Speak Out December LOW RES FINAL 2017

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December 2017 Speak Out 39
Speech pathology
placement in Darwin Northern
Territory
NT 55
members
as at October 2017
FOR OUR FINAL paediatric placement we
flew to Darwin to spend six weeks at Alawa
Primary School under the supervision of
Franceska Edis (Top End Speech Pathology). It
was an eye-opening experience to be a part of
the Darwin and the Alawa school community.
We were given a warm welcome from the
students, parents, teachers and staff at the
school. It was hard not to notice the close
and tight connection people shared within
the community, where everyone looks out
for one another. Throughout the placement,
our clinical educator and teachers ensured
that we enjoyed the NT lifestyle by constantly
suggested exciting weekend plans, such as
inviting us to go to the local Darwin Festival
or visit the Litchfield National Park. Their
enthusiasm and support helped us to feel
connected to the local community, as well as
to be part of the wider NT family within the
brief six weeks we spent in Darwin.
Darwin is definitely a change of scenery
from what we are used to in Sydney. Having
grown up in the “hustle and bustle” of a
concrete jungle, Darwin’s relaxed pace and
beautiful nature certainly made the placement
worthwhile. We spent weekends exploring
beautiful waterfalls around Litchfield and
Berry Springs, and were tested with outdoor
activities such as canoeing and helicopter rides
around stunning nature parks. Not to mention
the tranquil waters of Katherine Gorge, the
gorgeous sunsets from Casuarina beach and
getting up close and personal with a saltwater
crocodile!
As part of our experience in Darwin, we were
immersed in a culturally and linguistically
diverse community. During our orientation, we
attended a cultural awareness workshop that
was informative and helped in working with
our clients. As we learnt during this workshop,
approximately 40 per cent of students in
the Northern Territory identify themselves
as indigenous, and almost 50 per cent of
students come from backgrounds other than
English. Throughout the program we were
challenged to consider cultural factors in order
to ensure that intervention is effective. This
involved considering culturally appropriate
speech patterns, appropriate language to
use with parents/carers, and acknowledging
different family values and expectations.
The placement helped us to understand the
ways in which speech pathologists work with
and alongside schools and education staff.
During the six weeks, we learned how to
implement our services on all three tiers of
the response to intervention (RTI) framework
(one-on-one, small groups and in consultation
with teachers). There have also been great
opportunities to be involved in advocacy
events for the profession, namely being part
of the Speech Pathology Australia stall for
the Darwin Careers Expo and events within
the school to promote Speech Pathology
Week. Like all placements there were
challenges and rewards, all of which are
vital to our learning experience as students.
Through this experience we learned so much
about ourselves and the profession and we
recommend it to all students who have the
opportunity.
Speech pathology students
Elizabeth Grose, Jasmine Lo,
Hafiz Yusoff, Kate Patten
The students attended the Darwin
Careers Expo to advocate for the
profession.