public health interventions in the region. In some areas, services have been discontinued altogether, particularly affecting areas like chronic health, paediatric screening, and aged care. The establishment of the Federation Speech Pathology Clinic signifies a proactive response to these gaps in service provision.
Bridget Millar, a graduate of the Master of Speech Pathology program, emphasized the personal significance of this initiative, drawing from her own experience of requiring intensive speech pathology intervention while growing up in a regional community. Millar highlighted the profound impact that accessible services can have on individuals and their families, underscoring the importance of bridging the accessibility barriers.
The field of speech pathology in Australia has been grappling with a significant demand-supply gap, as indicated by the Speech Pathology Workforce Analysis report in 2023. This scarcity has resulted in delayed or inaccessible care for numerous patients. The launch of the student-led clinic at the Berwick campus marks a pivotal moment in addressing this gap and ensuring that essential services are extended to those in need.
Professor Chryssie Heine, the head of discipline in speech pathology at Federation University, expressed enthusiasm about the clinic’s launch, emphasizing its role in providing hands-on learning opportunities for students while delivering critical speech pathology services to the community. The initiative reflects the university’s commitment to fostering collaboration and making a positive impact on the lives of community members through practical education and service provision.
As the clinic embarks on its journey, students will receive supervision from qualified speech pathologists and university staff during sessions. Additionally, the clinic will offer group communication skills sessions for adults dealing with aphasia or traumatic brain injury, along with onsite services at schools and kindergartens.
To ensure comprehensive service delivery and establish best practice referral pathways, the university has forged partnerships with public and private health services in southeast Melbourne and the wider Gippsland area. An advisory group has been formed to assess local speech pathology needs, paving the way for effective service provision and collaboration with healthcare professionals to support community health and well-being.
The successful launch of the student-led pathology clinic at Federation University’s Berwick campus signals a new chapter in providing essential services and practical learning experiences for students, setting a benchmark for future initiatives across other university campuses.
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