Bachelor of Speech Pathology
at Australian Catholic University, New South Wales.
A four-year Speech Pathology Australia accredited degree leading to eligibility for Certified Practising Speech Pathologist (CPSP) status. Includes over 800 hours of clinical placement across hospitals, schools, NDIS providers and community health on the North Sydney and Melbourne campuses.
ATAR cutoff history
Published cutoff data for the Australian Catholic University Bachelor of Speech Pathology. We never invent figures; entries marked "not published" mean the university or admissions centre has not released a verified cutoff for that intake.
| Intake year | ATAR cutoff | Admissions centre |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 94.7 | UAC |
| 2024 | ATAR cutoff not published | UAC |
| 2023 | ATAR cutoff not published | UAC |
Most recent published cutoff is 94.7 for the 2025 intake.
Prerequisite Year 12 subjects
Brush up on each prerequisite with our state-syllabus explainers and dot points.
What you will study
ACU runs the Bachelor of Speech Pathology as a four-year Speech Pathology Australia accredited degree leading to membership of Speech Pathology Australia, the self-regulating professional body. Year one covers anatomy and physiology of speech and swallowing, phonetics and linguistics, lifespan development, introduction to speech pathology practice and a first observation placement. Year two layers speech sound disorders, language disorders in children, fluency, voice, audiology basics and the first major clinical placement. Year three carries adult acquired language disorders (aphasia), dysphagia (swallowing), augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) and a second major placement. Year four runs the final clinical rotations across paediatric, adult, multicultural and complex needs settings totalling around 1000 hours of supervised practice, capstone research, and transition to practice.
Example first-year subjects
- Anatomy and Physiology of Speech, Hearing and Swallowing
- Introduction to Phonetics and Linguistics
- Lifespan Development and Communication
- Introduction to Speech Pathology Practice
- Professional Practice and Ethics
- Indigenous Health and Cultural Safety
How you will be assessed
- Clinical placement supervisor evaluation and competency assessment (COMPASS tool)
- OSCE practical exams in simulation clinics
- Written case studies of assessment and intervention plans
- Mid-semester tests and final exams in anatomy, phonetics and linguistics
- Group research presentations
- Reflective practice journals after each placement
Placement and industry experience
Speech Pathology Australia requires a minimum 100 days (around 800 to 1000 hours) of supervised clinical placement across the degree. ACU rotates students through Catholic health network (St Vincents, Mater, Calvary) plus public LHDs acute hospitals, rehabilitation services, community health, paediatric clinics, schools (under NSW Education) and NDIS-funded private practice. Placement requires NSW Working with Children Check, immunisations, first aid certification and police checks.
Career outcomes
- Graduates work as Speech Pathology Australia certified practising speech pathologists in hospitals, schools, NDIS providers and community-health settings.
- First-year jobs typically include hospital positions, schools-based speech pathology and paediatric practice in NDIS providers across Sydney and Melbourne.
- Many alumni move into specialty practice (paediatric language, dysphagia, voice, fluency) or roles in education departments, telehealth and private clinics.
Professional accreditation
- Speech Pathology Australia accredited
- Eligible for Certified Practising Speech Pathologist (CPSP) status
Typical first jobs
- Speech pathologist at NSW Health acute and community services
- Paediatric speech pathologist at NDIS-funded private practice
- School-based speech pathologist under NSW Education
- Adult acquired-disorder speech pathologist in rehab and community
- Multicultural-services speech pathologist in metropolitan Sydney
- Rural and remote speech pathologist under NSW Health pathways
Graduate starting salary
$70,000 - $80,000 per year
Source: https://www.health.nsw.gov.au/careers/conditions/Pages/health-managers.aspx. Last reviewed 2026-05-21.
After graduation
Graduates apply for Speech Pathology Australia (SPA) membership which is the practical credential for the profession (no AHPRA registration exists for speech pathology). SPA Certified Practising Speech Pathologist (CPSP) status comes after the degree plus a structured early-career professional support program. Postgraduate options include Master of Clinical Audiology, Master of Speech-Language Pathology specialty streams, Master of Public Health and the Doctor of Speech-Language Pathology. NDIS has significantly expanded private-practice opportunities for speech pathologists.
Is this the right degree for you?
You probably thrive here if
- Students with strong communication and listening skills
- Those interested in working with children and adults across health and education settings
- People comfortable with phonetics, linguistics and acoustics study
- Students willing to do unpaid clinical placements
- Those committed to the SPA professional standards
It is probably not for you if
- Students uncomfortable with paediatric or aged-care patient contact
- Those uninterested in linguistics and acoustic analysis
- Anyone unwilling to do 1000 hours of placement
Careers this leads to
Australian career pathways that name this Bachelor of Speech Pathology as an entry route. Each page shows uni, TAFE and apprenticeship alternatives.
Related courses at ACU
Sources
- https://www.acu.edu.au/study-at-acu/find-a-course/bachelor-of-speech-pathology
- https://www.uac.edu.au/
Course details are summarised by ExamExplained, not copied from the university. Confirm course content and ATAR cutoffs on the Australian Catholic University handbook and on UAC before applying. Page generated at https://examexplained.com.au/uni/acu/bachelor-of-speech-pathology.