Paediatric speech pathology jobs in Queensland: SPA, Certified Practising status, school roles and pay for overseas speech pathologists

Written by Callum Trevorrow. Last checked 28 October 2026 against official sources.

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To work as a paediatric speech pathologist in Queensland, you go through Speech Pathology Australia (SPA), not Ahpra: SPA says you must be eligible for its Certified Practising membership to work in most Australian organisations, and registered NDIS providers need you to hold Certified Practising (CPSP) status. Unlike OT and physio, the award pays speech pathologists by the qualification they hold, from A$1,308.80 a week (bachelor’s) to A$1,444.90 (master’s) at Level 1 year 1, from 1 October 2026.

I run a multi-site paediatric allied health practice in South East Queensland, and several of our clinicians came to us from overseas. This page covers what’s different for speech pathologists. The settings themselves (private practice, Children’s Health Queensland, the other Hospital and Health Services and schools) and Children’s Health Queensland’s rules for overseas applicants are on paediatric OT jobs in Queensland, because they apply to OTs and speech pathologists alike.

What Certified Practising status decides in paediatric work

So in private paediatrics, CPSP isn’t only about the NDIS. Ask any practice which funders it bills, because that tells you when you need CPSP itself rather than eligibility for it. Why it’s SPA and not Ahpra is on Certified Practising, not Ahpra.

Getting assessed by SPA

There are two routes: the mutual recognition agreement (A$825) and the full qualification assessment, OSQCA (A$2,000 across four stages). Canadian speech-language pathologists can’t currently use the mutual recognition route.

Dysphagia evidence applies to paediatric applicants too. SPA says some applicants must give extra evidence of dysphagia competency, depending on their year of qualification or country of professional education. It doesn’t publish which countries or years, so ask SPA if you’re unsure. More on this is on adult speech pathology and dysphagia.

State schools: what’s specific to speech pathologists

• The blue card. Queensland’s Department of Education asks speech pathologists for a current blue card. OTs and physios are exempt while their Ahpra registration is current, but speech pathologists aren’t Ahpra-registered, so the exemption doesn’t apply.
• Eligibility, not registration. The Department asks for eligibility for Certified Practising membership, so your SPA assessment comes first.
• Grades and reporting. The Department employs speech language pathologists directly at HP3, with senior roles above. School-based clinicians report to the principal for operational matters and to a senior advisor or senior clinician for clinical ones.
• Pay. The advert or role description will tell you how pay is set; ask the Department.
• Talent pool. A statewide speech language pathologist talent pool (QLD/CO679374/26P) was open when we checked on 28 October 2026, closing 15 November 2026.

How school roles work for all three professions is on therapists in Queensland schools.

The NDIS

At a registered NDIS provider, you need CPSP to deliver NDIS supports, and a risk-assessed role also needs an NDIS Worker Screening Check. Screening, registration and pricing are on the NDIS for overseas therapists. The planned changes for young children with low to moderate support needs are on paediatric therapy and the NDIS changes.

Pay

The award is the Health Professionals and Support Services Award. For OTs and physios it lists AQF level 7 only, so this degree-based step is specific to speech pathology: if you hold an honours or master’s degree, check that your employer has put you on the right rate. Private practices set their own pay at or above the award. Full tables are on pay by setting in Queensland.

What I’d ask a paediatric employer, as a speech pathologist

1. Whether the practice is a registered NDIS provider and which other funders it bills (Medicare, private health insurers), because that decides when you need CPSP itself.
2. Which award level and qualification step they’ve used for your pay.
3. For a school role, whether your blue card is in place before you start.

Your next step

Check whether you can use SPA’s mutual recognition route or need the full qualification assessment, and whether you’d need a visa sponsor or already have work rights. If you’re unsure whether SPA will want extra dysphagia evidence from you, ask it early, because that depends on when and where you qualified.

The pathway check below asks those questions in a few minutes and tells you which route applies to you, so you know what to start on before you apply for a paediatric role.