Regional Queensland
Regional recruitment specialist for Queensland employers, from Cairns to Toowoomba and Mount Isa. See how hard each region is to hire in, and how we help.
Speech pathologist recruitment for regional employers
Hire Australia is a regional recruitment specialist. We help paediatric practices, schools and early intervention services, NDIS providers, hospitals and aged-care providers across regional Australia hire speech pathologists, from new graduates to senior clinicians. We cover certification, the caseload and the travel with you before the search starts.
Speech pathology hiring at a glance
Speech Pathologist is rated in shortage nationally for 2026. Job ads for the audiologists and speech pathologists/therapists group eased over the year in the cities, while regional ads held steady.1,2
- national rating for Speech Pathologist / Speech Language Therapist (ANZSCO 252712) in 2026
- Shortage
- In shortage means rated S (shortage) or R (regional shortage).1
- online job ads a month for audiologists and speech pathologists/therapists
- 970
- Three-month average to September 2026, down 13% from 1,114 a year earlier.3
- of those ads were for regional areas
- 33%
- 309 of 944 ads placed in a major city or regional area, against 308 regional ads a year earlier.2
What does a speech pathologist do, and how is the profession regulated?
Speech pathologists assess and manage disorders of communication and swallowing. The work includes testing and observing clients, running programs for stuttering and articulation, individual and group therapy after hearing loss, cerebral palsy, surgery or injury, and advising on children who have difficulty learning to speak.4
Speech pathology isn't one of the professions registered through Ahpra. The profession is self-regulated through Speech Pathology Australia, and "speech pathologist" isn't a protected title. Certified Practising Speech Pathologist (CPSP) status is voluntary and requires continuing professional development and recency of practice. Medicare and private health insurers require CPSP status for a client to claim a rebate, so ask for it whenever the role bills those schemes.6
Which certification and checks does a speech pathologist need in each state?
Certification is the same in every state. The check for work with children is not: each state runs its own scheme, and Queensland lists speech pathology for children among the services that need a blue card.7
Certification and each jurisdiction's check for work with children, as published by the issuers on 1 November 2026.
| State or territory | Registration or certification | Check for work with children |
|---|---|---|
| New South Wales | No Ahpra registration; Certified Practising Speech Pathologist (voluntary, needed for Medicare and private health rebates)6 | Working with Children Check, Office of the Children's Guardian8 |
| Victoria | No Ahpra registration; CPSP (voluntary) | Working with Children Clearance9 |
| Queensland | No Ahpra registration; CPSP (voluntary) | Blue card needed for speech pathology for children7 |
| Western Australia | No Ahpra registration; CPSP (voluntary) | Working with Children Check, Department of Communities10 |
| South Australia | No Ahpra registration; CPSP (voluntary) | Working with Children Check, Department of Human Services11 |
| Tasmania | No Ahpra registration; CPSP (voluntary) | Registration to Work with Vulnerable People12 |
| Northern Territory | No Ahpra registration; CPSP (voluntary) | Working with Children Clearance (Ochre Card)13 |
| Australian Capital Territory | No Ahpra registration; CPSP (voluntary) | Working with Vulnerable People registration14 |
What does a speech pathologist earn?
Under the Health Professionals and Support Services Award, speech pathology is listed at AQF level 7, 8 or 9, and the level of the qualification the speech pathologist holds sets the rate. From 1 October 2026 a first-year speech pathologist's full-time minimum runs from $1,308.80 a week at AQF level 7 to $1,444.90 at AQF level 9.5 The award covers health-industry employers such as private practices and private hospitals, and employees covered by a state public sector award are outside it.5
The national median for audiologists and speech pathologists/therapists, a group that includes both professions, was $2,003 a week, or $53 an hour, in May 2025.4 We talk with you about the salary, travel allowances and caseload that will compete for your location.
Health Professional employee Level 1, full-time minimum rates by the AQF level of the qualification held, from the first full pay period on or after 1 October 2026.5
| AQF level of qualification | 1st year a week | 1st year an hour | 7th year and after a week |
|---|---|---|---|
| Level 7 | $1,308.805 | $34.44 | $1,689.50 |
| Level 8 | $1,337.10 | $35.19 | $1,721.40 |
| Level 9 | $1,444.90 | $38.02 | $1,755.00 |
Where are speech pathologists in demand?
