Unit Outline

Speech Pathology Practice 4 consolidates students’ core knowledge, integration and application of concepts and skills developed in Stages 1 to 3, and in Transitioning to Community Based Allied Health Practice and Integrating Speech Pathology Practice. You will integrate and apply your understanding and skills in workshops in the residential schools and as you work in supervised practice in either a paediatric, adult or mixed practice context. Throughout the learning activities and the practice education placement, you will focus on person and family-centredness, biopsychosocial models of practice, clinical reasoning, self-reflection, critical thinking, cultural responsiveness, and evidence-based practice. You will develop a range of communication and swallowing assessment and management skills across the lifespan with both individuals and communities. During practice education experiences, students in Stage 4 will receive decreasing levels of support and guidance from their Practice Educator and/or peers and will be independently managing speech pathology client or community needs unless they are new or have a number of elements of complexity.

Intended Learning Outcomes

As per the Assessment and Results Policy 1.3, your results will reflect your achievement against specified learning outcomes.

On completion of this unit, you will be able to:


1.	Plan, deliver, manage and evaluate ethical, evidence-based, person-centred and responsive practice to optimise communication and swallowing for individuals and communities across the lifespan as required for entry to the speech pathology profession.
2.	Achieve respectful partnerships and collaboration using high standards of communication to promote and optimise communication and swallowing for individuals and communities across the lifespan.
3.	Critically reflect and evaluate own performance and learning to inform ongoing professional development and life-long learning.

Requisites


REQUISITE TYPE	REQUISITES
Pre-requisite	CXA729 Speech Pathology Practice 3

Alterations as a result of student feedback

This is the first time this unit has been delivered, so there are no alterations to note. Student feedback will inform future unit developments.

How will I be Assessed?

For more detailed assessment information please see MyLO.

Assessment schedule


ASSESSMENT TASK #	ASSESSMENT TASK NAME	DATE DUE	WEIGHT	LINKS TO INTENDED LEARNING OUTCOMES
Assessment Task 1:	Speech pathology simulations across the lifespan	Week 4	0 %	LO1, LO2, LO3
Assessment Task 2:	Assessment of Speech Pathology Practice (penultimate placement)	Week 8	0 %	LO1, LO2, LO3
Assessment Task 3:	Holistic speech pathology practice viva	Exam Period	0 %	LO1, LO2, LO3
Assessment Task 4:	My Practice Standards Portfolio and Reflection assignment	Exam Period	0 %	LO1, LO2, LO3
Assessment Task 5:	Assessment of Speech Pathology Practice (final placement)	Refer to Assessment Description	0 %	LO1, LO2, LO3

Assessment details

Assessment Task 1: Speech pathology simulations across the lifespan

Task Description:

You will participate in a series of four speech pathology assessment and/or management simulation sessions throughout the semester. The simulation activities will involve a variety of cases across the lifespan with a range of communication and/or swallowing needs. Some of the sessions will be conducted via tele practice while others will be in person during Residential Schools. One of the simulations will be an interprofessional interaction simulation.
Each simulation session is assessed using the Professional Standards for Speech Pathologists in Australia. Each session assesses core competencies that demonstrate readiness for entry to the profession. This assessment task is Pass/Fail. You must pass each simulation session to pass this assessment task. You must successfully pass the task to be eligible for a pass in the unit. Students who do not meet the required level of competency will be given an opportunity for a reattempt of the required simulation session/s.

Task Length:

4 x 90-minute simulations

Due Date:

Week 4

Weight:

0 %

CRITERION #

CRITERION

MEASURES INTENDED

LEARNING OUTCOME(S)


1	Demonstrate ability to administer and interpret assessment for differential diagnosis of communication and swallowing needs in a simulated environment at a standard appropriate for entry to the profession with reference to the Professional Standards.	LO1, LO2, LO3
2	Conduct a clinical interaction to assess and provide communication and swallowing intervention in a simulated environment at a standard appropriate for entry to the profession with reference to the Professional Standards.	LO1, LO2, LO3
3	Use accurate and accessible professional communication to document and explain communication and swallowing assessment and management information to clients and families in a simulated environment at a standard appropriate for entry to the profession	LO1, LO2, LO3
4	Collaborate effectively in an interprofessional context to achieve respectful partnerships and collaboration at a standard appropriate for entry to the profession with reference to the Professional Standards.	LO1, LO2, LO3

Assessment Task 2: Assessment of Speech Pathology Practice (penultimate placement)

Task Description:

A placement evaluation will be completed at the end of the first Stage 4 block placement by the practice educator/s. You are required to demonstrate ‘near entry’ level competency overall rating on COMPASS® and a ‘near entry’ level of competency across each of the Professional Competencies and the CBOS competencies.
This assessment task is Pass/Fail. You must pass this assessment task to be eligible for a pass in the unit. Students who do not meet the required level of competency will be given an opportunity for another placement in the context of a holistic assessment of meeting the unit objectives.

