Please note as of Wednesday, 25 February 2026 11:15am this advert application instructions, selection criteria 4 and job description attachment for Speech and Language Officer Level 1 have been corrected.
Eligibility requirements
Applicants must hold a Speech Pathology degree and be eligible for Speech Pathology Australia membership
We are seeking to establish a pool of Speech and Language Officers and Specialists for permanent and fixed term, full-time and part-time vacancies that may arise during the 2026 school year. Appointments may be offered at any time throughout this period.
North Metropolitan Speech Pathologists in Schools (SPiS) Program
This pool offers opportunities to Speech Pathologists to work as Speech and Language Officers or Speech and Language Specialists to participate in the North Metropolitan Speech Pathologists in Schools (SPiS) Program, delivering support to public schools throughout the Perth metropolitan area and regional Western Australia.
Positions are primarily based in Primary Schools, with some in Education Support Centres and Secondary Schools. During school holidays, Speech Pathologists (SPs) are based at a common host school in the north metropolitan region.
Find out more about the Speech Pathologists in Schools Program here
SPs work within the Response to Intervention model, focusing their attention on tier 1 (whole class) and tier 2 (small group) services through capacity building of teachers, education assistants and parents. Speech pathologists may provide some tier 3 (individual) services; these are irregular and typically short-term or consultative in nature (e.g. observation/assessment, trialling support strategies with a student for the teacher to implement). Language and literacy tend to be the main focus of SPiS services; SPs may also work within other areas of practice, such as speech sounds and AAC, depending on the school context.
Workload expectations: The role is great for a healthy work-life balance. SPiS operates on the principle that required professional duties are undertaken within allocated work hours, supported through workload planning and professional supervision. Within team members’ allocated work hours (the equivalent of 7.5 hours per week per 0.2 FTE), team members are required to deliver a minimum average of only 270 minutes (e.g. 6x 45 mins) per week of targeted services during school terms. These targeted services include: tier 1, 2 & 3 instruction and intervention; assessment and data analysis; upskilling of and liaison with staff, families and relevant stakeholders (including reporting); as well as resource provision for staff and families. The mix of targeted services provided within this benchmark will vary depending on school context, priorities and student need.
School placement:
- Applicants can nominate preferences for school types and locations. Suitable applicants may accept or decline offers to work in a particular school while remaining in the recruitment pool for future opportunities.
- SPs are employed directly by participating schools and are line-managed and professionally supported by a SPiS Team Leader through the SPiS Program.
- Where permanency is offered, Speech Pathologists are appointed permanently to an individual school(s), with that position linked to the SPiS Program. Permanent SPs are based at their permanent school(s) wherever possible. In rare, system-level circumstances where a change in school placement is required, Speech Pathologists will be consulted wherever possible. In these situations, Speech Pathologists will only be placed in a comparable, appropriate school context within the North Metro region, within a maximum travel time of 45-minutes from the SP’s home.
Speech and Language Officer (Speech Pathologist)
This position is typically more appropriate for early-career SPs and for SPs who have not worked in a school context before.
The Speech and Language Officer is a role focused on delivering evidence-based speech, language and literacy support within classroom, small-group and single year-level contexts. Working collaboratively with educators, the role involves supporting the implementation of targeted language and literacy programs in-class, contributing to assessment and progress monitoring, and working directly with students to improve outcomes (tier 1 and 2 support mainly). The position provides opportunities to build skills in school-based practice while working as part of a supportive team and under the guidance of a SPiS Team Leader.
Speech and Language Specialists (Speech Pathologist)
This role is typically more appropriate for SPs with some experience (3+ years), particularly for those with experience working in schools.
The Speech and Language Specialist (Senior Speech Pathologist) is an experienced practitioner role with a broader scope of practice across year groups and whole-school contexts. In addition to delivering specialised assessment and intervention, the Specialist contributes to school-wide language and literacy planning, supports the development and implementation of programs and policy, and leads professional learning for educators and families. The role has a strong focus on the phase of learning/school level capacity building, interdisciplinary collaboration and embedding high-quality language and literacy practice across the school. This position may supervise university students on placement at schools.
