It’s my SLP SUMMIT DAY 🥳🥳🥳 I’m not a It’s my SLP SUMMIT DAY 🥳🥳🥳

I’m not a flash sale person, but then again, it’s not every day that you get to share your passion and present to thousands of SLPs all over world 🌎 

Enjoy 20% off ALL minimal pair resources in my store for today only!!!

#speechtherapy #speechpathology #slp #slpsofinstagram #slpsontpt #slp #speech #minimalpairs #phonology #preschoolslp #schoolslp
Whether it’s your Thursday afternoon (Northern H Whether it’s your Thursday afternoon (Northern Hemisphere) or Friday morning (Southern Hemisphere), don’t miss my SLP Summit talk on the Minimal Pairs Approach!!

Who has signed up????

#ebpslp #adventuresinspeechpathology #slpsummit #slp
I don’t want to be REMEMBERED for my games!!! I I don’t want to be REMEMBERED for my games!!!

I want to be remembered as that lady WHO HELPED ME say my sounds correctly!!!

The older I get, the less games I play, and the more I keep my keep my kids engaged doing novel things like earning LEGO bricks 🧱 to build something while I’m chatting to Dad at the end of my session.

Are you with me?? 💪🏻💪🏻💪🏻💪🏻

#speechtherapy #speechpathology #slp #slplife #slpsofinstagram #slp2b #speech #speechpathology #adventuresinspeechpathology
Did you know that these are the two most FREQUENTL Did you know that these are the two most FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS I get asked about minimal pairs?

So if you’ve thought these, you’re not alone!

Answer to the first question: well, there are options!!!! Which is great, right?! Options mean that you can individualize therapy for your child. I usually choose about 5, but have gone higher and less as well!

Answer to the second question: the minimal pairs stay the same! So I pick my treatment set carefully. The only reason why I might change my set is if the child isn’t generalizing and that system-wide change isn’t occurring (then I’ll add more to the treatment set).

For those who have read these pages in the Minimal Pairs Handbook, I’d love to know if the information makes sense 👇🏻

#speechtherapy #speechpathology #minimalpairshandbook #phonology #ebpslp #privatepracticeslp #preschoolslp #speechdelay #speech #speechdelaykids
I’ve decided to be a folder girl this year!!! I I’ve decided to be a folder girl this year!!!

I’ve got so many handouts, visuals, posters, and factsheets (pictured 😍), that I’m just going to get my act together and have everything in one place!

Let me know if you want me to do a video of what I come up with.

Pictured: Speech Development Fact Sheets by Age

#speechlanguagetherapy #ebpslp #speechtherapy #slp #slpsofinstagram #slporganization #speechdelay #speechdevelopment #speech
One of the questions I get asked is: what activiti One of the questions I get asked is: what activities do you use for minimal pairs?

A: the same that I use for all my other kids! The only difference is my TEACHING and FEEDBACK!!

I generally pick 3-5 simple SIMPLE activities or reinforcer style games and just aim to keep my kids motivated and engaged enough to get a lot of practice in.

So please don’t think that you have to sit at a table and have kids point to cards. That’s an example, that’s not how you do it every session 🙅🏻‍♀️

For those who have looked through the activity ideas in the Minimal Pairs Handbook, I would love to know what you think of this section about activity ideas 👇🏻

#speechdelay #phonology #slpa #slpgradstudent #speechtherapy #speechpathology #slp #slp2b #minimalpairshandbook #speechdelaykids #speechactivities
In case you missed it.... the Minimal Pairs Handbo In case you missed it.... the Minimal Pairs Handbook has been released 🎉

If you don’t know the journey, this has been six months of researching, reading, collaborating, and creating!

I want new grads, CFY, and early career SLPs to learn this approach CORRECTLY from the start of their career...

...and more experience SLPs to tweak their practice to be even more effective 👏

The 30% sale price ends in less than 24 hours, so go to the link in my profile and start the year treating speech confidently 💪🏻

#ebpslp #speechtherapy #slp2b #slp #speech #speechpathologist #privatepracticeslp #preschoolslp #schoolslp #speechdelay
This is why the minimal pairs approach is a GREAT This is why the minimal pairs approach is a GREAT option ☝🏼.

Because even if your child ISN’T stimulable for the sound, you can still follow the principles of minimal pairs therapy!

The Minimal Pairs Handbook will be breaking down the differences between these two options, and helping you problem solve everything else 👏

Can’t wait for its release this week!!

#minimalpairshandbook #phonology #slp #slp2b #speechtherapy #schoolslp #ebpslp #speechpathology #preschoolslp
Children need to make words SOUND DIFFERENT becaus Children need to make words SOUND DIFFERENT because they have different meanings!!

