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104 weeks
In person at Waterfront, Geelong. Students are expected to attend lectures, seminars and classes which are interactive and require active student participation. In person attendance for some activities, including placement, is compulsory for all students.
Full time / Part time
July (Trimester 2)
Course Overview
Learn to work in partnership with people living with communication or swallowing difficulties, and their carers, families and communities, to support them to achieve their goals and to reduce the inequalities they face. With Deakin's Master of Speech Pathology, delivered at our Geelong Waterfront campus, you will gain the knowledge, skills and practical experience to confidently and collaboratively work with people of any age experiencing communication or swallowing difficulties, including people with developmental or acquired speech, language or communication disorders, people with complex communication needs, people who are deaf or hard of hearing, and people with swallowing difficulties resulting from age, impairment or disability. Co-designed with people with disability, as well as parents, carers and advocates, and informed by local services, our Master of Speech Pathology provides a unique focus on understanding and working with people with disability, which means you will bring in-demand specialised perspective and skills to the workforce, setting you apart from other graduates. Are you passionate about working with individuals and communities to facilitate accessible and effective communication and safe, enjoyable eating and drinking? Perfect for those seeking a career change or articulating from an undergraduate degree in a related discipline, this professional entry-to-practice degree will provide you with the skills and competencies to work as a speech pathologist in Australia. You do not have to have a background in allied health - many successful speech pathologists come from fields such as communications, education and biological sciences. While undergraduate knowledge of human anatomy and physiology is a prerequisite for the course, we offer HBS109 Introduction to Anatomy and Physiology as a single unit prior to commencement for those who do not meet this requirement.
Based at our Geelong Waterfront campus, our hands-on, collaborative approach to learning throughout the course ensures that you will graduate ready to practice. Coursework includes carefully constructed learning experiences to prepare you to work meaningfully and effectively with clients in speech pathology practice. Realistic cases help you to develop and apply your understanding of communication and swallowing development and disorders, and the assessment and intervention processes that speech pathologists use. You will learn to work effectively with people with complex communication needs, including those who use Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC), and to practice competently in deaf communities, including using Auslan (Australian sign language). You will also undertake critical learning around Australian Aboriginal health and wellbeing so that you can provide culturally appropriate support, and will work alongside students from other courses to develop strong interprofessional practice and teamwork skills. The course also provides you with a solid foundation in research literacy, which is essential to effective practice. Our practical experiences take you on a scaffolded journey from novice learner through to competent, independent practice. Developed in partnership with local services, these experiences are designed to allow you to experience, understand and demonstrate speech pathology practice in a range of settings and services. In-practice observations in your first trimester support the foundational knowledge you develop during this time. As you progress through the course you will complete a further four credit points of supervised placements in various services and settings, as well as specialised simulation-based placements in our dedicated on-campus learning facility. In addition to graduating with work-ready skills, you will also be able to leverage Deakin's strong partnerships, opening the door to future career opportunities. In line with Deakin's commitment to redressing the health disparities faced by those living in regional and rural areas compared to those in major cities, our placements have been designed alongside speech pathology services in the Barwon South West region. This provides you with an opportunity to work with people from diverse populations, and the potential to establish local career connections that will allow you to support people in the Barwon South West community. The Master of Speech Pathology at Deakin offers you the unique opportunity to dive further into an area that interests you by selecting either a research project or a combination of an elective in public health, disability or inclusive education, and a community-based project. As a graduate of Deakin's Master of Speech Pathology you will be ready to address the health and wellbeing of people who have communication or swallowing difficulties. Hands-on experience, an extensive network of partners, and a unique understanding of working with people with disability ensure that you will be entering into the growing disability, health and community services and education sectors with in-demand knowledge and skills. For those wishing to further a career in research, our research pathway supports access to higher degree by research training (PhD).
Please note: completion of this unit does not guarantee entry into the Master of Speech Pathology.
Where You Can Study
Melbourne
1 Gheringhap St, GEELONG, VIC 3220
Eligibility
Career & Study Pathways
Ageing populations are driving a global demand for speech pathologists, while in Australia we are seeing a particular demand for specialised services for people living with disability. Not only will you be making a meaningful difference to the lives of those experiencing communication or swallowing difficulties, you can also be confident you are securing your future in a growing field - with a 34.7% increase in job opportunities expected over the next 5 years.
