About the Department of Communication Disorders
Welcome
The Department of Communication Disorders serves New Zealand and the world through excellence and innovation in scholarship, teaching and public service. Students are educated and challenged to excel in professional practice and disciplinary research related to disorders of hearing, speech, language, and swallowing.
The Department of Communication Disorders is the longest running speech and language therapy programme in the nation and is responsible for educating the vast majority of professionals in New Zealand. As of 2005 the Department provides clinical and research training in the field of audiology. Academic curricula and research supervision is provided by full-time doctoral faculty and highly skilled clinical educators. The Bachelor of Speech and Language Pathology (Hons) programme is accredited by the New Zealand Speech-Language Therapists' Association.
History
In 1942, the Christchurch Teacher's College established a diploma course designed to prepare speech-language therapists for practice in New Zealand. In 1989, the diploma course was changed to a four-year Honours degree granted by the University of Canterbury. In 1995, an international panel of clinicians and researchers reviewed the Department of Communication Disorders (originally named the Department of Speech and Language Therapy). The panel, recognising the breadth and continued growth of the discipline, recommended that the Department be moved to the Faculty of Science on the University of Canterbury's campus. In 2004, the Department developed a proposal to establish a Master of Audiology degree. This proposal was approved by the New Zealand Committee on University Academic Programmes. As of 2005, the Department offers clinical and research education in both speech-language therapy and audiology.
For more than 50 years, the Department of Communication Disorders has upheld the belief that the ability to communicate successfully is fundamental to a satisfactory life for every human being. Compromised communication, whether the result of developmental delays, traumatic brain injury, hearing loss, stroke, or any of the myriad of causative factors, deserves the attention of professionals who are able to provide theoretical and practical habilitative, remedial or augmentative interventions.
Each year, the Department of Communication Disorders welcomes a number of distinguished visitors from around the world with expertise in audiology or speech-language therapy. Some will be Erskine Fellows, who lecture and conduct collaborative research in the Department.
Departmental Mission
The mission of the Department of Communication Disorders at the University of Canterbury is to achieve national and international excellence in research, clinical service, and education in human communication sciences and disorders. We work together in an environment of integrity, cooperation, enthusiasm, and mutual respect.
To accomplish this mission the Department
- Promotes rigorous and imaginative classroom and clinical teaching to develop innovative and skilful professionals able to provide best practices to persons with speech, language, hearing, and swallowing disorders in medical, educational, and community settings
- Educates practitioners and researchers to develop and maintain high ethical standards of quality services and scholarship.
- Prepares scholars in the science of speech, language, hearing and swallowing to advance the knowledge base of the discipline.
- Provides an integrative, innovative, holistic and culturally sensitive approach to cost-effective care for individuals, families and the community.
- Promotes leaders to influence policy and promote clinical standards for the benefit of all persons in need of speech, language, hearing, and swallowing services.
- Encourages a staff and student community committed to academic freedom, personal tolerance, and equal dignity for all; the importance of facilitating effective communication; and an appreciation of speech and language therapists and their contribution to other disciplines.
Department Contacts
Phone: 64-0-3-364-2431
Fax: 64-0-3- 364-2760
Email: Prof Michael Robb , Head of Department