Speech Pathologist

Position Description

This position plays an integral role in assisting to deliver sustainable, contemporary systems and
services from the Speech Pathology perspective within the multi-disciplinary team with a diverse range
of clients. This leads to opportunities to extend clinical skills and knowledge and flex across other
Speech Pathology work areas.

This role involves  providing support, training and guidance to our Allied Health Assistants and students. The
Speech Pathologist will work within the Community Health team to provide therapy support across the community, acute care & residential care settings, ranging across the entire life spectrum. The position
will involve provision of therapy within various environments, across a range of Commonwealth and
State Government funding streams including the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS).

The Speech Pathologist is also accountable for their billable time to ensure that the service continues to operate efficiently. In line with most funded programs, YDHS allows 80% of employed times for service delivery. Performance targets are based on the Speech Pathologist providing a maximum of 43 weeks
or 1307 hours of service per annum, pro rata accounting for public holidays, annual leave, sick and other leave, professional development and supervision applicable to that period.

Responsibilities

Clinical:

• Have high level skills in the assessment, planning and implementation of evidence-based therapy across a varied and complex Speech Pathology caseload including both paediatric and adults across a range of settings.
• Identify the need for assessment, implementation, and evaluation of Speech Pathology programs for clients of the Yarram and District Health Service.
• Independently manage an agreed and reasonable workload and delegate appropriately.
• Plan and deliver education programs to staff to enable implementation of agreed intervention programs.
• Maintain the documentation standards set by YDHS.
• Establish and maintain professional relationships with clients, care givers and agencies which will aid in maximizing treatment outcomes.
• Facilitate therapy in individual and group contexts relevant to client needs.
• Enhance the independence and skills of primary caregivers, facilitating their ability to undertake the key agent of therapy roles where appropriate.
• Provide a consultative and resource service to other health professionals, teachers, parents and others.
• Participate as an intervention team member in the provision of Speech Pathology services to ensure effective planning, treatment and care management to achieve established goals and objectives.
• Display leadership in team meetings including contribution and chairing of meetings as required.
• Demonstrate strong written and verbal communication skills.
• Demonstrate strong organisational and time management skills.
• Demonstrate initiative and take responsibility in clinical areas.

Operational:

• Ensure client data and service delivery statistics for the Speech Pathology service are recorded in
• an accurate and timely manner as per organisational procedures.
• Ensure patient medical records are maintained in accordance with the requirements of the
• law, the Department of Human Services and YDHS policies and procedures for the Speech
• Pathology Department.
• ensure that the Speech Pathology Department meets the requirements for clinical and performance indicators and
• targets in each program area.
• In conjunction with the Community Health Manager  manage the Speech
• Pathology operations, programs and caseload.
• Provide leadership within the Speech Pathology service ensuring the service meets best practice
• guidelines.
• Participate in monthly operational meetings with the line manager regarding administration.
• Work with the Community Health Manager  to grow the service within YDHS 
• and to provide regular effective and quality clinical and operational supervision to other Speech
• Pathologists, YDHS Allied Health Assistants and students. This includes formal and informal
• supervision practice models.
• Maintain and participate in quality improvement activities within the YDHS quality improvement
• planning process to enhance the quality of Speech Pathology service provision.
• Delegate to, supervise and direct Allied Health Assistants in relation to their scheduled Speech
• Pathology time and tasks.
• Attend team meetings for both administration and client-based discussions (centre and/or community
• based), and where needed, to convene such meetings.
• Facilitate effective communication between departments of the health service to promote integrated
  • work practices.

Person-Centred Care

• Ensure that all consumers, their families, visitors, and our colleagues are treated with respect and dignity.
• Listen to and collaborate with our consumers to understand their personal experiences to provide flexible care that complements their unique characteristics and supports them to live their best life.
• Support our consumers to understand and learn about their health.
• Involve consumers and their advocates in their healthcare decision.
• Respect healthcare decisions made by consumers.
• Ensure your practice and the service provided to consumers is free from discrimination based on age, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, disability, employment status, cultural background, or religious beliefs.
• Understand and monitor YDHS Aged Care policies with respect to the provision of Direct Care Minutes. Provide feedback to supervisors regarding issues arising in the pursuit of targets for Direct Care.