As a speech pathologist you will work with people across all ages who experience a range of communication difficulties including speaking, using and understanding language, voice difficulties, people who stutter, people with cognitive difficulties that impact on communication, as well as those who have difficulty swallowing, eating and drinking. You may find work across a number of settings, including: Community settings, including community health centres disability services education settings (kindergartens, primary and secondary schools and special developmental schools) hospitals mental health services private practices/clinics rehabilitation services residential aged care facilities. With Deakin's Master of Speech Pathology unique and specific focus on disability, you will be well-placed to secure work within the NDIS including private, not-for-profit, and public service providers.
seek.com.au/career-advice/role/speech-pathologist
Quality & Recognition
Academic Regulator
TEQSA
Professional Body
Speech Pathology Australia (SPA)
Accreditation Status
AccreditedSkills Assessor
SPA (Speech Pathology Australia)
Course Content
Academic Integrity and Respect at Deakin
0 credit point compulsory unit completed in first study period
Communication and Swallowing Across the Lifespan
2 credit point core unit
Professional Practice in Speech Pathology
Core unit
Australian Aboriginal Holistic Health and Healing
Core unit
Identifying Needs and Providing Speech Pathology Services
Core unit
Communication Disorder and Difference
Core unit
Research Methods in Health and Social Development
Core unit
Speech Pathology Practice A
Core unit
Complex Communication Needs and Augmentative and Alternative Communication
Core unit
Supporting Swallowing and Mealtimes
Core unit
Speech Pathology Practice B
Core unit
Speech Pathology Practice with Deaf Communities
Core unit
Integrating and Transferring Practice in Speech Pathology
2 credit point core unit
Minor Research Project A
Course elective — research pathway
Minor Research Project B
Course elective — research pathway
Community-Based Speech Pathology Project
Course elective — coursework pathway
Teaching and Learning in the Inclusive Classroom
Course elective option
Supporting Communication in Inclusive Classrooms
Course elective option
Social Justice and Difference
Course elective option
Disability and Inclusion: Contemporary Theory and Lived Experience
Course elective option
Community Capacity Building - Theory and Practice for Inclusion
Course elective option
Inclusive Design and Technology
Course elective option
Principles and Practice of Public Health
Course elective option
Health Promotion
Course elective option
Common Questions
No, you do not have to have a background in allied health. Many successful speech pathologists come from fields such as communications, education and biological sciences. The Master of Speech Pathology is perfect for those seeking a career change or articulating from an undergraduate degree in a related discipline. While undergraduate knowledge of human anatomy and physiology is a prerequisite, Deakin offers HBS109 Introduction to Anatomy and Physiology as a single unit prior to commencement for those who do not meet this requirement.
Prior to your first practice-based learning opportunity, you are required to complete a Police Record Check, a Working with Children Check, an NDIS Worker Screening Check, and provide evidence of immunisation status covering hepatitis B, measles, mumps and rubella, varicella (chicken pox), pertussis (whooping cough), tuberculosis, influenza and COVID-19. Students who fail to obtain these checks prior to the required dates will not be able to undertake their mandatory practice-based learning experiences, which will impede progression in the course.
Students must complete 2 credit points of course electives, and can choose between two pathways. The research pathway involves enrolling in Minor Research Project A (HSH731) and Minor Research Project B (HSH732), which supports applying to enrol in a higher degree by research (PhD). The coursework pathway requires completing Community-Based Speech Pathology Project (HSP740) plus one credit point from a list of electives covering areas such as inclusive education, disability, public health, and health promotion. Students who meet the prerequisite requirements can choose either pathway.
Placements have been designed alongside speech pathology services in the Barwon South West region, providing opportunities to work with people from diverse populations and to establish local career connections. Students complete four credit points of supervised placements in various services and settings, as well as specialised simulation-based placements in a dedicated on-campus learning facility at the Geelong Waterfront campus. In-practice observations in the first trimester support foundational knowledge development, with placements increasing in independence as students progress through the course.
The Master of Speech Pathology takes 2 years of full-time study or 4 years of part-time study. The course is available at the Geelong Waterfront campus with a Trimester 2 (July) intake. Direct applications to Deakin for Trimester 2 2026 close on 21 June 2026. You may be able to study available units in the optional third trimester to fast-track your degree, however your course duration may be extended if there are delays in meeting course requirements, such as completing a placement.
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