A Week in the Life of a New Grad Speechie
You’ve graduated with flying colours and are about to enter the world of Speech Pathology. As a new grad Speechie you might be feeling excited, nervous, or perhaps a little curious about what your first professional experience will be like.
We’ve had the pleasure of welcoming, developing, and supporting many new grad Speechies at our Speech Therapy clinics over the years. One of our newest additions, Hayley, graduated in 2021 and has recently joined our Townsville team.
If you’re interested to know what to expect in your first job as a Speech Pathologist, take a peek into the diary of a new grad Speechie below.
Diary of a New Grad Speechie
Like many new grads, this is my first experience working in the field as a Speech Pathologist. Going into this I’ve known others who’ve landed their first jobs and have had very different experiences than I have this week.
I’m so relieved to be getting the support and guidance that I have so far as a new grad – it’s something that others I’ve known have missed out on, and it makes a big difference!
To start things off I’ve been given an Induction Checklist that I’ll refer back to over my first 5 weeks at SpeechEase. Having this has really put me at ease this week; knowing that I’ll eventually come to know and understand the ins and outs of both client-directed therapy and all the behind-the-scenes of working in a successful Speech Therapy clinic.
What I Did in My First Week as a New Grad Speechie
My first week as a new grad at SpeechEase consisted of work shadowing the other therapists in the clinic and researching my caseload.
I found this really beneficial because it had been a few months since I’d completed my last placement and my skills were feeling a little ‘rusty’. Being able to work shadow the other early career Speechies put me back in the zone and gave me the opportunity to see how others use the resources that I’m already familiar with. It’s shown me that the possibilities really are endless with some resources!
After a week filled with observing, learning, and researching, I had the opportunity to spend time with Kate, the owner of SpeechEase, in an initial client appointment. This was a fantastic experience for me because I knew that I wasn’t alone and had plenty of support available during my transition from student to clinician.
Highlights of the Week as a New Grad Speechie
The reassurance and support that I received from the SpeechEase team really has been the highlight of my week. It was so nerve wracking going into my first official job as a new grad and I didn’t know what to expect.
Throughout the week the other early career Speechies were able to share their experiences and even things they wish they knew when they were new grads. This level of openness and willingness to share makes me feel so fortunate – I really feel like I have had a head start!
Preparing for the Second Week as a New Grad Speechie
While I feel like I’ve already learned so much this week, there is plenty more learning ahead of me. Next week I’ll be partnering up with more experienced clinicians for joint client sessions – I’m really looking forward to it knowing that I’m going to have the support of someone else in the room the entire time.
If there’s one thing, I can say it’s that I am so glad that I don’t have to worry about being thrown in the deep end as a new grad speechie. The support, guidance, and pacing of my induction phase is something I wish all new grad Speechies got to experience. It makes a massive difference.
So, how does that first week as a new grad speechie sound to you? Whether you’re halfway through your studies or graduation is just around the corner, we’d love to invite you to experience a SpeechEase clinic for a day.
Head on over to our Careers page for more information on what a career at SpeechEase looks like and, if you’re interested, get in touch to organise a day to visit one of our clinics.
