Speech pathology

The Speech Pathology department at Peninsula Health comprises a team of more than 20 qualified Speech Pathologists. Speech Pathologists work with children, adults and older adults who have communication or swallowing difficulties.

Speech Pathology is available across Peninsula Health. Services are available at hospitals, rehabilitation hospitals, community rehabilitation centres, community health centres, home services and residential care facilities. These integrated services ensure consumers experience a continuum of care – including hospital, rehabilitation and in the community.

Please click on a link below for more information

What do Speech Pathologists do?
Where can I see a Speech Pathologist at Peninsula Health?
Professional education services
Useful information and links
Contact us

What do Speech Pathologists do?

Speech pathologists are specialists who are trained to assess and treat people of all ages who have a communication or swallowing disorder.

Communication is:

speaking
using language
understanding language
reading
writing
gesturing

Swallowing problems may be:

trouble chewing

coughing when eating or drinking

food gets stuck in the throat when eating

A Speech Pathologist can help a person with communication or swallowing problems by:

diagnosing the communication or swallowing condition,
treating the communication or swallowing problem and its impact,
providing education about communication and swallowing, and,
suggesting ways to compensate for the difficulty so that the person can return to doing the activities they enjoy.

Speech Pathologists are also able to advocate for people who have communication or swallowing difficulties.
Speech Pathologists can see people on their own or in a group.

These are some examples of how Speech Pathologists help people:

helping a 3 year old child with speech and/or language problems
helping a woman after a stroke who has speaking problems
helping a man who has voice problems
helping the family of a man with dementia communicate together
helping a mother feed her baby who has a cleft palate
helping a man with Parkinson’s Disease who has swallowing problems

All Speech Pathologists working at Peninsula Health have a minimum of an undergraduate degree, are qualified as Speech Pathologists and are eligible for membership to the Speech Pathology Association of Australia (SPA).

Speech Pathologists are involved with practice based research and develop innovative approaches to patient care. Speech Pathologists act as a resource and support other members of the multidisciplinary team in managing communication and swallowing problems.

Where can I see a Speech Pathologist at Peninsula Health?

Speech Pathology provides services to all areas across Peninsula Health.

You can see a Speech Pathologist if you are an inpatient of Peninsula Health at:

Frankston and Rosebud Hospitals,
Golf Links Road Rehabilitation Unit,
Rosebud Rehabilitation Unit,
The Mornington Centre,
The Palliative Care Unit, or
As part of the Transition Care Program

You can see a Speech Pathologist through our home and community services including:

Community Health Centres at Frankston, Hastings and Rosebud (Children aged 0-6 prior to school entry )
Community Rehabilitation Programs at Frankston and Rosebud (adults)
Home based services such as Domiciliary Care (adults)

You can also see a Speech Pathologist at Peninsula Health Residential Care Facilities, including:

Jean Turner,
Lotus Lodge,
Carinya Aged Care and
Michael Court.

Our service brochures:

Social Aphasia Group Rye

Social Aphasia Group Frankston

Paediatric Service Brochure

Paediatric Feeding Service Brochure

Community Health Services Brochure

Domiciliary Care Brochure

Community Rehabilitation Program brochure

Professional Education Services

Student Placements:

Speech Pathology provides clinical placements for Speech Pathology students from LaTrobe University and Charles Sturt University. In many ways students can help improve the services you receive. If you see a student Speech Pathologist, rest assured that your care will always be supervised by a qualified Speech Pathologist.

If you have any questions about the Speech Pathology student education at Peninsula Health you can contact the Speech Pathology Student Coordinator on 9783 7288.

Professional Development:

Speech Pathology has a strong commitment to clinical excellence and research. We promote and support ongoing professional development. The Speech Pathology team is supported by a clinical supervision framework.

Useful information and links

There is an abundance of information about communication and swallowing problems on the internet, on television and in books these days. Not all of this information is correct, and some can be very misleading. There are a number of professional organisations who provide free and accurate expert information on communication and swallowing.

Speech Pathology Australia

Information about Stroke

National Stroke Foundation

Stroke Association of Victoria
Better Health Channel

Information about Aphasia

Australian Aphasia Association
National Stroke Foundation – Information on communication after a stroke

Information about childhood communication

National Literacy Trust – Talking to your baby

Caroline Bowen

Information about Stuttering

Australian Stuttering Research Centre
iStutter

Useful resources for people with communication difficulties