SCU Coffs Harbour opens state-of-the-art speech pathology clinic Coffs Coast Coffs Coast News by News Of The Area - Modern Media - October 7, 2021 SCU Coffs Harbour Speech Pathology student Bronte Wall with a client in the new clinic set to open to the public next year, SOUTHERN Cross University’s Coffs Harbour campus has unveiled its new half-a-million-dollar speech pathology facilities, including a new health clinic which will open to the public next year. These facilities both provide state-of-the-art study opportunities for the students in a subject that has had a surge in career opportunities and client demand. Advertise with News of The Area today. It’s worth it for your business. Message us. Phone us – (02) 4981 8882. Email us – media@newsofthearea.com.au It also provides Coffs Harbour with a new community health service, initially complementary and then at heavily subsidised appointment fees. “The Health Clinic for Speech Pathology is the first step towards Southern Cross University’s vision of establishing a major health clinic at the Coffs Campus that accommodates occupational therapy, psychology, youth mental health, nursing, exercise science, injury rehabilitation, Indigenous health, midwifery and telehealth practices,” said Coffs Harbour Head of Campus Les Christidis. Coffs’ SCU’s Speech Pathology degree has had a surge in applications since its launch in 2021, with local and national demand for qualified speech pathologists exceeding current supply. “These state-of-the-art facilities include a Clinical Skills Audio Lab and Health Clinic, which will support industry-leading student experience and learning,” Professor Christidis said of the six-month project that engaged mostly local contractors and suppliers. Coffs Harbour campus speech pathology lecturer Melissa Kemp said having these high-tech rooms connected via high-definition video and audio gives students the best hands-on real-time training, as well as the ability to review footage and analyse clients’ communication skills for assessment and intervention purposes. “Having this health clinic available to the public will be an important component of our students’ clinical work experience and will offer a much-needed community health service for children and adults. “The speech pathology clinic appointments will likely be complementary when they are launched in mid-2022, then from 2023 they will likely go to a heavily subsidised fee of $30 for initial assessment session then $25 per 45-minute session from the next year (in line with the University’s health clinics at Lismore and Gold Coast),” SCU’s Jessica Nelson, told News Of The Area. “These appointments will be available for children and adult clients. “The current cost of regular private speech pathology services is about $180-$200 per hour.” By Andrea FERRARI SCU Pathology lecturer Melissa Kemp with students Bronte Wall and Mia Reynolds. SCU Coffs’ new lab environment. The Clinic room opens at SCU Coffs.