The ad counts cover the audiologists and speech pathologists/therapists group. New South Wales, Victoria and Queensland carry most of them. Over the year to September 2026 ads fell in every state except the ACT, with Victoria down from 313 to 253 a month.3
Regional ads were broadly steady at 309 a month, compared with 308 a year earlier, while major-city ads fell from 749 to 635, so regional areas now account for 33% of ads with a location, against 29% for all jobs.2
Online job ads for audiologists and speech pathologists/therapists by state and territory, three-month average to September 2026 and a year earlier.3
| State or territory | Job ads a month, September 2026 | September 2025 |
|---|---|---|
| New South Wales | 2753 | 278 |
| Victoria | 253 | 313 |
| Queensland | 207 | 259 |
| Western Australia | 116 | 129 |
| South Australia | 51 | 58 |
| Tasmania | 26 | 29 |
| Australian Capital Territory | 24 | 19 |
| Northern Territory | 17 | 28 |
Which speech pathology roles do we recruit?
Open a setting for the work, the checks and what to put in your brief.
Paediatrics, schools and early intervention
Speech pathologists for children's clinics, school-based services and early intervention.
- The work
- Assessing speech, language and literacy, running therapy, and advising families and teachers on children who have difficulty learning to speak.4
- Checks
- Every state's check for work with children applies; in Queensland a blue card is needed for speech pathology for children.7
- Certification
- CPSP status matters where clients claim Medicare or private health rebates.6
- What to tell us
- Age groups, clinic or school delivery, group programs, the assessments you use, and the supervision on offer for a newer clinician.
NDIS and disability
Speech pathologists working with NDIS participants of all ages.
- The work
- Individual and group therapy for communication problems linked to hearing loss, cerebral palsy or injury, and guidance for families, carers and employers.4
- Checks
- Child participants bring the state's check for work with children, listed in the table above.8,9
- Shortage
- Speech Pathologist is rated in shortage nationally for 2026.1
- What to tell us
- Participant ages and needs, alternative and augmentative communication work, report writing for plan reviews, and the travel between clients.
Hospital, rehabilitation and aged care
Speech pathologists for acute wards, rehabilitation and residential aged care.
- The work
- Assessing and managing swallowing as well as communication, including rehabilitation after surgery or injury.4
- Award position
- Private hospitals and aged-care providers in the health industry usually fall under the Health Professionals and Support Services Award; state public sector award employees are outside it.5
- Certification
- No Ahpra registration applies; ask for CPSP status and the candidate's recent clinical experience.6
- What to tell us
- Adult caseload mix, dysphagia and instrumental assessment work, ward coverage, and whether the role covers outreach clinics.
How we help you hire a speech pathologist
You make the hiring decision and employ the person directly. We handle the search and the organising in between.
Caseloads, outreach and relocation for regional roles
Tell us how the role splits between a clinic base, school visits, home visits, outreach and telehealth, along with the travel time and the vehicle arrangements. We raise these with candidates in the first conversation.
We search first among speech pathologists who already live in or have ties to your region, then among those planning a move. Relocation help and housing support matter most in that second group. If the right person needs a visa or sponsorship, our sister business Australian Immigration Agency can advise.
Looking for a speech pathology role in the regions?
Register with Hire Australia and tell us your CPSP status, the client groups and settings you have worked with, and where you would like to work. New graduate and experienced speech pathologists are welcome, and we will talk with you about roles that fit.
Talk to us about your next speech pathology hire
Tell us the role, the clients, the location and your start date.
Employers pay nothing until the successful candidate has started and stayed two months. Candidates never pay for recruitment.
A FEW PRACTICAL QUESTIONS
Good to know.
Do speech pathologists need to be registered with Ahpra?
No. Speech pathology is self-regulated through Speech Pathology Australia rather than registered through Ahpra, and the title isn't protected by law. Certified Practising Speech Pathologist status is voluntary, but Medicare and private health insurers require it for clients to claim rebates.6 Hire Australia asks every candidate about their CPSP status.
What does a speech pathologist earn under the award?
Where the Health Professionals and Support Services Award covers the role, a first-year speech pathologist earns at least $1,308.80 a week with an AQF level 7 qualification, or $1,444.90 at AQF level 9, from 1 October 2026.5 The national median for audiologists and speech pathologists/therapists was $2,003 a week in May 2025.4 Hire Australia discusses your range before the search starts.
