A survey of speech-language pathology service delivery in Australian schools

Abstract

Purpose Speech-language pathologists (SLPs) work in Australian schools yet, little is documented about their service delivery practices. This study therefore explores Australian speech-language pathology service delivery in schools, inclusive of work activities, caseloads, and assessment and intervention practices. Method An online survey comprising multiple choice, constant sum, Likert scale, and open text questions was completed by 105 SLPs. Quantitative data was analysed using descriptive statistics while open-text responses were analysed using content analysis. Result Participants were predominantly government education department employees working in multiple schools, and caseloads ranged from 10 to 240 students for full-time SLPs. While responses varied considerably, some general trends emerged. Most time was spent on intervention, followed by non-contact tasks, and assessments, with differences across employment sectors. Language was the most common student need, followed by literacy and speech. Frequently reported factors contributing to client complexity and intervention frequency were co-occurring presentations, severity of student needs, caseload size, and impact on learning. Caseload manageability was a concern for participants who reported larger caseloads, spent more time in assessment or less time in therapy than others, and worked in education departments. Conclusion Findings have implications for policy makers, professional bodies and employers, and provide direction for future systematic data collection.