Cassie Mahon Ireland

What interested you about speech and language therapy? 

After completing my undergraduate in psychology, I worked for a health and social care company in Ireland. I was a senior support worker for adults with autism and/or learning disabilities, and often with physical needs. Most of the service users were non-speaking; however, this did not mean they were not communicating!  

I spent most of my 2.5 years there trying to facilitate new methods of communication between the service users and the staff, including using a signed system (Lámh - designed specifically for children and adults with learning disabilities and communication needs in Ireland), visual schedules (using objects, photographs, icons, or words to map out a sequence of events), ‘First and Then’ boards (a simple visual tool that teaches sequencing and motivates task completion), and a powered Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) device. One of my best and proudest memories from my role was when a service user asked to go swimming using a sign for the first time! You best believe we immediately went to the pool. It was after this that I realised that I wanted to dedicate my time to helping people communicate in whatever method works best for them and supporting those around them to do so.  

Why did you decide to study MSc Speech and Language Therapy (SLT) at QMU? 

As I already have an undergraduate degree, I wanted to move on to a master’s. The only master’s in SLT in Ireland was at the same university as my undergraduate, so I wanted to go further afield. Scotland is the right place - a different country so I can still travel, but close enough that I can be home for dinner if needed. The process of moving country was pretty straightforward too. 

What do you most enjoy about your course at QMU? What has been the highlight so far? 

The highlight of my course was my many placements - there are five placements embedded into the course, and another 80 hours of essential community volunteering too. These placements gave me a range of opportunities, from working in an adult acute hospital to working with a private paediatric SLT. They let me work in a variety of settings, with different client caseloads and different teams. I worked closely with all my practice educators (supervisors) and they all made me feel like part of the team, allowing me to share the knowledge I gained throughout my university experience. They also increased my contacts within SLT in Scotland. SLT is a small profession where everyone knows everyone - this will hopefully come in handy when I start applying for jobs! 

I have made so many friends during my two years on this course. The cohort is small, with only 25 in my class, so there have been lots of opportunities for socialising. We are encouraged to mingle with the other years too through the SLT society in the Students’ Union - the more friends the better! 

How have your lecturers supported your learning? 

Our lecturing team is small, so they knew who we were quickly. This made it easier to get the most out of classes - I always felt comfortable asking questions. The lecturers use a range of teaching methods, from the simple seminar to group discussions, interactive quizzes, workbooks, and YouTube videos, making sure there is a method that works for everyone.  

Most of the lecturers are either part-time practicing SLTs or used to be practicing SLTs, so they can bring real-world examples into their teaching. This makes it a lot easier to understand some of the theories. We have had guest speakers talk about their experiences after having a stroke, going through treatment for a voice disorder, or having a neurodivergent child who needs extra support. These help solidify that we are being trained to help real people with real-world consequences - we are taught to be person-centred, holistic, and solutions-focused.  

The team is friendly and approachable - they want us to succeed! They are easy to contact either through email or chatting after class. The Programme Leader is also very accessible, with a well-monitored email and in-person drop-ins scheduled throughout the semester. She wants to hear about any struggles we are having, but also about our wins!  

What has been the most valuable lesson that you have learned at QMU so far? 

The most valuable lesson I have learned is that it is not possible to know everything, and you are never expected to know everything. Something we heard often from our lecturers was “I don’t know the answer but let me find out” - they were honest in their scope of knowledge, which showed that we can and should be too. It is important to know where your knowledge stops and the need for research comes in - this will make you a better clinician.  

Have you been a part of any extracurricular programmes during your time as a student at QMU? If so, how has it helped you develop skills and experience? 

I was the class representative for my cohort for two years. This meant I was the liaison between my class and the staff team, bringing up any issues we were facing and suggesting ways to fix them, while also being the point of contact if the staff team needed anything from us as a class. This role allowed me to build skills such as negotiation, prioritisation, problem-solving, leadership, and, of course, communication - all of which are essential as a practicing SLT.  

In my second year, I was a peer-assisted learning (PALs) leader. A classmate and I hosted classes in some first-year modules for our MSc1 counterparts. These involved revising the main topics, coming up with new and (hopefully) interesting ways to remember and understand the information, and most importantly, offering a safe space for students to ask questions. As we had been through the modules ourselves recently, we were able to support the students with anything they may have been struggling with. I built and developed skills such as public speaking, coaching, time management, organisation, and again communication, all of which will stand to me when I am working as a SLT.  

What’s your ‘top tip’ for making the most of being a student? 

To make the most of being a student at QMU, you should grab all opportunities as they come your way - I became a class rep, was a PALs leader, took part in some open day events for prospective students, was part of the revalidation process for the updated MSc course, and even created this student testimonial. University is about more than just academic learning; it’s also for building experience and soft skills that will support you in your career.  

Also, use your student discount anywhere you can! 

What are your plans after graduation? Tell us about your ambitions and where you see yourself in the future? 

I will be staying in Scotland for a while, with hopes of getting a job in adult acute or adult community settings. Although I enjoyed my paediatric placements too, so I won’t be too fussy at the start! Eventually I hope to specialise in dysphagia (difficulty swallowing), as eating and drinking is a core part of the SLT role that is often overlooked. 

I will go back to Ireland after a few years and see where I go from there! 

Find out more about our Speech and Hearing Sciences postgraduate courses at QMU.