Task Length:

20 days of practice education

Due Date:

Week 8

Weight:

0 %

CRITERION #

CRITERION

MEASURES INTENDED

LEARNING OUTCOME(S)


1	Perform across the COMPASS competencies at ‘near entry’ competency level on the COMPASS evaluation.	LO1, LO2, LO3

Assessment Task 3: Holistic speech pathology practice viva

Task Description:

This individual oral examination will follow the completion of the final block placement. The viva will assess your integrated clinical reasoning and management decisions. You will be randomly allocated either a paediatric or adult client for the exam which will assess your clinical reasoning and
person-centred, evidence-based, responsive and collaborative practices regarding assessment, diagnoses, intervention approaches, planning and goal setting, and outcome evaluation.
You will receive written and/or audio/video case information and assessment results of a client with communication and/or swallowing needs across range of practice areas. The case will have a degree of complexity appropriate for independent management by a speech pathologist ready to enter the
profession. You will have 2 hours to analyse, interpret and plan for the viva based on the client information provided. During the 45-minute oral exam, you will respond to questions from two examiners (academic staff and community speech pathologists) regarding your assessment and/or management of the client.
This assessment task is Pass/Fail and must be passed to achieve an overall pass result in this unit. You must pass both the assessment/interpretation and management/evaluation components of the viva. The viva assesses core competencies that demonstrate readiness for entry to the profession. Students who do not meet the required level of competency will be given an opportunity for a re-attempt of the viva with a different case.

Task Length:

2 hours preparation and 45-minute oral examination.

Due Date:

Exam Period

Weight:

0 %

CRITERION #

CRITERION

MEASURES INTENDED

LEARNING OUTCOME(S)


1	Demonstrate evidence-based, holistic, client-centred clinical reasoning assessment and interpretation skills	LO1, LO2, LO3
2	Demonstrate evidence-based, holistic, client-centred clinical reasoning management and evaluation decisions based on clear theoretically motivated rationales	LO1, LO2, LO3

Assessment Task 4: My Practice Standards Portfolio and Reflection assignment

Task Description:

You will complete a portfolio of evidence and critical reflection, evaluating their development with respect to each of the Professional Standards. You will then identify goals based on their reflection, and strategies for achieving these goals, in a learning plan. The portfolio is designed to provide high-level evidence of the development of the knowledge, skills and attributes required for entry to practice. Submission of the portfolio and critical reflection is a compulsory hurdle task that must be completed at a pass standard to achieve an overall pass result in this unit. Students will have an opportunity to resubmit if they do not meet the required level of competency.

Task Length:

1500 words

Due Date:

Exam Period

Weight:

0 %

CRITERION #

CRITERION

MEASURES INTENDED

LEARNING OUTCOME(S)


1	Evaluate development of speech pathology knowledge, skills and attributes against the Professional Standards	LO1, LO2, LO3
2	Critically reflect on own practice to evaluate strengths and weaknesses and formulate goals and strategies for continued lifelong learning.	LO1, LO2, LO3
3	Critically reflect on own development of ethical and culturally responsive practice.	LO3

Assessment Task 5: Assessment of Speech Pathology Practice (final placement)

Task Description:

A placement evaluation will be completed at the end of the second Stage 4 block placement by the practice educator/s. You are required to demonstrate ‘entry’ level competency overall rating on COMPASS® and an ‘entry’ level of competency across each of the Professional Competencies and the CBOS competencies. This placement will be with a different lifespan population from the penultimate placement.
This assessment task is Pass/Fail. Students must pass this assessment task to be eligible for a pass in the unit. Students who do not meet the required level of competency will be given an opportunity for another placement in the context of a holistic assessment of meeting the unit objectives.

Task Length:

20 days of practice education

How your final result is determined

To pass this unit, you need to demonstrate your attainment of each of the Intended Learning Outcomes, and pass all assessment tasks.

Submission of assignments

Where practicable, assignments should be submitted to an assignment submission folder in MYLO. You must submit assignments by the due date or receive a penalty (unless an extension of time has been approved by the Unit Coordinator). Students submitting any assignment in hard copy, or because of a practicum finalisation, must attach a student cover sheet and signed declaration for the submission to be accepted for marking.

Requests for extensions

If you are unable to submit an assessment task by the due date, you should apply for an extension.

A request for an extension should first be discussed with your Unit Coordinator or teaching support team where possible. A request for an extension must be submitted by the assessment due date, except where you can provide evidence it was not possible to do so. Typically, an application for an extension will be supported by documentary evidence: however, where it is not possible for you to provide evidence please contact your Unit Coordinator.

The Unit Coordinator must notify you of the outcome of an extension request within 3 working days of receiving the request.

Late penalties

Assignments submitted after the deadline will receive a late penalty of 5% of the original available mark for each calendar day (or part day) that the assignment is late. Late submissions will not be accepted more than 10 calendar days after the due date, or after assignments have been returned to other students on a scheduled date, whichever occurs first. Further information on Late Penalties can be found on the Assessments and Results Procedure.

Review of results and appeals

You are entitled to ask for a review of the marking and grading of your assessment task if there is an irregularity in the marking standards or an error in the process for determining the outcome of an assessment. Details on how to request a review of a mark for an assignment are outlined in the Review and Appeal of Academic Decisions Procedure.