Does a speech pathologist need a blue card in Queensland?
Yes, for work with children. Queensland lists speech pathology for children among the services that need a blue card, and the exemption for registered health practitioners doesn't reach speech pathologists, who aren't registered through Ahpra.7,15 Every other state has its own check for child-related work, and Hire Australia raises the right one with each candidate.
Are speech pathologists hard to find for regional roles?
Speech Pathologist is rated in shortage nationally for 2026.1 Regional ads for audiologists and speech pathologists/therapists held at 309 a month in the three months to September 2026 while city ads fell.2 Hire Australia starts each regional search with speech pathologists who have ties to your area and plans around your start date.
What does it cost to use Hire Australia?
Employers pay nothing until the successful candidate has started and stayed two months. Candidates never pay for recruitment. You employ the person directly, and we agree the terms with you in writing before the search begins. The same terms apply to every speech pathology role Hire Australia recruits, from new graduates to senior clinicians.
Does Hire Australia supply labour hire or temporary staff?
No. Hire Australia recruits people you employ directly, in permanent roles. We don’t supply labour hire or temps, and candidates never work on our payroll. We search for and screen people for your vacancy, introduce the ones who fit, and you make the offer and employ them. That keeps the working relationship between you and your new employee from day one.
Sources (15)
- Jobs and Skills Australia, 2026 Occupation Shortage List (ANZSCO 2022 sheet). National ratings for 6-digit ANZSCO 2022 occupations, October 2026. S shortage, R regional shortage, NS no shortage. Accessed 1 November 2026. Back to text ↑
- Jobs and Skills Australia, Internet Vacancy Index, 4-digit occupations by remoteness (major cities and regional), September 2026. Online job ads, three-month moving average to September 2026; SA4 regions grouped as major city or regional. Counts ads, not jobs. Accessed 1 November 2026. Back to text ↑
- Jobs and Skills Australia, Internet Vacancy Index, 4-digit occupations by state and territory, September 2026. Online job ads, three-month moving average to September 2026 (released 21 October 2026), rounded. Counts ads, not jobs. Accessed 1 November 2026. Back to text ↑
- Jobs and Skills Australia, ANZSCO occupation data, February 2026 (occupation descriptions, earnings and employment). Median full-time earnings: ABS Employee Earnings and Hours, May 2025, national; 4-digit occupation groups. Employment: February 2026, trend. Accessed 1 November 2026. Back to text ↑
- Fair Work Ombudsman, Health Professionals and Support Services Award 2020 [MA000027], clause 17 and Schedule B. Rates from 1 October 2026 (PR814029), as in the pay guide of 22 October 2026. Coverage: clause 4; state public sector awards excluded. Accessed 1 November 2026. Back to text ↑
- Speech Pathology Australia, Overview of the regulation of health professionals in Australia, version 5 (12 November 2025). Accessed 1 November 2026. Back to text ↑
- Blue Card Services, Queensland Government, Blue cards for health, counselling and support services (last updated 19 August 2026). Accessed 1 November 2026. Back to text ↑
- Office of the Children's Guardian, Working with Children Check. Accessed 1 November 2026. Back to text ↑
- Working with Children Check Victoria, Victorian Government, Working with Children Check (Working with Children Clearance). Accessed 1 November 2026. Back to text ↑
- Department of Communities, Government of Western Australia, Department of Communities (WA), Working with Children Check (last updated 22 September 2026). Accessed 1 November 2026. Back to text ↑
- Department of Human Services, South Australia, SA.GOV.AU, Screening checks (Working with Children Check; last updated 29 June 2026). Accessed 1 November 2026. Back to text ↑
- Department of Justice, Tasmania, Department of Justice (Tasmania), Registration to Work with Vulnerable People. Accessed 1 November 2026. Back to text ↑
- SAFE NT, Northern Territory Government, NT.GOV.AU, Working with Children Clearance (Ochre Card): apply and renew. Accessed 1 November 2026. Back to text ↑
- Access Canberra, ACT Government, Working with Vulnerable People (WWVP) scheme. Accessed 1 November 2026. Back to text ↑
- Blue Card Services, Queensland Government, Blue cards for registered health practitioners (last updated 3 September 2026). Accessed 1 November 2026. Back to text ↑