Explore careers

Work with young children is useful experience.

Speech-language therapists may do some or all of the following:

• assess and diagnose communication problems such as stuttering
• co-ordinate and plan treatments
• help clients learn to speak, listen, read or write
• lead group therapy sessions
• help children and adults learn to swallow and eat
• report on their clients
• educate and advise clients and their families.

Newly qualified speech-language therapists usually find work within a year of finishing study.

Experienced speech-language therapists have a good chance of finding work.

Fixed-term speech-language therapy work is often available.

According to the Census, 942 speech-language therapists worked in New Zealand in 2018.

Demand for speech-language therapists steady

Demand for speech-language therapists is steady because:

• New Zealand's ageing population means that speech-language therapists are needed to help older patients, such as stroke victims, to recover speech and language functions
• more private practices are opening to help school children and new entrants who cannot be treated through the public health service.

Speech-language therapist appears on Immigration New Zealand's Green List. This means the Government is actively encouraging skilled  speech-language therapists from overseas to work in New Zealand.

Most speech-language therapists employed by government agencies

Most speech-language therapists work for the Ministry of Education or the Ministry of Health. Other employers include:

• private speech-language therapy practices
• charitable trusts
• universities
• schools.

New Zealand Speech-language Therapists' Association

(09) 475 0214 - admin@speechtherapy.org.nz - www.speechtherapy.org.nz

Speech-language therapists may progress to work in managerial or research roles. They may also move between work in the education and health industries.

Speech-language therapists may specialise in a field of work, or work with particular groups of people such as:

• children (paediatrics)
• the elderly
• children and adults who have physical disorders such as difficulties swallowing, or cleft lips or palates.

Speech-language therapists need to be:

• patient and supportive
• able to put people at ease
• good communicators
• able to relate to people of all ages, and from a range of cultures and backgrounds.