At the start of minimal pairs intervention I usually find myself using those sentences, such as:

“Green means..... (go)”
“We play with.... (dough)”

The reason WHY I do this is because if the child answers that green means DOUGH, well I’m going to act totally confused and confront my little one with the communication breakdown, because I’ve added some context and meaning to it.

I do fade this out pretty quickly. And FYI - I don’t think you’ll find this in a journal article, it’s just something that MY clinical practice and experience has lead me to do!

Ask me a question 🙋🏻‍♀️ if you have one!

(and only a few more days til the Minimal Pairs Handbook is released 🤗)

#minimalpairs #speechtherapist #speechpathology #digitalslp #ebpslp #slp2b #speechdelay #phonology #speech
That’s okay!!! I learn best from watching other That’s okay!!!

I learn best from watching other people too.

But if you feel like minimal pairs was glossed over in your studies, or you’ve never really seen it be implemented PLEASE DON’T LET THAT STOP YOU FROM LEARNING THIS APPROACH!!!

The Minimal Pairs Handbook is being released this week 🤗 and it contains three video tutorials AND a 25 minute therapy session using the minimal pairs approach from Step 1-3.

Make this YOUR year to make progress with your speech kids ❤️

🤗🤗🤗🤗 WHO’s EXCITED????

👉🏻 Sign up for the waitlist and get notified when this is released! The link is in my profile.

#speechlanguagetherapy #speechtherapy #phonology #speechsounddisorders #slp #slp2b #minimalpairshandbook #speechdelay #slpgradstudent #slpgradschool #preschoolslp #schoolslp
It’s my SLP SUMMIT DAY 🥳🥳🥳 I’m not a It’s my SLP SUMMIT DAY 🥳🥳🥳

I’m not a flash sale person, but then again, it’s not every day that you get to share your passion and present to thousands of SLPs all over world 🌎 

Enjoy 20% off ALL minimal pair resources in my store for today only!!!

#speechtherapy #speechpathology #slp #slpsofinstagram #slpsontpt #slp #speech #minimalpairs #phonology #preschoolslp #schoolslp
Whether it’s your Thursday afternoon (Northern H Whether it’s your Thursday afternoon (Northern Hemisphere) or Friday morning (Southern Hemisphere), don’t miss my SLP Summit talk on the Minimal Pairs Approach!!

Who has signed up????

#ebpslp #adventuresinspeechpathology #slpsummit #slp
I don’t want to be REMEMBERED for my games!!! I I don’t want to be REMEMBERED for my games!!!

I want to be remembered as that lady WHO HELPED ME say my sounds correctly!!!

The older I get, the less games I play, and the more I keep my keep my kids engaged doing novel things like earning LEGO bricks 🧱 to build something while I’m chatting to Dad at the end of my session.

Are you with me?? 💪🏻💪🏻💪🏻💪🏻

#speechtherapy #speechpathology #slp #slplife #slpsofinstagram #slp2b #speech #speechpathology #adventuresinspeechpathology
Did you know that these are the two most FREQUENTL Did you know that these are the two most FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS I get asked about minimal pairs?

So if you’ve thought these, you’re not alone!

Answer to the first question: well, there are options!!!! Which is great, right?! Options mean that you can individualize therapy for your child. I usually choose about 5, but have gone higher and less as well!

Answer to the second question: the minimal pairs stay the same! So I pick my treatment set carefully. The only reason why I might change my set is if the child isn’t generalizing and that system-wide change isn’t occurring (then I’ll add more to the treatment set).

For those who have read these pages in the Minimal Pairs Handbook, I’d love to know if the information makes sense 👇🏻

#speechtherapy #speechpathology #minimalpairshandbook #phonology #ebpslp #privatepracticeslp #preschoolslp #speechdelay #speech #speechdelaykids
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Adventures in Speech Pathology

Feel confident treating speech sound disorders

Working Overseas · September 21, 2017

Being an SLP: An Aussie Perspective

International students seem to have a thing for Australia. Back when I was studying, my Master’s program was one-fifth North American and it brought an interesting mix of perspectives and peanut and jelly sandwiches to the program. So if you’re thinking of chucking it all in, doing the move and adding “G’day” into your everyday lingo, here are some things to know about what being an SLP in ‘Straya is like.

