Speech Pathologist in Katherine

Deliver high-quality, culturally appropriate and effective Speech Pathology services to Allied Health patients across the Big Rivers Region. Katherine Hospital is an accredited 40-bed non-specialist medical, diagnostic and treatment facility catering for the medical needs of the population of Katherine and surrounding Big River Region.

As a Speech Pathologist within the Allied Health team, you are responsible for delivering high quality, culturally appropriate and effective Speech Pathology inpatient and outpatient services under minimal supervision within a multidisciplinary framework. Many of the teams’ patients have a high burden of chronic disease with complex comorbidities, making for challenging and rewarding medicine. Your day-to-day duties will involve prioritising and managing caseloads to ensure timelines and outcomes are achieved, contributing to continuous improvements and service development activities, and following defined service quality standards, and work health and safety policies.

To meet the challenges of this complex role, you require relevant qualifications in Speech Pathology which gives eligibility for membership of Speech Pathology Australia, experience delivering high level clinical Speech Pathology services to patients and their families and demonstrated knowledge and understanding of Aboriginal culture, family and community structures, and the ability to communicate and work in a culturally safe manner is essential. Post-graduate qualifications in clinical education, leadership or speciality practice will be well received.

In return you will receive a competitive remuneration package, including a generous salary, 12% Superannuation, 6 weeks recreational and 3 weeks personal leave, 17.5% leave loading, excellent professional development and career progression opportunities and a chance to make a real impact in the community you serve.

The Top End of the Northern Territory offers diverse and exciting medicine, with presentations such as tropical medicine conditions not seen ‘down south’. The town of Katherine has a population of approximately 11,000 and services the Big Rivers Region, which has a population of around 22,000 and covers a geographical area larger than Victoria. Most people in the region outside of Katherine reside either in small remote communities, or on cattle stations. There is a large proportion of Indigenous patients, with Katherine town being at the junction of the Jawoyn, Wardaman, and Dagoman groups.

Katherine also has a busy tourist season and sees many travellers in the hospital throughout the Dry Season. The Big Rivers region offers a multitude of outdoor, camping, fishing, four-wheel driving, hiking, and mountain biking activities. It is close to Kakadu and Litchfield National Parks, Katherine Gorge, and in relatively close proximity to other places such as the Kimberley, Gregory National Park, Mataranka hot springs, the Red Centre, and countless other bush camping sites. While offering these natural wonders, it is also only a 3 hour drive up the fully sealed Stuart highway to the city of Darwin, which provides ample shopping and restaurant opportunities. The town has a young population, also being the service centre for the Tindal Airforce base – there are lots of cafes, playgrounds, a large pool, a library, multiple primary schools, and two high schools.