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Speak Out

August 2013

Speech Pathology Australia

Clinical placement insights

uring May and June of this year, I was lucky

enough to complete a paediatric placement with the

Department of Education in Hobart, Tasmania. This

opportunity arose through the combination of a Rural and

Remote scholarship from the NAHSSS, the hard work of La

Trobe University’s Clinical Placement Officer Jai Rankine,

and my own desire to undertake the challenge of completing

a clinical placement interstate.

I was placed within the Department’s Learning Services

South division, which allowed me to gain an insight into the

diverse range of practice for speech pathologists working

within the Education Department in this region. Not only

was I able to regularly visit local primary schools to conduct

speech and language therapy, but I also gained exposure to

the ‘ins and outs’ of an early childhood intervention centre,

as well as a support school for children with high needs.

The varied caseload (and the insistence of my supervisors

that I get a full range of experiences while on placement!)

provided me with ample chances to put into practice much

of the theory I had learnt throughout my degree, and my

competence and confidence as an entry-level clinician grew

with every day that passed. Certainly, by the conclusion of

my six weeks’ experience, I was left wishing I could stay on

and continue working with the clients and the colleagues

who had made the placement so enjoyable.

Hobart too, exceeded

my expectations in terms

of its accessibility and

natural beauty. Mid-

week visits to the historic

Salamanca precinct

or critically acclaimed

Museum of Old and

New Art were excellent

ways to get my culture

fix, while on weekends

I was able to explore

the picturesque regions

of Bruny Island, Port

Arthur, the Tamar Valley

and Launceston. I even

scaled the mighty Mt

Wellington for a stunning finale to my Tasmania adventure!

I feel extremely lucky to have had this experience and

encourage anybody who is interested in undertaking a rural

or remote placement to actively pursue any opportunity

that arises. I am much indebted to both Isobel Lewis and

Karina Heier, who served as my clinical educators during

the placement, and provided much support and hospitality

during my stay in Hobart.

Eve Jongebloed

La Trobe University, Melbourne

It was exciting and affirming when the abstract I submitted

was accepted as a paper presentation for the Conference,

and that provided motivation to continue despite the many

challenges I’ve encountered during the course of my PhD.

After a frantic couple of months collecting and analysing

data in the short space of time between gaining ethics

approval and the Conference, it was rewarding to finally

be able to discuss preliminary findings of my research

among peers. It was also great to have a deadline to work

towards during the early stages of data collection for my

PhD, and arriving at the Gold Coast was a fabulous reward

after my frantic preparation.

I was grateful that many of my Adelaide colleagues were

able to attend my presentation, and it was fantastic

to have their support. Presenting my research at the

Conference was a valuable opportunity to gain feedback

from peers, address questions about my research and to

make connections with other PhD candidates researching