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Early Career Reference Group

Doing, being, becoming and belonging

FEELING OVERWHELMED?

Well, it turns out you are not alone.

Ann Wilcock an occupational therapist recently completed

research in doing, being and becoming. Her work titled

Reflections on doing, being and becoming*

listed doing as the

need to produce some form of product, think of it like a task. At

university, you are set an assignment and expected to complete

it. Being is about who we are, that is the important roles in our

lives. This may include being a speech pathology student. While

becoming focuses on the choices made, failures, successes and

everyday experiences that enable us to become better clinicians

and better people. These individualised elements culminate

in belonging. Belonging encompasses a sense of community

through participation and shared values.

So, what does this look like in the Speech Pathology profession?

Doing

“The last four years on my journey to become a speech pathologist has involved questioning

myself many times – am I doing too little? Am I doing too much? It has involved doing tasks

that I have been interested in and inspired by, and some that were a little more tedious.

“My time at university has required me to do tasks to meet expectations - attend lectures,

tutorials, placements and complete assignments. There were also purposeful actions that

I did because I felt they were important to who I wanted to be as a speech pathologist; I

volunteered, I networked, I attended professional development and I became a member of

the SPA Victoria Branch.

“Everything I have done and am doing continues to shape my identity as a speech

pathologist and as a human being.”

Gemma Rebbechi

RECENT RESEARCH REFLECTS ON HOW EVERYDAY EXPERIENCES CAN INFORM BETTER CLINICAL

PRACTICE AND FOR PRACTITIONERS TO GROW AS INDIVIDUALS.

Being

“The transition from ‘being’ a speech pathology student to ‘being’ a speech

pathologist has been an exciting, hectic, challenging yet rewarding transition.

In my first year out, I juggled multiple roles, had little guidance and support, and

realised that a work life balance is something I will have to continue to work on.

Despite these challenges, embracing opportunities has helped to open new doors.

While I am still not used to calling myself a speech pathologist, working in a field

that I’m passionate about (and hopefully make a difference in), having the freedom

to find my own pathway, and build relationships with students and colleagues

makes ‘being’ a speech pathologist where I want to be.”

Jaclyn Georgiou

April 2017

www.speechpathologyaustralia.org.au

Speak Out

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