Audiology

Australian Audiology Workforce Questionnaire

This survey forms part of the doctoral studies for a research project being undertaken through the University of Western Australia aimed at developing cost-effective and sustainable Audiology education models. The project has been discussed with and has the interest and support of the World Health Organisation and the International Society of Audiology.

This survey in particular looks at workforce planning issues and Audiology education of Australian Audiologists with a view to improving Audiology service provision in Australia to better meet community needs. Some of the data being collated through the survey is of relevance to the work being undertaken by the Audiology Australia's Workforce Relations Standing Advisory Committee. This survey has the support of Audiology Australia and the results from the survey will be made available to the Society.

The survey has been sent to all members of Audiology Australia and If you have any questions regarding the survey, please email your enquiry to Helen Goulios at hgoulios@cyllene.uwa.edu.au. It takes about 20 minutes to complete. You may complete the questionnaire electronically below and submit by pressing the submit button at the bottom of the questionnaire. Once you have pressed the "submit" button you will receive a copy of your answers to the questionnaire and this same copy is automatically sent to the researchers.

Alternatively, if you would prefer to complete a hard copy of the questionnaire, please contact:

Helen Goulios

School of Biomedical and Chemical Sciences

University of Western Australia

Nedlands 6009

All individual information will be kept entirely confidential and you have an option as to whether you choose to leave any contact details.

Thank you for your time and contribution towards this work.

Australian Audiological Workforce Questionnaire

Australian Audiology Workforce

(1-1)

What is your age?

(1-2)

What is your gender?

(1-3)

In which geographic area do you live

(1-4)

Which scenario BEST describes your current situation

(1-5)

Which scenario do you see as BEST describing your situation five years from now?

(1-6)

In which geographic area is your work based?

(1-7)

How would you describe your MAIN (primary) place of employment
Please select as many as appropriate

(1-8)

How many hours a week do you work?

(1-9)

What proportion of you time is spent in clinical audiological practice? (This includes report writing and liaison directly related to patients but not general administrative, research or teaching activities where a service is NOT directly provided for the client.)

(1-10)

If you were to be employed full-time in your current position, what would be your average gross income (including all packages, bonuses and incentives)? Please note, if you work part-time, extrapolate your salary to the equivalent full-time position.

(1-11)

If you work on a sessional/casual basis, what would be your hourly pay rate

(1-12)

At what age did you commence work as an Audiologist?

(1-13)

At what age do you expect to completely retire from clinical audiological practice?

(1-14)

How many years have you worked in Audiology

(1-15)

If retired, would you consider returning to clinical practice?

(1-16)

What field was your UNDERGRADUATE degree in?

(1-17)

How did this background help with your Audiology Degree/Training

(1-18)

At which university did you complete your Audiology degree in?

(1-19)

If you indicated "other international", please indicate which university and country this was from?

(1-20)

In what year did you complete your Audiology degree/training program?

(1-21)

If your first qualification in Audiology was through an Australian university, what level qualification did you obtain?

(1-22)

Have you since completed any other higher level University Qualification?

(1-23)

If yes, what other degrees have you completed? (please specify, degree, university and year of completion)?

(1-24)

Do you plan to complete any other higher level University Qualification in the next 5 years?

(1-25)

If yes, please specify what other degrees you plan to complete?

(1-26)

What level of membership do you currently hold with the Audiological Society of Australia

Scope of Practice and Clincal Competence
This section of the survey looks at the range of activities undertaken by clinical audiologists and your perception of how well your Audiology education program prepared you for performing these tasks. You may not have performed some of these clinical activities since graduation. This section purely seeks your view of your competencies IMMEDIATELY AFTER COMPLETION OF YOUR COURSE. Please rate your perceived level of clinical competency immediately after graduating in Audiology for each of the clinical activities below. Please choose one number only for each clinical activity. If your training program did not cover a particular clinical activity, please indicate by selecting "not included as part of course curriculum"

(2-1)

Audiometric Assessment (Adult)
Please Note: For each activity in section 2 you are describing your perceived clinical competence IMMEDIATELY AFTER completing your course

(2-2)

Behavioural Paediatric Assessment (Play audiometry)

(2-3)

Behavioural Paediatric Assessment (Visual Reinforcement Audiometry)

(2-4)

Behavioural Paediatric Assessment (Behavioural observation - Noisemakers)

(2-5)

Full Impedance Assessment

(2-6)

Speech Audiometry

(2-7)

Otoacoustic emissions testing

(2-8)

Electrophysiological assessment

(2-9)

Vestibular Assessment

(2-10)

Management of patients with balance problems

(2-11)

Ear Impression Taking

(2-12)

Hearing Aid Fitting (Adult)

(2-13)

Hearing Aid Fitting (Paediatric)

(2-14)

Aural Rehabilitation (Adult)

(2-15)

Aural rehabilitation (Paediatric)

(2-16)

Educational Audiology – Management of school-aged children

(2-17)

Vibrotactile Aid Fitting and Rehabilitation

(2-18)

Cochlear Implant Assessment

(2-19)

Cochlear Implant Rehabilitation

(2-20)

Tinnitus Assessment

(2-21)

Tinnitus Management

(2-22)

Central Auditory Processing Assessment

(2-23)

Management of patients with central auditory processing disorders

(2-24)

Management of Noise and hearing conservation programs

(2-25)

Management of programs for indigenous Australians in remote communities

(2-26)

Management of neonatal hearing screening programs

(2-27)

Management of other paediatric hearing screening programs

(2-28)

Wax removal and cerumen management

(2-29)

Do you feel the assessment undertaken during your Audiology traning/course accurately reflected your THEORETICAL KNOWLEDGE

(2-30)

Do you feel the assessment undertaken during your Audiology training/course accurately reflected your CLINICAL COMPETENCIES

Areas of Clinical Activity Needing Additional Training
This section of the survey looks at the areas of clinical competence you feel needed greater time and emphasis spent during your Audiology training.