Key Selection Criteria

Mandatory:

• Tertiary qualification in Speech Pathology and eligibility for membership of Speech Pathology Australia (SPA) and Professional Self-Regulation (SPR).
• A minimum of 2 (two) years’ experience as a Speech Pathologist with clinical experience in the assessment, treatment and management of adult and/or paediatric communication and swallowing disorders.
• Highly developed communication, networking and interpersonal skills to liaise with a range of people in the acute, residential, community and educational settings and beyond.
• Demonstrated ability to work autonomously and collaboratively with the multi-disciplinary team to develop and implement evidence-based programs.
• Experience working in a capacity building and coaching role with educators and families to promote skills and knowledge in child development.
• Demonstrated experience in the initiation, design and implementation of quality improvement projects.
• Demonstrated commitment to ongoing professional development and self-leadership.
• Excellent time management skills and high degree of flexibility, in particular, an ability to prioritise and manage a busy and varied caseload.
• Demonstrated negotiation and conflict resolution skills.
• Hold or be eligible for a Victorian driver’s license.

Desirable:

• Experience as a Speech Pathologist with clinical experience in the assessment, treatment and management of adult and/or paediatric communication and swallowing disorders.
• Experience providing effective and quality clinical supervision to junior Speech Pathologists, Allied Health Assistants and Students.

• Experience in planning and provision of early years, 0-6, paediatric intervention.
• Awareness/experience with leading child communication development initiatives with early years’

caseload such as ‘Every Toddler Talking’ and Hanen programme, ‘It Takes Two to Talk’.

• Demonstrated ability to monitor, evaluate and modify own performance through reflective practice.
• Capacity to provide specialist knowledge and skills to the department.
• Experience providing Speech Pathology services through full-cost funding such as the National

Disability Insurance Scheme and Home Care Packages.

Relevant information

YDHS is responsible for employing and contracting applicants who meet stringent community and public and public sector expectations. Applicants shall be required to provide and maintain:

• An original National Police Record Check completed within the last twelve (12) months prior to commencement.
• An employee Working with Children Check.
• A NDIS Worker Screening Check.
• Relevant professional registrations.
• Complete a Pre-existing injury declaration form.
• Undergo any other relevant checks, education or licencing as directed at own cost.

What’s on offer 

• Diverse service.
• Salary packaging up to $9,000 per annum.
• Meals/Entertainment benefit up to $2,650 per annum.• Free access to a brand new state of the art, onsite gymnasium.
• Brand new onsite Cafe.
• Experienced and friendly team to offer support at all times.
• Access to continuing professional development to improve skills and knowledge.
• Beautiful location - Yarram is a major hub for surrounding areas. 

How to apply

If you would enjoy the variety of this role and the close-knit community this township has to offers, we want to hear from you! For more information about this position, please contact Stacey O’Neill – Human Resources Manager on 03 5182 0279 or via email: humanresources@ydhs.com.au. Please click here for a copy of the Position Description. 

Join us in our quest to provide exceptional healthcare services to our local community. Apply today and make a difference in the lives of our patients and their families. Please click the APPLY button for direct application. Applications should include a cover letter addressing the Key Selection Criteria and current resume.
Applications close: Sunday 24th May 2026

About us

The Yarram and District Health Service (YDHS) is based in Yarram, 220 kilometers southeast of Melbourne on the South Gippsland Highway in rural Victoria. Yarram is 73 kilometers southwest of Sale and 62 kilometers southeast of Traralgon.

We provide our community with Acute Inpatient services, Dialysis, Urgent Care, Aged Care, Respite Care, Primary Health, Community Services, and an Integrated Health Care Centre. Our consumers and community are at the core of every decision we make. YDHS is committed to the Child Safe Standards.

YDHS want to attract and retain the best staff to provide an exceptional service to our community. We promote and develop opportunities for people to contribute to and encourage innovation, leadership, and collaboration. We are committed to making YDHS a Centre of Excellence in everything we do.

Before commencement, the successful applicant will:

Provide an original National Police Record Check – no older than twelve (12) months, an Employee Working with Children Check, be willing to apply for and pass a NDIS Workers Screening Check, a current season influenza vaccine (if applicable to work area), unless a valid medical exemption applies and complete a Pre-existing injury declaration form.

Diversity and inclusion

We embrace workforce diversity and actively encourage applications from across our community including Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, people with linguistically diverse backgrounds, people of all genders and gender identities and people with disabilities.