Collaborative Practices Between Speech-Language Pathologists and Teachers: A Survey of Teachers in Two Australian States

Abstract

ABSTRACT Purpose: We investigated the collaborative practice between speech-language pathologists (SLPs) and teachers in two Australian states with different policies and legislations affecting SLP services in schools. Methods: Teachers from New South Wales (NSW) and Queensland (QLD) completed an online survey (N = 117). A mixed-method approach was used to analyse teachers’ responses in the survey. Results: QLD teachers were significantly more likely to work with SLPs in multiple models of collaborative practice. NSW teachers were more than twice as likely to work with SLPs in the pull-out model as the single means of collaborative practice. While NSW and QLD teachers accessed SLP services differently, they perceived funding and lack of time to be influencing collaborative practices. A clear need was highlighted for SLPs and teachers to develop a greater depth of shared understanding for successful collaborative practices. Conclusion: This study provided preliminary insight into SLP-teacher collaborative practices in two Australian states with different policies and legislations affecting SLP services in schools. There is a need for evidence-based and student-centred guidelines to facilitate SLP-teacher collaborative practices in schools.