so here’s a snapshot of what being an SLP employed by the department of education in melbourne victoria is like:
- technically, you don’t automatically get school holidays off (you have to apply to take those days off and yes you only get 20 vacation days a year);
- you sometimes work out of store rooms, principals’ offices, staff rooms…basically any spare room the schools can find you;
- you have to pay tax on your travel claims;
- you don’t really have a clear idea of a career progression path;
- you don’t get recognized monetarily for studying more;
- you get $300 to attend Professional Development courses;
- you have to pay for your own end of year celebration meals because apparently we don’t need a break or team bonding activities;
- you don’t get your membership with the professional board (Speech Pathology Australia) (about $450 a year) automatically paid for;
- you see kids for therapy at best once a fortnight which really allows you to see lots of progress (NOT).
and here’s what you get for being a teacher:
- almost all of the above catered for.
i’m still trying to understand WHY anyone would want to be a Department employed SLP for more than 2 years. the working conditions are absolutely shocking. not to mention graduate SLPs are paid WAY less than teachers for having similar qualifications (don’t even get me started on the fact that my Masters is not worth anything in this system).
take me back to california.
