Abstract
Speech pathologists can assist primary schools in their work with students with language disorders. However, they are a scarce resource in rural areas and collaborative consultation is often the only realistic option. Teachers, school counsellors, and the speech pathologist servicing Parkes and Condobolin in the central-west of New South Wales have been working together to develop a more school-based speech pathology service. A system of prioritising, school-based assessment, consultation with parents and teachers, skill development workshops and reviews at the school are helping to overcome challenges of a large caseload, lengthy waiting times, and limited time for intervention by parents, teachers and the speech pathologist. Joint learning can start locally but wider continuing education opportunities are essential. Further improving collaboration would involve fuller recording of consultation meetings, having speech pathologists assess in classrooms, recruiting a wider range of volunteers, and more direct volunteer support.
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