Regional Relocation Diaries – Nozi, Speech Pathologist
Helping people had always been a priority for Nozithelo (Nozi), so it made sense that when it came to choosing a career, she gravitated towards supporting people through Speech Pathology.
After moving to Australia from Zimbabwe with her family, Nozi grew up in sunny Cairns, and quickly grew to love the tropical North Queensland lifestyle. She completed her Speech Pathology studies in Townsville at James Cook University, and when it came time to find her perfect new grad speechie role, she quickly fell in love with what SpeechEase Speech Therapy had to offer. This is how her speech therapy story starts…
Keep reading to learn more about Nozi’s experience as a new grad speech pathologist, why she made the move to Mackay, and where she’s planning to take her Speech Pathology career.
Meet Nozi
Nozi grew up in Zimbabwe then moved to Australia halfway through high school. It was a time of huge adjustment for someone who spoke English as a second language. Her own experience of struggling to communicate has given Nozi great empathy for her clients and she rapidly builds a strong rapport with each one.
When a friend mentioned Speech Pathology to her in the final years of high school, Nozi thought it sounded interesting and started researching it. She loved the idea of helping people overcome communication barriers.
Speech pathology is a wonderfully varied field, meaning no two days and no two clients are the same. Nozi particularly enjoys early intervention to help small children, augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) techniques and helping adult clients with neurological difficulties or stroke rehab. She finds it immensely rewarding to see clients make progress towards their goals, learning to communicate more easily and growing in self-confidence.
The Move: From Cairns to Mackay
Moving to a new city for a job can be daunting, but for Nozi, it was a no brainer after her first interview.
“I wasn’t specifically looking for a job in Mackay. The SpeechEase team appealed to me and after the interview I was impressed and wanted to be a part of the team so I was happy to move.”
What made Nozi’s experience that much sweeter was being connected with two other new graduate Speech Pathologists who were also moving to Mackay for a role with SpeechEase. They quickly formed a strong friendship and got up to a lot of fun activities on the weekends and were able to give each other advice and guidance during the week as they found their feet in the profession.
Nozi spent the first two years of her Speech Pathology career in Mackay, and at the end of it she’s proud to say that she tried something new and had the opportunity to explore the many hidden gems that the regions have to offer.
Her advice to anyone considering a regional move? Take a chance!
Nozi’s Regional Experience: Video
Nozi’s Career Goals
Nozi’s career in Speech Pathology is off to a strong start, but there’s a whole lot more on the horizon for this passionate clinician. While Nozi’s time in Mackay has come to an end (so she can be closer to family), she’s heading back to Cairns with a whole lot of valuable experience and insight to provide high quality support and care to those seeking speech therapy.
Nozi looks forward to completing more professional development in the future so that she can continue to support a diverse range of clients. She’s also keen to find ways of volunteering in Africa every couple of years, using her skills as a speechie to change lives for the better.
Are you keen to set out on your own regional adventure? Learn more about SpeechEase’s Regional Relocation program here – an exciting opportunity for new grads and experienced Speech Pathologists based in Australia.
Are you keen to set out on your own regional adventure? Learn more about SpeechEase’s Regional Relocation program here – an exciting opportunity for new grads and experienced Speech Pathologists based in Australia.
