The collaboration brings final-year speech pathology students into local early learning centres — helping to put children on an pathway to effective and enjoyable learning.
Made possible through the University of Melbourne’s Going Rural Health initiative, Charles Sturt University speech pathology students are working with Bernard Briggs and Munro Avenue Kindergartens in Benalla.
Through a partnership with the Northeast Regional Pre School-Association (NERPSA), university students are benefiting from a unique and rewarding learning environment that enables them to develop clinical skills and feel they are positively contributing to health outcomes in the community.
Elise is a speech pathology student from Charles Sturt University and she said her placement experience in Benalla had been extremely fulfilling.
“We’ve been given ownership of our work because they know we’re capable,” Elise said.
“Additionally, the professional guidance offered by our supervisors has also been so helpful.
“Working with the kindergarten teachers and getting their feedback has been so beneficial and made possible by having the time to work together and not having to rush. I’ve learned so much.”
Speech pathology student Jess believes in the idea of empowering people.
Parents and kindergarten teachers have warmly welcomed the university students into their centres.
Bernard Briggs Kindergarten teacher Lisa Mim said the partnership had been valuable to the university students.
“They initially spent time with the children, building rapport so that the children felt comfortable participating in the screening process,” Ms Mim said.
“Feedback from families has been extremely positive.
“The children enjoyed having the students’ visit, with one saying the games were fun.”
Through their assessments, the speech pathology students provided referrals to health services if follow-up was required.
This collaboration with local community health services provides an intervention pathway for children and their families to follow long after the university students have left — creating a sustained program with long-term benefits to the community.
Additional placements exist under this partnership, with occupational therapy students based at James Tilson Kindergarten in Wangaratta.
These placements aim to formalise the partnership between Going Rural Health and NERPSA, with a structured multidisciplinary program.
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