Paediatric Speech Pathologist

Motivate Kids; Adelaide; On-site; AUD 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Professional development budgets

MacBook and iPad provided

Wellbeing support

Job summary

Motivate Kids is expanding with a new Paediatric Speech Pathology service. You will assess and treat children across language, speech sounds, literacy, AAC and social communication in the studio and community, including feeding and swallowing within your scope.

Senior roles offer leadership, supervision and development of pathways and resources, with approx. 75% clinical time and dedicated service development time, starting December 2026 or January 2027.

Qualifications

• Degree in Speech Pathology and CPSP eligibility.
• Paediatric experience; senior role requires 5+ years with supervision.
• NDIS/Medicare context experience and community visits.

Responsibilities

• Assess and treat children across language, speech, literacy, AAC and social communication.
• Deliver neurodiversity‑affirming therapy with collaboration with OT for holistic care.
• Develop feeding/swallowing pathways and contribute to SOS program.
• Collaborate with families and referrers; write clear reports.
• Senior role: shape standards, pathways and supervise the team.

Education

Degree in Speech Pathology

CPSP eligibility

Hanen training

PODD training

Key Word Sign training

AAC assessment experience

Job description

We’re a forward-thinking practice, positioning early for Thriving Kids, Medicare, school and early learning partnerships, so our therapists can focus on great care with confidence in what’s ahead.

At Motivate Kids, we believe every child has something to say, and every way of communicating matters. Communication helps children share ideas and preferences, build relationships, learn and participate. Our role is not only to support children’s communication development, but also to help the people around them recognise, understand and respond to their unique ways of communicating.

Since 2017, Motivate Kids has supported children and families through exceptional paediatric Occupational Therapy. In 2027, we are introducing Paediatric Speech Pathology as a specialist discipline alongside Occupational Therapy, and we are looking for Speech Pathologists to help shape it from the beginning.

This is an opportunity to help design a new service backed by an established practice, ISO 9001 aligned systems, purpose-built therapeutic environments, dedicated operational support and a team that invests in clinical excellence. Each discipline offers specialised care in its own right, with opportunities for collaboration when children benefit from both.

Help establish and lead a high-quality Speech Pathology service: shape clinical pathways, scope, assessment resources and quality processes alongside our Director of Therapy; mentor and supervise speech pathologists; and help build collaboration with our OT team when children benefit from both. Approximately 75% clinical time, with protected leadership and service-development time during establishment. You’ll also have a voice in Motivate Kids’ strategy, clinical leadership and the development of future services.
Start: December 2026 or January 2027.

Our philosophy

Every child has something to say. Every way of communicating matters.

Communication supports agency.

Children communicate to express ideas, needs, choices and boundaries. Our role is to support meaningful communication in forms that work for them.

Being understood is a shared responsibility.

We work with the people and environments around a child to build understanding and responsiveness, rather than placing the responsibility solely on the child.

Communication grows through connection.

Trusted relationships, play and everyday interaction offer important opportunities for communication, learning and participation.

Speech Pathologist - (multiple roles)

Provide assessment and therapy for children and young people across early language, speech sounds, understanding and expressive language, literacy, AAC, social communication, and feeding and swallowing, in the studio and in the community. You will join our clinical O-Week from 18 January 2027.

What you will do

• Assess and support children and young people across communication, language, speech sounds, literacy, AAC and social communication; support feeding (chewing, swallowing and managing different food textures) within your training, competence and agreed service scope
• Deliver individualised, evidence-informed and neurodiversity-affirming therapy that brings together clinical expertise, creativity and play, at our Broadview studio, at home, at childcare and at school
• Deliver specialised Speech Pathology care and collaborate with OTs when children benefit from both, including shared priorities, case consultation and joint sessions when appropriate
• Help develop a coordinated mealtime pathway, contributing Speech Pathology feeding and swallowing expertise alongside the existing OT-led SOS program within agreed professional responsibilities
• Work closely with families and the important people in each child’s life, sharing practical strategies that make a difference beyond our studio
• Write clear, practical reports for families, NDIS and referrers
• Senior role: shape clinical standards, service pathways, supervision, mentoring, interdisciplinary practice and speech resources, and contribute to Motivate Kids’ strategy and future services

What we offer

• The opportunity to shape a new service with clinical input, supported by an established, forward-thinking and quality-focused paediatric practice
• A purpose-built studio designed with calming colours, natural materials and purposeful lighting, with spaces for both movement and calm to support regulation and participation
• Individual and group professional development budgets
• Supervision: senior-led for our speech team, and external Speech Pathology supervision for the Senior role
• An office team that handles billing, scheduling and family communication
• MacBook and iPad, and fully stocked therapy resources with no out-of-pocket spend
• Wellbeing support, including an Employee Assistance Program and more
• A warm, values-led team that celebrates together
• Interdisciplinary professional learning: share your Speech Pathology expertise and draw on the OT team’s experience in regulation, sensory processing, movement and participation
• Career pathways into clinical leadership
• Full time or part time, with days negotiable for the Senior role

About you

• Degree in Speech Pathology and eligibility for Certified Practising Speech Pathologist (CPSP) membership with Speech Pathology Australia
• At least 2 years’ paediatric experience (Senior role: 5+ years, with supervision or leadership experience)
• Senior role: paediatric feeding and swallowing (dysphagia) experience and competency desired
• Working with Children Check and NDIS Worker Screening Check (or willingness to obtain)
• Current driver’s licence and own vehicle for community visits
• Demonstrated commitment to neurodiversity-affirming, strengths-based, relationship-centred practice and ongoing reflective learning
• Senior role: evidenced ability to set up service elements (such as clinical pathways, processes and resources) and demonstrated multi-team working and communication
• Hanen, PODD or Key Word Sign training
• AAC assessment and NDIS assistive technology experience
• Paediatric feeding and swallowing experience including the SOS Approach to Feeding
• Structured literacy experience
• Medicare and NDIS reporting experience

Our values

• Child First Always: every decision starts with the child, their strengths, interests, regulation and way of communicating.
• The Little Things: we notice and celebrate every way a child connects.
• We, Not Me: understanding a child is a shared journey with families, educators and colleagues.
• Above and Beyond: we create environments and relationships where every child’s communication is welcomed and valued.