What is the profession called where you live? Speech-Language Pathologist or SLP, but Aussie’s love shortening every word and throwing and ‘ie’ on then end of everything so a lot of us would call ourselves a ‘speechie’.
How long is the average degree for Speech Pathology? Most degrees are four years, although you can do a three year undergraduate in a related field and a two year Masters degree in Speech Pathology. Quite a few Masters degrees have sprung up around Australia in recent years, so it’s definitely on the rise. I was really lucky that I completed my Master’s degree as it was a requirement for working in the US. I also know that a lot of International students come to Australia to complete their Masters degree as it can be less expensive and less competitive to get in.
How do you get certified to be a Speech Pathologist? As well as completing your coursework, meeting the minimum Competency Based Occupational Standards for your clinical work is essential.  If you don’t meet the clinical entry-level standards, you might have to complete some extra placements. You typically have to submit a body of work showing that you are well-rounded in all clinical areas of speech pathology (e.g. dysphagia, voice, stuttering, language, speech) and may have a verbal case presentation with a panel of speech pathologists.
What acronyms do you use after being certified? CPSP (Certified Practising Speech Pathologist), though this is only if you join Speech Pathology Australia and demonstrate a commitment to professional development, which is not currently mandatory.
What do your clients or students call you? We usually go by first names, so I’m Rebecca, Bec, Becky, Becca and the occasional Rachel by kids who forget! It was really strange to go from first names to “Miss V” when I worked in the US.

What do you call these?


In what setting do the majority of SLPs work? Private practice has really exploded in Australia so the percentage of SLPs working there has had significant increases. Otherwise health jobs (hospitals, community centres) are always popular too. My state doesn’t hire SLPs to work in schools, but you might still see a private student there.

What are some big SLP issues in your country at the moment? We have a new National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) that is being rolled out nationwide, so a lot of people with communication disorders are getting funding for speech pathology services. Like with any major overhaul, there are triumphs and hiccups. It also means that a lot of previous funding opportunities for people with ASD and disabilities will change as they roll over.
 What might we not know about being an Aussie SLP? Our association, Speech Pathology Australia has a free Mentoring program that matches up clinicians needing support. As someone who has both been mentored and had a mentee, this is really invaluable (especially if you are coming from overseas). 
Where are some really interesting locations to work in your country? Working rural-remote where you fly in to quite isolated communities in the ‘outback’ has always interested me when I scour job listings. I also eyed a few positions on the islands north of Australia where you ‘island hop’ around to provide services. There can be a lot of sole SLPs in Australia due to the size of the country and the small population size. I definitely recommend new graduates and international SLPs looking at these positions for a really unique work-life experience.
Who are some local SLP’s or that are doing great research? I love speech sound disorders, probably because of the fantastic researchers we have in Australia. Caroline Bowen, Elise Baker, Sharynne McLeod and Trisha McCabe are hands down amazing for the wide umbrella of speech (Trisha has just put up a free training for a CAS treatment). I would definitely recommend searching for them and their articles. I’m so proud of the team of SLP’s who developed the Lidcombe Program and Camperdown Program for stuttering – there is great evidence out there, so read up on them if you’re not familiar.
What are the common articulation and language assessments used? I might be stereotyping here, but I’d say most people would use the CELF-4 as their main language assessment and the DEAP for articulation and phonology. The new Australian/NZ standardization of the CELF-5 has just become available, so I’m sure that this will be the standard. I was totally floored whilst living in America to find out that this was not the norm in my school district. I had to learn tons of new assessments and felt like I was a student all over again.
Want some more international perspectives? Read a Canadian point of view or sign up via email (look for the box on the right) and all blog posts will get delivered straight to you.

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Next Post: 25 Hands-on Ideas for Teaching Syllabification of Words »

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Mandi says

    November 14, 2017 at 7:17 am

    I love the students slip up and call you Rachel! Not that I know anyone who has done that before though.

    Reply
    • Rebecca Reinking says

      November 15, 2017 at 7:33 am

      Hahahaha!!!!! I told you, it happens ALL the time 🙂

      Reply
  2. Christeena Prakasi Benjamin says

    May 22, 2020 at 10:36 pm

    I was wondering if you know how job prospects are for Bachelor and Master Slp students in Australia….
    Is it possible to find a job with a Bachelors degree….
    I did my bachelors degree in India and I would like to pursue a masters in Speech Pathology at UQ.
    you mentioned that the main places slps work at were mainly private centers, hospitals and community centers.
    I would like to know if people would hire international slps with bachelors or masters degree.
    Also, do you know if passing the Overseas Qualification Competency Assessment is sufficient to get a lisence for bachelor slps

    Reply
  3. LYNN says

    August 8, 2020 at 9:26 pm

    Hi Rebecca! I am an international student who plans to apply for the SP program at Macquaire University. And they require a personal statement to apply it. However, I am having such a hard time getting started with the question about my own understanding of Speech Pathology as practised in Australia. Could you offer some inspiration? I appreciate your help:)

    Reply
    • Rebecca Reinking says

      August 14, 2020 at 10:10 am

      Perhaps look at the Speech Pathology Australia website. They have a lot of great materials and information for the public that can help you understand the practice in Australia. Best of luck, that was the university I studied at 🙂

      Reply

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I encourage SLPs to feel more confident treating speech sound disorders, and make faster progress with their students.

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