Are you a speech pathologist looking for a change of pace? Look no further than tropical north Queensland. With so many of Australia’s natural wonders right on your doorstep (Great Barrier Reef anyone?), being a speech pathologist in Townsville sure comes with its perks.
But don’t take our word for it – it’s time for you to take a look inside Amiee’s regional relocation diary. Amiee is one of our wonderful speech pathologists from SpeechEase Townsville. Keep on reading to discover why Amiee made the move from Brisbane to Townsville and what she’s been working on to kickstart her speech therapy career with us.
Regional Relocation Diaries – Sarah, Speech Pathologist
Meet Amiee:
Amiee was looking for her perfect new grad Speech Pathologist role in Brisbane, but after growing up regionally, the idea of moving to Townsville appealed to her! It was a perfect match when Amiee visited our clinic to get to know the team and what it’d be like working at SpeechEase upon graduation. In her words, Amiee felt ‘an immediate sense of community and belonging’ that made her want to kickstart her Speech Pathology career with SpeechEase.
Although Amiee felt confident making the move to Townsville, knowing that she would be supported to provide meaningful services and make a positive impact in regional areas made the decision easy for her!
Amiee’s Favourite Things About Living and Working in Townsville
The Slower Paced Lifestyle – As a speech pathologist in Townsville, everything just feels relaxed, and I don’t ever have to worry about getting stuck sitting in traffic or having a long commute to work!
Fun Things to Do –There’s always something on and something for everyone to do – amazing landscapes and opportunities to explore nature, sport at the stadium, local markets and a range of restaurants and services to check out. Amiee’s favourite places include the Renegade Handmade Markets, the Ross River Parkway, and PB+J’s Donuts.
Small Town Vibes – Townsville offers small town vibes without being a small town – it is big enough that there are lots of services available but small enough that there’s heaps of community events, sports, and local groups to get involved with and enjoy (Amiee played walking netball for a season last year and it was very fun!)
Tropical Weather – The weather is (mostly) incredible in Townsville – it is sunny 90% of the year and the winters are not super cold. If you love being out in the sun, this is the place for you. Just be prepared for the wet season and the humidity!
Advice for Speech Pathologists Considering Moving for a Regional Job
Are you a speech pathologists considering moving for a job in Regional Queensland? Or maybe you have your eyes set on another area in Australia? Here’s some words of advice from Amiee on how you can make the best decision for you if you are considering a regional adventure.
- Seek out information and talk with others who have similar experiences.
- Engage with the local community to build a sense of belonging. Consider joining hobby groups, sporting clubs or community groups to expand your support network.
- Relocation can be uncertain and stressful and at times sad. Be patient with yourself and remember that while it’s going to positive overall, it’s okay to feel the emotions that you feel and that maybe you didn’t expect to feel.
- Get the basics set up before you move or know how to access them. If you have your phone and power services set up and know where you can see a doctor, it can help you feel more settled.
Amiee’s Speech Pathology Career Goals
Speech Pathology is an ever-changing profession, and Amiee wants to keep learning all she can while she finds her feet in her early career speechie era. When she looks towards the future, she would like to find a way to help those clients who don’t have easy access to allied health whether that be because of finances or geography.
Amiee also strives to achieve the best work/life balance she can. Now that she’s more settled into her life in Townsville, and past her first year as a new graduate Speech Pathologist, she feels that this is a lot more manageable!
We hope you found Amiee’s story of regional relocation inspiring and interesting! If it has sparked something for you and you’d like to explore your options for regional relocation, take a look at our dedicated relocation page for Speech Pathologists.
