No jobs for speech therapy graduates

THIS group of undergraduates has just finished four years of speech and language therapy studies — but not one of them has a job to go to next week. Many are considering emigrating.

Unemployment after a degree isn’t uncommon but this group is trained in a science that is in short supply in this country.

Parents nationwide are crying out for help for their children, many of whom require early intervention to ensure their early problems don’t become chronic difficulties.

In Dublin, up to 4,000 children require assessment for speech and language therapy with some children waiting up to three years for help, according to Fine Gael.

Earlier this week, Taoiseach Brian Cowen responded to queries about speech and language shortages by saying therapists need to become more “flexible” in their working arrangements. He said the practice of newly graduated therapists having to work under supervision had to be changed.

The 22 fourth-year UCC students dismissed this opinion as “ill informed”.

Isis Cooper, a final year student from Youghal in Co Cork said “new graduates don’t need constant supervision as they are trained to be autonomous”.

“We may have to meet with a supervisor every two weeks or may have a contact that we can contact with questions but it is not intensive supervision. That comment was ill informed.”

All of the UCC students pictured say they “can’t wait to get into the workplace” but not one of them has been offered a post by the HSE because of the recruitment embargo.

Yet, tens of thousands of euro has been spent by the Department of Education to educate them. Many fear they will have to go abroad to find work. Some have taken up jobs as shop assistants.

One of the students, Aine Byrne, says she has “real mixed feelings” about finishing college. “I should be really excited but I’m really worried. None of us have secured jobs and we don’t know if any will come up. Some of us have applied for a few jobs but none of us have got interviews. Our big worry is many of last year’s graduates still don’t have permanent positions so they will be first in line for posts when they come on stream,” she said.

Speech and language degree courses were established in Limerick, Galway and Cork, under the recommendation of consultant Peter Bacon who was asked by government to report on the causes of therapy shortages nationwide. His conclusion? Educate lots more.

“Some of us are going back to our part-time jobs that we had during the college years. Others are working as care assistants just to stay in the field. I loved my course. All I want to do is start working and put the theory into practice. During our placements, we saw the need that’s out there. I want to use my skills.”