Careers
Want To Join Our Pack?
If your answer is YES, you are in luck!
Go on and wag that tail!
We are on the hunt for a groovy speech pathologist and an Occupational Therapist/Psychologist.
You are paw-fect for our pack if you are…
Driven
Do you go above and beyond for families? We are empowered by our motivation and know how to bottle it up and pour it out on the things that matter.
Flexible
We teach our clients all about being flexible! To work alongside our dogs is a privilege and often we need to quickly adapt our therapy when working with families. We are flexible not only within our sessions but our entire work ethos. Flexible thinking is the key to making PAWsitive change.
Creative
Job Opportunity:
Speech Pathologist
Start Your Journey in Animal Assisted Interactions
Join the Speech Express, a paediatric private practice in Chirnside Park pioneering Speech Pathology by integrating animal assisted interventions.
Early Career Speech Pathologists are welcome to apply.
Join the movement as your four legged friend becomes part of your clinical practice and transforms the world of Speech Pathology.
About the Opportunity
We are looking for a clinician who:
- is creative, driven, flexible and have excellent communication skills;
- like freedom in how you work and value a healthy work-life balance;
- have a keen interest in working alongside a therapy dog. Opportunities to be supported while you train your own therapy dog (if suitable);
- have experience working with children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (preferred);
- want to be financially rewarded because you know you’re worth it!
Further Details:
- Full time hours preferred (part time for the right candidate);
Attractive sub-contractor percentage while still having the support of an amazing clinical team; - The Speech Express is supportive of professional development and does regular internal PD’s and social events;
- Supervision available: we are talking brunch and business, dinner & debriefs. Supervision can be internal and external and in all clinical interest areas.
- Special supervision available in animal assisted interventions should you wish to train your dog to also work alongside you as a speech pathologist;
- Administration support with an approachable reception team that support billings, collection of monies, calendar support and using our client management system – Cliniko;
- Beautiful and vibrant treatment rooms with an abundance of resources and extensive range of assessments to share between clinicians.
More Information
Why Work with a Speech Pup?
- The single most common finding in Animal Assisted Intervention literature shows an increase in social interactions for Autistic children and young people
- Many children find it easier to interact and communicate when a furry friend is present (also known as the social lubricant effect). After all dogs are non-judgmental and this provides an intrinsic motivation which allows children to fully engage in therapy.
- Dogs are patient and can help keep us regulated. They can sense our emotions and can help us to connect with our feelings and support us learning new things!
The boring (but oh so important) bits
Essential documents
- Bachelor of Speech Pathology (or equivalent)
- Current membership with Speech Pathology Australia (with CPSP status)
- Eligibility for Medicare Provider status
- Working with Children Check
- Driver’s License
- Police Check
- Current Professional Indemnity Insurance and Public
- Liability Insurance (Certificate of Currency)
- Current First Aid Certificate (desirable)
Benefits of animal assisted interventions include:
- Development of social skills;
- Increase in verbal communication and language;
- The therapeutic relationship between the clinician and child may develop more quickly in the presence of a calm animal;
- Therapy dogs have skills that make them able to pick up social cues imperative to human relationships. Therapists can then utilise that information to help feedback to the child and help them to reflect on how their behaviour affects others;
- Patting an animal has been demonstrated to lower blood pressure, lower anxiety and lessen stress (oxytocin effect)!
Job Opportunity:
Occupational Therapist/Psychologist
Calling All Occupational Therapists and Psychologists: Full Steam Ahead to Holistic Care!
At The Speech Express we are offering the chance to be part of something truly special. Forget traditional, white-coat therapy and enjoy the freedom and pure fun of integrating animals into therapy. Located in Chirnside Park, Victoria, we are the first pediatric speech pathology clinic that incorporates animal-assisted interventions into therapy. We’re currently a team of 9 fabulous Speech Pathologists, 4 groovy Therapy Assistants, 3 awesome admin heroes, and perhaps most impawtantly—7 therapy dogs, 2 guinea pigs, and 2 fish! And now, as we expand into a multidisciplinary team, we are on the hunt for a compassionate Occupational Therapist and/or Psychologist to help us develop into a full-service station.
Help Create Our Full-Service Therapy Station!
At The Speech Express, we’re evolving into a one-stop destination for all paediatric therapy needs. With your expertise as an Occupational Therapist or Psychologist, you’ll be at the forefront of this exciting new venture, working alongside our existing Speech Pathology team to create a holistic approach to child development. Jump on board as we build the next chapter in our journey, helping children thrive through speech, motor, sensory and emotional growth!
Why Join The Speech Express?
At The Speech Express, therapy is about more than just clinical skills—it’s about connection. Our clients thrive because we think outside the box, combining evidence-based therapies with the magic of animal interactions. From reducing anxiety to improving communication, our therapy animals play a vital role in helping children feel safe and engaged. Now, we’re bringing in you, a talented OT and/or Psychologist, to help us take this holistic approach even further. We can’t wait to explore these new tracks to provide comprehensive therapy for our clients.
What You’ll Love:
- Full-time hours are ideal, but we’re flexible! Let’s talk about what works for you
- Extremely competitive remuneration and options for contractor or employee roles
- Tailored professional development, including support in animal-assisted therapy
- A welcoming, collaborative team where you can be yourself
- Homely and vibrant, well-equipped therapy rooms with plenty of resources
- No admin headaches—our friendly reception team handles scheduling, billing, and client management on your behalf through Cliniko
- A strong sense of community, with regular team catch-ups, social events, and learning opportunities
More Information
Who We’re Looking For
- You’re a compassionate, adaptable professional who knows how to connect with kids—and you’re not afraid to get creative in your approach. Whether you’ve worked with therapy animals before or are eager to learn, you understand that sometimes, the best way to reach a child is through unconventional means. If you’re eager to be part of something great, we’d love to hear from you!
What You’ll Need:
- Bachelor’s Degree in Occupational Therapy or Psychology (or equivalent)
- Current registration with AHPRA/ Occupational Therapy Australia
- Experience working with children (bonus if you’ve worked with neurodiverse clients)
- Passion for animal-assisted therapy (and we’ll support you in your journey to working alongside a therapy dog)
- Working with Children Check, Police Check, and a valid Driver’s License
- Professional Indemnity and Public Liability Insurance
Therapy Assistant Opportunities Available for Speech Pathology Students!
Looking for some more hands-on experience before entering the work force?
Enjoy flexible hours and manage your own caseload while you study.
Therapy Assistants are under the direction and supervision of the treating Speech Pathologist who writes an individualised therapy plan to inform your sessions and support the child’s therapy goals!
Phone
Address
1 Kimberley Drive Chirnside Park, VIC 3116
Hours
Mon-Fri: 8am- 6pm
Saturday: 9am-4pm
Sunday: Closed
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