Canberra Health Services Speech Pathology delivers comprehensive assessment and intervention for adults with communication and swallowing difficulties. Our team provides acute care services for eligible inpatients at North Canberra Hospital and Clare Holland House.

In this dynamic and collaborative environment, the New Graduate Speech Pathologist will have the opportunity to develop foundational skills in adult acute practice. The clinical caseload includes individuals with acquired neurological conditions (such as stroke), general medical presentations, critical care needs, and those receiving aged or palliative care. The role involves working closely with fellow speech pathologists and the wider multidisciplinary team, while actively participating in ongoing professional development and service improvement initiatives. Supportive supervision and structured professional support will be provided.

This position may include participation in a rotational fixed-term shift pattern, which can involve weekend work and on‑call duties at North Canberra Hospital, depending on operational requirements.

1. Provide appropriate assessment and interventions using contemporary evidence-based principles, techniques and methods. Interventions may be delivered in an individual or group setting.
2. Work collaboratively as part of your work area team, and with consumers, carers, significant others, GPs, and other service providers in therapeutic goal setting, planning and implementation, as consent allows.
3. Complete non-clinical and administrative data collection and evaluation to standards.
4. Participate in clinical supervision, continuing professional development and performance planning and review processes.
5. Participate in team and program related service activities as required.
6. Participate in speech pathology and program/team/service-related clinical governance activities, quality improvement, research and health promotion activities relevant to the area of work.
7. Undertake other duties appropriate to this level of classification which contribute to the operation of the organisation.

• High Quality, Person Centred Service Delivery
  (respectful communication, timely responses, culturally safe care, reliable follow through, positive outcomes)
• Collaborative, Interdisciplinary Teamwork
  (shares information, seeks input, supports team goals, coordinated care)
• Integrity, Accountability & Safe Practice
  (ethical behaviour, confidentiality, follows procedures, owns actions, prioritises safety)
• Critical Thinking, Problem Solving & Innovation
  (analyses information, uses sound judgement, improves practices, adapts to change)
• Leadership (appropriate to level) & Positive Workplace Contribution
  (respectful role modelling, adaptability, supporting colleagues, constructive engagement, positive culture)

Specific requirements include, but are not limited to, the following.

Essential

• Tertiary Qualification in Speech Pathology from a recognised institution.
• Eligibility for full practicing membership of Speech Pathology Australia (SPA).
• A current Driver’s License

Desirable

• Have an understanding of how the National Safety and Quality Health Service (NSQHS) indicators align with this role.
• Experience or knowledge of the CHS Exceptional Care Framework, and all other related frameworks.

Specific requirements include but are not limited to the following.

Desirable

• Student placement experience in an acute setting.
• Experience or knowledge of the CHS Exceptional Care Framework, and all other related frameworks.

Appointment to this position is conditional on being granted and retaining appropriate clearances:

• Pre-employment National Police Check.
• Comply with Canberra Health Services Occupational Assessment, Screening and Vaccination policy.
• Comply with CHS credentialing and scope of clinical practice requirements for allied health professionals.

All employees are required to:

• Adhere to the Canberra Health Services Values and the ACT Public Service Code of Conduct.
• Act in accordance and comply with all relevant Safety and Quality policies and procedures.
• Comply with all relevant clinical and/or competency standards.
• Be available for weekend and/or after-hours work.

CHS is leading the drive to digitally transform health service delivery in Australia through the implementation of a territory wide Digital Health Record. Computer literacy skills are required which are relevant to this role as you will be responsible for completing required documentation and becoming a proficient user of the Digital Health Record and/or other Information Technology systems; once proficient, you will need to remain current with changes, updates, and contingencies.

These are the key selection criteria for how you will be assessed in conjunction with your resumé and experience.

1. Ability to deliver evidence based clinical speech pathology services including ability to assess, diagnose and manage inpatient and outpatients presenting with swallowing disorders and communication impairments in an acute care setting.
2. Understanding of and ability to work effectively within Speech Pathology and multi-disciplinary teams and collaborate with other service providers to ensure effective patient outcomes.
3. Ability to prioritise and manage a caseload, under supervision, with awareness of and adherence to risk management processes.
4. Demonstrated effective oral and written communication skills, including the ability to use a range of information technology applications to maintain clinical documentation and data collection.
5. Demonstrates understanding of, and adherence to, safety and quality standards, Work Health and Safety and the positive patient experience. Displays behaviour consistent with CHS’s values of reliable, progressive, respectful, and kind.

The following work environment description outlines the inherent requirements of the role and indicates how frequently each of these requirements would need to be performed. Please note that the ACT Public Service is committed to providing reasonable adjustments and ensuring all individuals have equal opportunities in the workplace.

Administrative	Frequency
Telephone use	Frequently
General computer use	Frequently
Extensive keying/data entry	Frequently
Graphical/analytical based	Occasionally
Sitting at a desk	Frequently
Standing for long periods	Occasionally

Psychosocial demands	Frequency
Distressed People e.g. Emergency or grief situations	Frequently
Aggressive & Uncooperative People e.g. drug / alcohol, dementia, mental illness	Occasionally
Unpredictable People e.g. Dementia, mental illness, head injuries	Occasionally
Restraining e.g. involvement in physical containment of clients/consumers	Never
Exposure to Distressing Situations e.g. Child abuse, viewing dead / mutilated bodies; verbal abuse; domestic violence; suicide	Occasionally

Physical demands	Frequency
Distance walking (large buildings or inter-building transit)	Frequently
Working outdoors	Occasionally

Manual handling	Frequency
Lifting 0 - 9kg	Frequently
Lifting 10 - 15kg	Never
Lifting 16kg+	Never
Climbing	Never
Running	Never
Reaching	Occasionally
Kneeling	Occasionally
Foot and leg movement	Occasionally
Hand, arm and grasping movements	Occasionally
Bending/squatting	Occasionally
Bend/Lean Forward from Waist/Trunk twisting	Occasionally
Push/pull	Occasionally
Sequential repetitive movements in a short amount of time	Occasionally

Travel	Frequency
Frequent travel – multiple work sites	Occasionally
Frequent travel – driving	Occasionally

Specific hazards	Frequency
Working at heights	Never
Exposure to extreme temperatures	Never
Operation of heavy machinery e.g. forklift	Never
Confined spaces	Occasionally
Excessive noise	Occasionally
Low lighting	Occasionally
Handling of dangerous goods/equipment e.g. gases; liquids; biological.	Occasionally
Slippery or uneven surfaces	Occasionally