Student volunteers

Applications for student volunteers will open in January.

Speech Pathology Australia is dedicated to prompting and advancing the speech pathology profession and upholding the highest standards of speech pathology practice. Volunteering as a student at the SPA 2026 Conference presents a remarkable chance to network with other students and members of SPA while also playing a crucial role in ensuring the conference's success.

Key dates

Applications open: January 2026

Applications close: April 2026

Applicants notified: May 2026

Attendance

All volunteers are expected to be available to attend the full duration of the conference and are required to work various shifts across the following times:
 

 
NB. All times listed are in AEST (Australian Eastern Standard Time). Listed times are subject to change, and you may not be rostered on for all of them. Several factors, such as your availability, the availability of other volunteers, workload, and scheduling constraints, could result in you being assigned fewer hours than what's listed.

All volunteers are required to complete a compulsory onsite induction on Wednesday at the conference venue.

Benefits

Becoming a student volunteer offers numerous benefits, including:

• Networking: Meet professionals in the speech pathology field and expand your network
• Skill development: Gain experience in teamwork and leadership
• Career opportunities: Demonstrate your commitment to the speech pathology field and potentially open doors to future job opportunities
• Giving back: Contribute to the success of the conference and make a positive impact to the speech pathology community
• Support the profession: Show your support for the speech pathology profession and help advance its goals and mission
• Personal growth: Learn new things, challenge yourself, and gain confidence through volunteering
• Complimentary registration: Volunteer at a conference you wouldn't otherwise be able to attend
• Fun: Meet new people and have a great time while giving back to the speech pathology profession and the wider community

Duties

Volunteers will perform a range of tasks throughout the Conference, including:

• Meet and greet: Assist the Conference and Events Team with meeting and greeting attendees, answering enquiries, providing direction and general assistance
• Registration: Distribute attendee bags and lanyards
• Room monitors: Usher attendees into session rooms, monitor seating and numbers in concurrent sessions and assist latecomers
• Information and directions: Direct attendees between sessions, rooms and the exhibition space, manage traffic flow and answer queries
• Session assistant: Escort presenters and session chairs as required, and assist them with onsite requirements.

At the induction, volunteers will receive training on all of these responsibilities and tasks. You can expect to perform a variety of roles across your shifts, sometime being asked to change as the need arises.

Eligibility 

Students enrolled in a speech pathology course recognised by Speech Pathology Australia, who are eager to help make the conference a memorable experience for attendees are eligible to apply for this opportunity. Volunteer selections will be based on the needs of the conference and selections are at the discretion of the Conference and Events Team, with priority given to those applications who are SPA Student members.

NB. We cannot accept applications for student volunteer positions from conference presenters. This policy is in place to prevent potential conflicts of interest, as individuals fulfilling both roles may find it challenging to meet their obligations effectively. Our policy aims to enable volunteers and presenters to dedicate themselves fully to their respective responsibilities, maintaining the quality of their contributions.

Responsibilities

• Attend the compulsory briefing session
• Arrive punctually for all assigned shifts
• Represent the conference with a friendly, positive attitude and professional demeanour
• Dress in accordance with our uniform policy (below)
• Cover your own travel expenses to and from the Conference

Uniform

Student volunteers must maintain a neat and tidy appearance by dressing and grooming appropriately at all times.

Please wear:

• Plain t-shirt, polo or shirt
• Black pants, skirt or jeans
• Closed toe, comfortable shoes
• Dark coloured cardigan or jacket (optional)

In order to be identifiable by all attendees and the SPA Conference & Events Team, student volunteers must wear their name badge and a blue volunteer bib at all times.

The following items are not permitted:

• Clothing with inappropriate graphics, statements, or advertising
• Exposed undergarments, cleavage, halter tops, tank tops, tube tops, or bare midriff
• Torn, ripped, patched, or stained clothing
• Excessively short, tight or revealing clothing (e.g. leggings, mini-skirts or shorts)
• Open footwear such as sandals and thongs, or high heels.

SPA Conference home                       2026 Conference home

Contact us 

For any enquiries or further information regarding volunteering at the conference, please reach out to us at [email protected]. Our dedicated SPA Conference and Events Team will be delighted to assist you.