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Speech-language therapy services

Organisation and management of speech-language therapy services

Education Queensland speech-language therapy services are coordinated in the regions by Regional Senior Speech-Language Pathologists in consultation with regional and school staff. Speech-language pathologists (SLPs) are managed by the Principal of their base school. Regional Senior Speech-Language Pathologists provide professional supervision and support to SLPs. SLPs are generally based in one school, while providing a service to a number of schools across a local area.

Speech-language therapy services are responsive to local needs and therefore may differ across schools and regions. The speech-language therapy service to a particular school is determined through collaboration between the Principal and the SLP, with assistance from the Regional Senior Speech-Language Pathologist. However, all these services are required to align to the framework provided in the departmental document Priorities in Speech-Language Therapy Services in State Schools (revised edition) 6.7M. This document provides the framework to assist key personnel within regions and schools to make appropriate decisions about the array of speech-language therapy services that most effectively meet the identified needs of students within and across schools.

Accessing speech-language therapy services in state schools

Speech-language pathologists (SLPs) provide a service to a number of schools across a local area while being physically based at one school. Enquiries about the speech-language therapy service for a particular area can be addressed to the school principal, Head of Special Education Services, or Regional Senior Speech-Language Pathologist.

If there are concerns about a student's speech and/or language, a referral to the speech-language pathologist may be warranted. Schools have referral processes where parents and teachers provide background information and complete a referral form. All referral forms need to be signed by the parent and by the Principal. Some schools have special needs committees to assist in this process.

SLPs visit their local schools according to a term or semester schedule to see students whom the school has identified as having special needs. The SLP provides an array of services, which can include advice to teachers and parents, input into curriculum and programming, assessment, individual and group therapy, and parent or teacher programs.

Education Queensland provides educationally focused speech-language therapy services to schools. Parents can also access speech-language therapy services from Queensland Health (hospitals, Community Health Centres, Child & Youth Mental Health Services), Disability Services Queensland or private speech pathologists. Contact details for these can be found in the White Pages for government services, or the Yellow Pages for private speech pathologists.

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