The Professional Standards – An Introduction

This is the cover of the Professional Standards for Speech Pathologists in Australia. The words Professional Standards for Speech Pathologists in Australia are in white reversed out of a blue background. The SPA logo appears in the bottom right-hand corner of the cover.Speech Pathology Australia introduces the Professional Standards for Speech Pathologists in Australia (Professional Standards).

The Professional Standards detail:

  • the knowledge, skills and attributes a speech pathologist practising in Australia must demonstrate and apply, at any point in their career, as relevant to their speech pathology role and work context;
  • the knowledge, skills and attributes a graduating speech pathology student must demonstrate and be able to apply by the time they complete their entry-level degree.

The Professional Standards includes a hierarchy of Domains, Standards and Elements. The three Domains reflect the core areas of competence required for speech pathology practice in Australia, namely,

  • professional conduct
  • reflective practice and life-long learning
  • speech pathology practice.

The Professional Standards provide the public with an expectation of the minimum standards of all practising speech pathologists in Australia.

Learn more about the Professional Standards

The Professional Standards will replace the Competency Based Occupational Standards - Entry Level (CBOS).

View the Professional Standards.

Self-paced Professional Standards Learning Module – Find out more about how the Professional Standards apply to you and your practise by taking the 60-minute self-paced learning module.

Watch an Introduction to the Professional Standards – The Association's Professional Standards Senior Advisor discusses the development and the structure of the new Professional Standards.

Professional Standards FAQ

Do you still have a question about the Professional Standards?

Find the answers to frequently asked questions about the Professional Standards and view discussions about how the Professional Standards may apply to you and why they are important to the profession.

Videos to Watch

Watch Eddie Ong, Sue McAllister; the Association’s National President, Tim Kittel, and Chief Executive Officer Gail Mulcair, provide their take on the importance of the Professional Standards for all speech pathologists and the profession via the Association’s YouTube channel.

What is your strategy for implementing the new Professional Standards?

There are many ways that you can implement the Professional Standards into your work individually and within your team and workplace. The strategies for implementing the standards gives you practical tips and inspiration on how to infuse the Professional Standards into your everyday practise.