Ready to practice in hospitals? Insights into developing a co-designed intensive model for student learning

Southern Cross University introduced its first Bachelor of Speech Pathology program in 2013 but with the university experiencing attrition and lower success rates, a new pedagogical approach and innovation was needed. To address these issues, Southern Cross University implemented an intensive block model of education which consists of six terms that are 6-week long to increase enrolment and success. This model was called the Southern Cross Model (SCM). This article describes how speech pathology used codesign with hospital-based clinicians to modify their curriculum from a traditional 13-week semester to intensive terms where there is a component of self-directed learning accompanied by interactive tutorials and workshops. A case study is provided specifically looking at hospital settings, and the process involved in supporting a cohort to be ready to practice. Feedback from content designers, tutors, clinical educators and students is provided to identify the process and the impact of this change and plans for future evaluation are identified.