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Bachelor of
Allied Health (Speech Pathology)
Entry requirements
Key information
VIEWING DOMESTIC
VIEWING INTERNATIONAL
Start dates
March
*Rural background applicants prioritised.
**This course is available to study at Mt. Gambier, Port Pirie or Renmark. Please choose the relevant SATAC code when applying. Alternatively, learn more about studying speech pathology in Adelaide.
Love a health career but find some fields hard to swallow? Let's talk.
Help people find their voice and enhance their lives with Flinders’ Bachelor of Allied Health (Speech Pathology). With 50 years of experience, this program prepares you to support communication and swallowing needs across all ages. Study locally with a rural focus, gain industry-led skills, and learn to work in culturally responsive ways, including with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities.
Join the high-demand field of speech pathology.
A Bachelor of Allied Health (Speech Pathology) equips you with the skills to make a real difference in people’s lives. Graduates can work across hospitals, schools, clinics, and private practices, supporting individuals of all ages to develop and improve their communication, language, and swallowing abilities. This degree opens the door to a variety of meaningful and in-demand career opportunities.
Salary
$93K
typical salary in Australia
Job opportunities
1,690
in Australia, 2025
Speech Pathologist
Assesses and treats communication and swallowing needs in individuals of all ages. They work to optimise speech, language, communication, swallowing, fluency, voice and meal-time skills to enhance overall quality of life.
Researcher
Conducts studies and analyses data to advance knowledge in speech pathology. This role often leads to academic or clinical research positions.
Policy advisor
Develops and advises on policies related to health and communication services. This role can lead to influential positions within government or non-profit organisations.
Manager
Oversees teams and operations within healthcare settings, ensuring effective service delivery. This role can lead to senior management positions.
Project officer
Supports the planning and implementation of health-related projects, often within community health settings. This role can be a stepping stone to management positions.
With further postgraduate study and work experience, careers could include:
- Clinical specialist
- Academic lecturer
- Health services manager
- Advanced practice speech pathologist
- Research director
- Policy development leader
- Consultant
- Rehabilitation director
What will you study to start your career in speech pathology?
Developed with local communities, health networks, and accrediting bodies, this degree is taught by speech pathology experts and industry practitioners in small, student-focused classes. Regional placements let you learn while supporting your community.
- Year 1
- Year 2
- Year 3
- Year 4
In your first year, all Bachelor of Allied Health students complete core topics and an observational placement covering health science, communication, research, Indigenous health, and interprofessional practice.
Year 1 - Core topics
Your first year might include the following topics. For exact topic information, visit the course Handbook.
- Human bioscience
- Therapeutic Communication
- Research and study skills
- Introduction to allied health and interprofessional practice
- Working with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples
- Care and rehabilitation across the lifespan
- Australian health and social care
In your second year, you’ll study core topics including rural health, communication and swallowing, speech pathology skills, anatomy, and community practice.
Year 2 - Core topics
Your second year might include the following topics. For exact topic information, visit the course Handbook.
- Rural health and evidence based practice
- Social and psychological aspects of health and wellbeing
- Introduction to communication and swallowing across the lifespan
- Skills and Practice
- Anatomy and physiology of speech
- Communication in children
- Speech pathology in communities
In your third year, you’ll complete placements and study advanced speech pathology, communication, swallowing, health promotion, and leadership.
Year 3 - Core topics
Your third year might include the following topics. For exact topic information, visit the course Handbook.
- Applied evidence based practice
- Skills and practice
- Communication in adults
- Health promotion and interprofessional leadership
- Swallowing across the lifespan
- Adult language and cognition
- Placements
In your fourth year, you’ll complete placements and study complex communication, advanced skills, an industry project, and transition to practice.
Year 4 - Core topics
Your fourth year might include the following topics. For exact topic information, visit the course Handbook.
- Complex communication and swallowing across the lifespan
- Skills and practice
- Industry project
- Transition to practice
- Placement
A Bachelor of Allied Health (Speech Pathology) degree offers flexible step-in-step-out options for students to study for 1, 2, 3 or 4 years with a range of job opportunities available at each point.
Completing the full 4-year program provides eligibility to work as a speech pathologist. Exiting after 1 year leads to a higher education diploma, after 2 years an associate degree, and after 3 years a non-accredited degree.
Accreditation or Professional Recognition
The Bachelor of Allied Health (Speech Pathology) course is pending formal accreditation by Speech Pathology Australia (SPA).
