Introduction: The area of disability is a growing field for new graduate and early career Speech Pathologists to find employment. New graduate and early career Speech Pathologists need support to extend their knowledge in sensory disability and to apply their learning to practice. To assist their entry into the workforce in this area of specialised practice, a not-for-profit NDIS service provider has developed professional learning resources and a supervision program. Professional learning occurs through a range of self-paced online modules, with information presented in a range of different formats to cater to different learning styles. New employees are paired with a senior clinician who assists in application of knowledge through weekly supervision meetings. Care was taken to align the program with the Speech Pathology Australia position statement, Early Childhood Intervention Australia Best Practice document, and to champion best practice in sensory disability.
Aim: To evaluate the effectiveness of the development program in equipping new graduate and early career Speech Pathologists for their role in supporting children with a sensory disability.
Method: Participants were new graduate and early career Speech Pathologists newly employed by this NDIS-registered service provider. Data was gathered using participant surveys at two milestones: the first at the beginning of their employment and the second six months into employment.
Results: Results showed that overall, new employees increased their knowledge of sensory disability after completing the program. Feedback showed that observation, hands-on opportunities and discussion with supervisors were the most valued learning experiences. Participants whose allocated supervisor was based off-site overwhelmingly stated a preference for a supervisor on the same site.
Conclusion: New graduate and early career Speech Pathologists benefit from support to increase knowledge in an area of specialised practice; assistance with application of knowledge to practice through supervision is paramount for equipping participants with appropriate skills.

At the conclusion of my presentation, attendees will understand
1. The importance of support for new graduate and early career Speech Pathologists who are starting out in an area of specialised practice.
2. The benefits and limitations of self-paced learning coupled with 1:1 supervision sessions as a method of learning within an area of specialised practice.
3. Adaptations and experiences provided within the support process to cater for different learning styles.