Senior Speech Pathologist (12 month contract)

Senior Speech Pathologist (Grade 3)
Shepparton | Acute & Subacute | Clinical Leadership Opportunity

Why you’ll enjoy working here

If you’re a highly experienced Speech Pathologist ready to step into (or continue in) a true senior clinical role, this is an opportunity to lead, mentor and influence practice — while still maintaining hands-on involvement with complex clinical work.
You’ll join a well-established regional health service where Speech Pathology plays a respected and embedded role within acute and subacute care. This is not just a caseload role — it’s a leadership position focused on advancing evidence-based practice, mentoring clinicians and shaping service development.
You’ll work alongside other Grade 3 clinicians and the Speech Pathology Manager to drive quality improvement, clinical excellence and team capability across the department.

The impact you’ll make

In this senior role, you will:

• Lead the management of complex communication and swallowing presentations in acute and subacute settings
• Provide advanced clinical reasoning and specialist input across inpatient, ED, outpatient and outreach services
• Mentor and supervise junior clinicians, Allied Health Assistants and students
• Support the development and implementation of clinical guidelines and procedures
• Contribute to service redesign, quality improvement and research initiatives
• Actively influence clinical standards and professional development within the Speech Pathology team
• Collaborate across multidisciplinary teams to improve patient outcomes and discharge planning

This role balances advanced clinical work with real leadership influence.

What you’ll get
 

• Grade 3 classification under the Victorian Public Sector Enterprise Agreement
• A respected senior clinical role within a large regional health service
• Opportunity to lead and shape evidence-based practice
• Genuine input into service development and improvement
• Involvement in research, quality initiatives and departmental growth
• Structured supervision and leadership collaboration
• A diverse and complex clinical caseload
• The chance to make a meaningful impact in a regional community setting

Clinical Scope

You’ll bring extensive experience in the assessment and management of:

• Acquired communication disorders
• Progressive neurological conditions
• Complex dysphagia management
• Acute and subacute inpatient care
• Advanced clinical decision-making in hospital environments

Experience in videofluoroscopy and paediatric dysphagia is highly regarded but not essential.

Leadership & Development

This is a senior leadership role without stepping fully into management.
You’ll:

• Provide high-quality supervision to junior clinicians
• Support staff development and capability building
• Contribute to recruitment and workforce planning where required
• Lead or participate in quality improvement and research projects
• Present internally and externally to support professional growth

If you enjoy mentoring and influencing service direction, this role offers that platform.

Who this role is ideal for

This role would suit you if you:

• Have 7+ years of hospital-based clinical experience
• Are confident managing complex dysphagia and communication cases
• Enjoy mentoring and guiding others
• Want to influence clinical standards and service development
• Value collaboration within a multidisciplinary health service
• Are ready for senior-level responsibility without moving away from clinical work

What you’ll bring
 

• Approved tertiary qualification in Speech Pathology
• Eligibility for Certified Practising membership of Speech Pathology Australia
• Extensive experience in acute/subacute hospital settings
• Strong leadership, communication and organisational skills
• Experience supervising clinicians and/or students
• Ability to lead quality improvement initiatives

Desirable:

• Leadership training
• Paediatric dysphagia competency
• Videofluoroscopy experience

What matters here

This organisation is values-driven, with a strong emphasis on:

• Compassion and respect in patient care
• Clinical excellence and evidence-based practice
• Accountability and teamwork
• Ongoing learning and professional growth

You’ll be joining a regional health service committed to improving health outcomes and delivering safe, high-quality care across the community.

Interested?

If you’re an experienced Speech Pathologist looking for a senior clinical leadership role where you can shape practice, support others and work with complex, meaningful caseloads — we’d love to speak with you.