Bec Priestly

BSP

Bec graduated with a Bachelor of Speech Pathology from La Trobe University in 1995. She began her career in Melbourne, working for the Department of Education and then at The Heidelberg Repatriation Hospital (working with Debbie Phyland). She relocated to regional Victoria in 1996, where she has since dedicated herself to providing service in public health. Being a regional clinician Bec has a broad range of clinical experience, working with communication and swallowing disorders across the lifespan. Her area of special interest is communication disorders of neurological origin, encompassing impairments in language, motor speech and voice.

Bec also has extensive experience supervising other Speech Pathologists, undergraduate Speech Pathology students and Allied Health Assistants. She is passionate about sharing her knowledge and practice with others, to ensure best outcomes for patients.

After 30 years of working as a Speech Pathologist, Bec says that working with patients continues to be the absolute highlight of the job. She loves the challenge of assessment and diagnosis, the satisfaction of observing progress and the connections she builds with patients. She has well-honed skills in providing holistic, patient-centred care.

Bec was delighted to reconnect with Debbie mid 2024 and to be invited to transfer her speech pathology skills gleaned in the medical setting across to the private practice setting. She is a huge asset to the VMA team with her vast wealth of knowledge and experience in neurological and head and neck medical conditions impacting on speech, swallow and voice. She also has a positive thirst for learning and exudes a friendliness that endears her to all.

Away from the Speech Pathology world, Bec can be found travelling with her hubby, spending as much time as possible with their four daughters, reading, cooking and keeping fit.