In this role, you will collaborate closely with school staff and external service providers to develop inclusive, evidence-based strategies and resources. You will also assess student progress, provide expert advice on intervention planning, and support the development of school-based policies relating to speech and language development.
This is a rewarding opportunity to apply your speech pathology expertise in a school setting and contribute to systemic improvements in early language and literacy outcomes.
Want to know more?
Full details of the role, selection criteria and training requirements are listed in the attached Job Description Form (JDF).
Find out more about the Speech Pathologists In Schools Program here
For more information about this opportunity, please contact Cindy Stirling, Program Coordinator, on 0400 209 765 or emailing cindy.stirling@education.wa.edu.au
Equity and Diversity
We are committed to an inclusive and culturally responsive workforce reflecting the diversity in our schools and the Western Australian community. We welcome and encourage applications from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders, young people, people of diverse sexualities and genders, people with disability, and people from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds.
Explore our Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Plan 2021-2025 for more details.
Eligibility
To work with us, you must:
- hold a Bachelor of Speech Pathology qualification and be eligible for membership of Speech Pathology Australia
- be an Australian or New Zealand citizen, permanent resident or have a valid visa with relevant work rights for the term of the appointment.
- obtain a valid Working With Children Check before you start; and
- consent to a Nationally Coordinated Criminal History Check and obtain a current Screening Clearance Number issued by the Department of Education’s Screening Unit before you start.
Additional eligibility and training requirements are outlined in the attached Job Description Form (JDF).
Application Instructions
Apply online in two easy steps:
Step 1: Select Apply for Job
Complete the online application form, including details of two (2) work related referees, preferably one (1) being your current line manager.
Step 2: Attach your documents
Your application should include:
- All applications: CV outlining your employment history and a professional learning summary relevant to this position.
- For Speech and Language Officer (Speech Pathologist) applications: Up to five (5) page statement addressing the following selection criteria as outlined in the attached JDF for Speech and Language Officer (Speech Pathologist) Level 1.
- Demonstrated ability to provide specialised speech and language services and support to students using knowledge of the latest trends and research in speech and language development.
- Demonstrated ability to monitor and evaluate students’ progress both individually and in the context of group/school language/literacy programs.
- Demonstrated ability to develop, implement, monitor and review language programs.
- Demonstrated skills to take initiative, functioning effectively in a self-directed way, and as a member of an inter-disciplinary team in an educational and/or community setting.
- Demonstrated well-developed oral and written communication and interpersonal skills, including the ability to prepare reports.
- For Speech and Language Specialist Level 2 applications: Up to (6) page statement addressing the following selection criteria as outlined in the attached JDF for Speech and Language Specialist (Level 2).
- Demonstrated experience in developing and implementing language and/or literacy policy/programs across grade levels, using knowledge of the latest research in language/literacy development.
- Demonstrated proven capacity to develop, implement, and review language/literacy programs in a school setting.
- Demonstrated ability to provide specialised speech and language services and support to students.
- Demonstrated highly developed oral and written communication skills, including the ability to prepare support materials for educators, as well as preparation and delivery of professional development programs.
- Demonstrated ability to monitor and evaluate students’ language/literacy progress both individually and in the context of classroom/school programs.
- Highly developed interpersonal skills that demonstrate experience in taking initiative, functioning in a self-directed way, and as a member of an interdisciplinary team in an educational and/or community setting.
It is recommended you have your attachments ready before selecting Apply for Job.
Your application must be received before the closing date and time. Late applications will not be accepted.
For technical support submitting your application, you can call the Department of Education’s Recruitment team on (08) 9264 4127 for assistance.
Advertised Vacancy Number: IPS/SS1021995
The Department applies a four (4) day breach period to this selection process.
Applications close: 10.30am (AWST) on Thursday, 12 March 2026
