Adult Speech Pathology Clinic
The Adult Speech Pathology Clinic is a free service helping adults in the community with acquired speech and language difficulties. Clinical services are delivered by speech pathology students in their first or final clinical year and supervised by qualified practising Speech Pathologists employed by Curtin University. Clients from the community are invited to attend the clinic for free assessment and treatment of a range of communication conditions.
About the clinics
Individual therapy
Speech Pathology Students provide individual therapy in our clinic rooms. Depending on the clinic and your needs, one or two students may work with you.
You and your student clinician will agree on therapy goals at the start of the block and review them at the end.
Group therapy
Alongside individual therapy, students run communication groups throughout the week from Tuesday to Friday at 11:00am. Groups usually have 8 to 12 participants and provide a supportive, engaging and social setting to practise communication skills with others.
Students guide activities and help participants practise communication strategies in everyday conversations. At the start of each block, the group agrees on goals and reviews them at the end.
Where appropriate, group goals and outcomes can also be shared with your external speech pathologist to support continuity of care.
Please contact the Health & Wellness Centre for current session times and dates.
Conditions we support
Our students frequently see clients with conditions such as:
- Stroke
- Traumatic brain injury
- Progressive neurological conditions, such as Parkinson’s Disease or Multiple Sclerosis
- Voice problems including muscle tension dysphonia.
Students can provide assessment and treatment for conditions such as:
- Aphasia
- Dysarthria
- Apraxia of speech
- Difficulties with reading and writing post stroke
- Dysphonia
- Communication impairment requiring alternative and augmentative communication (AAC) devices and social communication impairments.
What will happen during your appointment
When you attend a session at our Student Speech Pathologist clinic, the process is designed to support both quality care and student learning. Your first one to two weeks may include an assessment. Your Student Speech Pathologist will then work with you to agree on treatment goals and a therapy plan.
Therapy is usually delivered in weekly one-hour sessions over an eight-week block. The number of blocks you need depends on your goals and recommended therapy. Because students rotate each block, you may work with different students during the year. Supervising clinicians oversee continuity of care.
Your assigned Student Speech Pathologist will regularly review your progress and adjust your treatment plan as needed. To support your progress at home, you may be given simple homework activities, including a take-home package with suggested activities to complete between sessions.
For quality assurance and educational purposes, individual sessions are recorded. These recordings are confidential and deleted once your treatment is complete.
Clinic locations and referrals
All referrals are initially reviewed by our clinical team at Curtin Clinics Cockburn.
You may be invited to attend an initial appointment at Cockburn or Bentley to better understand your needs and determine which clinic is most suitable.
Bentley clinic
Services are delivered by first clinical year students completing their early placements and final clinical year students who are nearing graduation. The clinic is staffed by a Speech Pathology Clinic Manager and Speech Pathology Clinical Educators.
Referrals are allocated according to the student experience needed and the client’s needs. If you are seeking individual therapy at Bentley, we will let you know whether you have a place or have been added to the waitlist. Bentley clinic is now accepting referrals for dysphagia (swallowing difficulties).
Cockburn clinic
Services are delivered by final-clinical-year students who are nearing graduation and have more advanced clinical experience. This allows the clinic to accept a broader range of referrals including clients with dysphagia.
If you are unsure which clinic is most appropriate, please submit a referral form with as much detail as possible. Our clinical team will review your referral and recommend the most suitable clinic best suited to your needs.
What conditions can be referred to the student clinic?
We generally accept referrals for most adult clients aged 18 and over. All referrals are reviewed and triaged by an experienced clinician before acceptance. If we determine a referral is too complex for a first clinical year student to manage, we may recommend referral to another service.
Frequently asked questions
Need more support?
Opening hours: 8:00am – 4:00pm, Tuesday to Thursday. Parking is available in areas PF2 and PF3.
See reception on arrival for temporary parking permit. Nearest bus station – Curtin Bus Station, Hayman Road: Hayman Road Bus Station