(3-1)

Which best describes your view on the amount of clinical practice that was provided during your Audiology course

(3-2)

How much time do you feel "at-elbow" clinical supervision should have been included as part of your total training course

(3-3)

Are there any areas of Audiology you feel your course/training could have placed greater emphasis on?

(3-4)

Do you currently provide clinical supervision for Audiology students in your work environment

(3-5)

If No, please indicate what would be required for you to provide clinical supervision for Audiology Students in your work environment

Future Possibilities
This section of the survey looks at your views on possibilities for audiological practice in the future. Which of the following do you feel should be included in the education of Australian Audiologists in the future?

(4-1)

Prescription of some medications?

	Yes		No

(4-2)

Wax Management (including removal of wax and other debris)

	Yes		No

(4-3)

Syringing of discharging ears

	Yes		No

(4-4)

Electrophysiological Intra-operative monitoring

	Yes		No

(4-5)

Screening of speech/language pathologies

	Yes		No

(4-6)

What other clinical activities do you see as possibly being part of an Audiologist’s scope of practice in the future?

(4-7)

What clinical activities currently undertaken by Audiologists do you see as becoming obsolete as a result of advances in technology

(4-8)

What clinical activities that currently form part of an audiologist’s scope of practice do you feel could be undertaken by other professionals under the supervision and guidance of an Audiologist.

(4-9)

Would you personally choose to supervise another professional to undertake these activities under your supervision?

Current Continuing Professional Development
This section of the questionnaire looks at your views on the continuing professional development for Audiologists in Australia. Which of the activities below do you undertake as part of your CPD. Please select "Yes" or "No"

(5-1)

ASA National Conference

	Yes		No

(5-2)

Other National ASA Education Programs

	Yes		No

(5-3)

Education programs arranged through ASA State Branch

	Yes		No

(5-4)

Other National Conferences

	Yes		No

(5-5)

International Conferences

	Yes		No

(5-6)

In-house training provided by your employer

	Yes		No

(5-7)

Short courses offered through Universities

	Yes		No

(5-8)

Degree courses offerred by Universities

	Yes		No

(5-9)

Short courses offerred by other training institutes

	Yes		No

(5-10)

Training Provided by Hearing Aid Manufacturers

	Yes		No

(5-11)

Self-paced reading

	Yes		No

(5-12)

Self-paced Audio/Visual courses

	Yes		No

(5-13)

Courses available through the Internet

	Yes		No

(5-14)

Supervision and mentoring of Audiology students

	Yes		No

(5-15)

Voluntary work for Audiology Australia (E.G. as a memeber of the State or Federal Executive Councils)

	Yes		No

(5-16)

Do you undertake any other activities as part of your continuing professional development

(5-17)

What type of educational activities does your Employer provide financial support towards

The ASA and Continuing Profesional Development
This section looks at areas in which the ASA may be able to assist in coordinating training/courses which are of greatest relevance to Audiologists. Would you be interested in the ASA coordinating "specialist training" programs in any of the areas listed in Q6.1 - Q6.19. Please select "yes" or "no".

(6-1)

Advanced Hearing Aid Updates

	Yes		No

(6-2)

Cochlear Implant assessment and Management

	Yes		No

(6-3)

Bone-anchored hearing aids and other implantable devices

	Yes		No

(6-4)

Multi-frequency tympanometry

	Yes		No

(6-5)

Otoacoustic emissions

	Yes		No

(6-6)

Electrophysiological Assessment

	Yes		No

(6-7)

Vestibular assessment and management of patients with balance disorders

	Yes		No

(6-8)

Current issues in paediatric hearing aid fitting

	Yes		No

(6-9)

Adult Communication Training Programs

	Yes		No

(6-10)

Current Issues in Educational Audiology

	Yes		No

(6-11)

Assessment and Management of Tinnitus Patients

	Yes		No

(6-12)

Assessment and management of patients with CAPD

	Yes		No

(6-13)

Current issues in noise management, hearing conservation and worker's compensation

	Yes		No

(6-14)

Audiological issues in service provision to Indigenous Australians

	Yes		No

(6-15)

Management of neonatal hearing screening programs

	Yes		No

(6-16)

Wax removal and cerumen management

	Yes		No

(6-17)

Business Issues in Audiology Practice

	Yes		No

(6-18)

Infection control in Audiology

	Yes		No

(6-19)

Supervision and Training issues in Audiology

	Yes		No

(6-20)

Are there any other areas which you would be interested in having the ASA coordinate "specialist training" programs.

(6-21)

Do you have any other comments regarding Continuing Professional Development

(6-22)

Contact Details (OPTIONAL)