Tanya Ramadan

I studied an undergraduate degree in science majoring in neuroscience and physiology before starting my Master of Speech Pathology at UTS. I am currently part of the Speech Pathology Australia Early Career Reference group which focuses on identifying concerns faced by early-career speech pathologists and working to identify and provide support. 
When I'm not working or spending time with my family, I like to read, bake, and listen to podcasts and one day I hope to publish a novel. 

I am extremely passionate about playing a role in person-focused interactions. I aspire to do this by contributing to health practices that place the patient at the centre of all care, treating patients holistically and as a full person rather than a condition, and creating environments where my colleagues, patients, and everyone I interact with feel heard and valued. 

A series of speech pathology podcasts resonated with me and inspired me to pursue this degree. The speech pathologists I was listening to seemed to work in areas that utilised my interests in health science and apply my theoretical knowledge for the betterment of others. Once I started the degree, I knew there was nothing that would stop me from being part of this profession. 

The UTS Speech Pathology course interested me as it allowed me to develop my clinical skills and be involved in research. Prior to studying at UTS, I worked in a research lab which showed me the importance of being involved in ongoing research for the advancement of knowledge and best practice. The UTS course has research-based subjects and the option of taking part in a research project which provided me with the skills I felt I needed to be part of that ongoing growth within the profession. Further, learning from lecturers who are involved in the latest research, have a forward focus on preparing speech pathologists for the future, and have clinical experience themselves seemed an ideal environment for my learning and preparation for the working world. 

Taking part in the UTS course taught me more than I had anticipated. I learnt how to holistically support people with swallowing and communication concerns across the lifespan from newborn babies with feeding difficulties to adults with Parkinson's Disease. I learnt how to support clients and family members to communicate more effectively when they may be struggling, how changes can be made in classrooms to support student involvement, how to utilise people's strengths, and how to keep people connected to the things they love. 

So many elements of the course are rewarding. I felt that learning from staff who celebrated your achievements and so clearly cared about each student's growth and development was extremely rewarding as it allowed me to view myself as capable (because if experienced clinicians believed in me, why wouldn't I believe in myself). I am also very thankful for the diverse and invaluable experiences of clinical placements as they prepared me for my role as a clinician. As a speech pathologist and during clinical placements, you see people at their most vulnerable and when they may be struggling. But being part of that person's journey is very rewarding as you regularly see your patients and collaborate with them to support their goal progression. As a result, you celebrate each patient's successes no matter how big or small with them, and it's very special to be part of that.  

I found it very important to create a divide between my studies and the things I did that make me feel fulfilled outside of my career. I found that dedicating time every day to other activities like walking, calling a friend and even calling a friend during my morning walk was so important for my overall well-being. Everyone has different needs and interests and taking the time to reflect and identify what works for you helps reduce burnout and makes your day feel a lot more balanced. 

It was clear the staff worked extremely hard to replicate the face to face learning experience online. I think the greatest thing lecturers did was maintain the interactive nature of classes through utilising breakout rooms and discussion-based learning. This meant I still felt connected to my peers and the staff even during larger lockdowns where I wasn't in a position to leave my house. 

I currently work within NSW Health specifically with an adult caseload. This means I see patients with swallowing and communication concerns specifically supporting them during their time in the hospital and preparing them for when they are discharged. Every day I work I  utilise the knowledge I built in my degree about speech, language, swallowing, voice, and fluency disorders as well as the professional skills I gained from my placements, my assessments, and the feedback and guidance I received from my lecturers. 

I aspire to continue growing within the field I work in. I hope to grow my skills clinically and be in a supervisory role for students and other speech pathologists. I aspire to play a role in quality improvement within the workplace and potentially on a larger scale. I also hope I will be fortunate enough to be involved in teaching and do as my lecturers did for me; supporting students to support their patients. 

This course is a commitment but it is a great place to be with staff that will support you and your place within the profession and perfectly sized classes that allow you to connect with your classmates and future colleagues. If you are interested in supporting people's quality of life and want to learn from speech pathologists who always make learning clinically relevant then this course is a great choice.