Speech Pathology Australia is recognised as the national professional standards organisation for speech pathologists in Australia. Speech Pathology Australia is also recognised by the Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations (DEEWR) as the assessing authority for speech pathologists intending to apply for skilled migration to Australia.

Most employers in Australia require prospective employees to be eligible for Practising membership of Speech Pathology Australia. 

To be eligible for Practising membership of the Association you must meet the Australian standards for practice, including that you are competent in the use of English within the Australian clinical context.  If you graduated more than five years ago, you must also have worked as a speech pathologist for at least 1000 hours during the previous five years.

As of January 2005, the Association introduced new procedures for assessing overseas trained speech pathologists.

There are TWO types of application that you may make. 
These are:

A Complete Application: You should make this application if you are confident you are applying to the right profession and that you have the evidence to demonstrate your competence as a speech pathologist.

A Mutual Recognition Agreement (MRA) Application: You should make this application if you are a current member of ASHA (USA), CASLPA (Canada), IASLT (Ireland), NZSTA (New Zealand) or RCSLT (UK) and believe you are eligible to meet the stated requirements.

Please download application forms or contact the Association for further information.

 Applicant Information Guide
 Complete Application Form
MRA Application Form

Speech Pathology Australia
2nd floor, 11-19 Bank Place
MELBOURNE  VIC  3000  AUSTRALIA
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Further information regarding Immigration and the use of a registered Migration Agent can be obtained from the Department of Immigration and Citizenship. http://www.immi.gov.au/

The Association has established educational and clinical standards required for current Practising membership. These standards are called the Competency-Based Occupational standards 2001 (CBOS 2001). CBOS 2001 outlines the minimum skills, knowledge base and attitudes required for entry-level practice of the profession.  The Association uses CBOS 2001 to accredit University programs which educate speech pathologists in Australia, and are the standards against which the qualifications and competence of overseas applicants are assessed.

CBOS 2001 Document
Competency working with Patients with Dysphagia

There is a requirement for applicants to demonstrate their competence in the area of dysphagia (also applicable to some MRA applicants). Details about the specific competencies in dysphagia are included in the Applicant Information Guide (Appendix 2). 

Flinders University runs a Dysphagia On-line topic, which is one way for applicants to complete studies in dysphagia.  Applicants wishing to pursue this option need to make direct contact with Flinders University and meet the cost of enrolling in the topic

Mutual Recognition of Professional Association Credentials

If you are a current certified practising  or full member of ASHA (USA), CASLPA (Canada), IASLT (Ireland), NZSTA (New Zealand) ,RCSLT (UK)  and  Speech Pathology Australia ,you should refer to additional information about the Mutual Recognition of Professional Association Credentials  between  ASHA, CASLPA, NZSLT, IASLT and RCSLT on their respective websites.

For further information  for  current Certified Practising Speech Pathology Australia Members please Click Here

Competent Professional Use of English

A comprehensive knowledge of English is essential to the practice of speech pathology in Australia. 

It is a requirement that speech pathologists in Australia are able to work with English both as the form of communication and as the focus of assessment and treatment.  Therefore, if your first language is not English or if your speech pathology education was not conducted in English, you will need to provide evidence that you can use English competently in Australian speech pathology practice.  This is a requirement for all applicants whether or not you are using the MRA.

To help provide this evidence you may choose to undertake the Occupational English Test (OET). You must achieve a high grading in this test (usually applicants will need to achieve grades of at least three A’s and one B).  In addition, if you agree, the examination tapes and reports can be reviewed by Speech Pathology Australia to confirm that you use English effectively for professional purposes in Australia.

Assessment by Speech Pathology Australia that you can competently use English in clinical practice is accepted as evidence of competent English use for purposes of skilled migration.