No.3 in SA
in Health Services & Support for full-time employment, learner engagement
(The Good Universities Guide 2024 (undergraduate))
Ranked in the top 2%
of the universities in the world
(The World University Rankings 2023 as a percentage of the total number of universities in the world according to the International Association of Universities)
Five stars
in Health Services & Support for full-time employment, learner engagement and student support
(The Good Universities Guide 2024 (undergraduate)).
Flinders offers a vibrant, fun, supportive uni experience you’ll remember for a lifetime.
Need support?
From cultural, health and wellbeing services, to study and financial support, enrolment advice and more, we’re here to help.
Student clubs
Flinders University Student Association (FUSA) is the heart of the Flinders Experience. FUSA is where you’ll find out about events, club memberships and extracurricular activities.
Campus facilities
Flinders’ campuses are hubs of activity, with retail and food outlets, library spaces, study and chill spaces and more.
Concerned about your ATAR? If it doesn't meet the course requirement, or if you don't receive one, we offer alternative pathways to admission. Contact us to discuss your options—we're here to help.
Frequently asked questions.
Over the years, many questions have been asked by students before. For the quickest answers view our frequently asked questions or browse the full list @ Ask Flinders.
Applications for the next intake open in August and are submitted via the South Australian Tertiary Admissions Centre (SATAC).
Each of these courses are available to study at Port Pirie, in the Riverland at Renmark or in Mount Gambier.
Speech pathologists provide services across the lifespan to people whose educational, vocational, personal and social functioning is affected by communication or swallowing impairment resulting from developmental difficulties, social disadvantage, illness or accident.
Yes! Speech pathology is an excellent career choice for those who wish to combine the scientific knowledge they gain for evidence-based practice, with the fulfilment of working relationally and connecting with people of all ages.
Speech pathologists provide services across the lifespan to people whose educational, vocational, personal and social functioning is affected by communication or swallowing impairment resulting from developmental difficulties, social disadvantage, illness or accident.
Graduates will meet the entry-level standards of Speech Pathology Australia (SPA), the national accrediting body, which will enable them to practise in Australia and several other countries around the world, including the UK and Singapore*.
*Pending transfer of qualification; conditions may apply.
Yes, this course is accredited by the Australian Physiotherapy Council and meets the academic requirements for registration with the Physiotherapist Board of Australia.
Yes. According to the National Skills Commission, Audiologists & Speech Pathologists will experience 16.6% employment growth (National Skills Commission, 2024 Employment projections for the next five years 2029).
According to SEEK, in Australia, the typical salary in Australia is $98k for a speech pathologist.
Yes, students will attend a observational placement in their first year and then clinical placements in their third and fourth year.
- Applications are completed via SATAC
- Visit: satac.edu.au
The table below shows ATAR and Selection Rank data for students offered a place wholly or partly on the basis of ATAR commencing in Semester 1, 2024. It is limited to applicants that have recently completed secondary education (within the last two years). Data may reflect multiple courses available within a suite of courses.
Notes:
<5 – less than 5 ATAR based offers made
N/A – This course uses additional selection criteria and therefore Selection Rank is not published
| ATAR-based offers only across all offer rounds | ATAR - Excluding adjustment factors | Selection Rank - ATAR plus any adjustment factors |
|---|---|---|
| Highest rank to receive an offer | 99.40 | 99.95 |
| Median rank to receive an offer | 73.35 | 77.78 |
| Lowest rank to receive an offer | 57.75 | 65.50 |
The table below gives an indication of the likely peer cohort for new students in this course. It provides data on students who commenced study in this course in Semester 1, 2024 including those admitted through all offer rounds and international students studying in Australia. Applicant background groupings are based on educational background, not basis of admission. Data may reflect multiple courses available within a suite of courses.
Notes:
<5 – the number of students is less than 5
N/P – Not published: the number is hidden to prevent calculation of numbers in cells with less than 5 students
| Applicant background (Semester 1, 2024) | Number of students | Percentage of all students |
|---|---|---|
| Higher education study (includes a bridging or enabling course) | 46 | 34% |
| Vocational education and training (VET) study | <5 | <5 |
| Work and life experience | 11 | 8% |
| Recent secondary education - Admitted solely on the basis of ATAR (regardless of whether this includes the consideration of adjustment factors such as equity or subject bonus points) | 37 | 28% |
| Recent secondary education - Admitted where both ATAR and additional criteria were considered (e.g. portfolio, audition, extra test) | <5 | 2 |
| Recent secondary education - Admitted on the basis of other criteria only and ATAR was not a factor (e.g. special consideration pathways) | 17 | 13% |
| International Students | 18 | 13% |
| All students | 134 | 100% |
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