20/08/2025
We've seen many posts that so eloquently demonstrate what Speechies do behind the scenes, but do you really know what it takes to support them to deliver these services?
💡 Why does quality healthcare cost what it does?
Because running a good practice is so much more than what happens in the therapy room.
When people see a speech pathologist, they often see only the 45 minutes of face-to-face therapy. What they don’t see is the hours of unseen work and the infrastructure that makes that single session possible.
Here’s a glimpse into the behind-the-scenes work that keeps a speech pathology practice running:
👩💼 Director Responsibilities
Strategic direction, leadership, and practice growth
Clinical governance and compliance
Risk management, safeguarding, and crisis response
Audits, accreditation, and policy updates
Reviewing and updating fee schedules
Managing budgets, taxes, BAS, superannuation, and payroll
Liaising with accountants, bookkeepers, and legal advisors
Covering legal and insurance costs
Driving innovation: AI, IT upgrades, and system improvements
Marketing
Building referral networks, partnerships, and community links
Developing best-practice clinical resources and templates
Supervising, mentoring, and providing peer support for clinicians
Organising PDs and workshops for team development
Overseeing compliance systems and continuous quality improvement
📞 Administration Responsibilities
Booking appointments, reviews, cancellations, and reminders
Triaging referrals to the right clinician
Processing payments
Debt collection
Formatting and distributing clinical reports
Handling enquiries and converting them into clients
Supporting client conflict resolution at first contact
Preparing intake paperwork, NDIS service agreements, and insurance documentation
Managing clinic spaces: therapy rooms, reception, waiting areas, resources, photocopiers, stationery
First-line IT troubleshooting and support
Maintaining records and client databases securely
Supporting team meetings, PD events, and CPD tracking
Behind every clinical session lies a network of people, systems, fees, and responsibilities that keep the practice safe, compliant, ethical, and high-quality.
So when we talk about service fees, session costs, or practice overheads, it’s not just:
❌ “rent”
❌ “admin”
❌ “a bit of paperwork”
It’s:
✔️ Director leadership, governance, and compliance
✔️ Admin systems that support clinicians and clients
✔️ Insurance, accounting, and legal protections
✔️ Marketing, technology, and infrastructure upgrades
✔️ Continuous training, PD, and best-practice development
The truth:
Healthcare professionals should never have to justify their fees. Fees reflect not only the clinical hour, but the entire ecosystem that makes safe, ethical, client-centred services possible.
Here’s to the directors and admin teams who hold up the scaffolding so clinicians can do what they do best — support clients to thrive.
