Global Perspectives: A SLP's Journey Working Abroad #5 (Location: Hong Kong, China)
In our fifth week in our SLP’s working abroad series, we have Imogen. She moved from Australia to Hong Kong and here she discusses her process in moving and describes her motivation to move abroad.
Thank you Imogen for sharing your experience with us!
What is your name, pronouns, and your job/professional title?
Imogen Dean (she/her); Speech-Language Pathologist
Tell me about yourself. Where did you initially move from (before you worked abroad) and what graduate school did you attend?
I grew up in regional Australia, and attended the University of Newcastle. In my third year I was awarded a scholarship to complete an exchange in Asia, one of only two allied health students in the country to receive this. I initially had dreams of moving somewhere like Bhutan, but realistically my options were Hong Kong or Singapore. So in 2016 I moved to Asia, completed internships in China and Vietnam and studied a semester at the University of Hong Kong.
Why did you become a SLP?
I initially trained in Musical Theatre. I have always loved performing and have an extensive background in voice, singing, and performance training. When I decided that wasn’t the right path for me (too much competition for this little human!) my Mum who is an OT suggested I look into speech-language pathology.
What city and country do you currently work in, what setting do you work in (e.g., international school, clinic, university, research, etc.), and what age range do you currently work with? How long have you been working abroad?
I currently live and work in Hong Kong, an amazing and thriving city! I’ve been here full time since the beginning of 2018. After working in a school and a private clinic, in 2020 I decided to take the leap and open my own business. I have worked for myself since and couldn’t be happier! My caseload is primarily paediatric but I have recently seen an increase in my adult caseload, which I love. I provide accent and intelligibility services, voice and performance coaching, and gender affirming voice care.
What type of cases do you typically work with (e.g., AAC, multilingual, articulation, Autism, feeding, cognition/swallowing, etc.)?
Speech, language, AAC, fluency, voice (disorders and gender affirming care), and intelligibility. A lot of my paediatric caseload are from multilingual families and I also have a notable caseload of neurodiverse kiddos.
Where did you apply for this SLP international job and how was the application process?
I initially applied for a maternity cover position in an international school, as a way to get me back into Hong Kong. I interviewed online with the full time SLP and the head of Learning Support. After this I reached out to a bunch of private clinics in Hong Kong and interviewed face to face for my next position (which was higher stakes as it would give me my full-time visa!). Fortunately both interview processes ran smoothly and secured me a professional foothold in Hong Kong.
What did the process look like for you to move abroad (e.g., obtaining visas/work permits or sponsorships, finding a place to live, moving, SLP licensure, etc.)?
I initially came to HK on a working holiday visa, but needed to switch to a sponsored visa as soon as possible. Fortunately this was possible, and I was soon able to apply for a spousal visa through my partner which opened the door for me to start my own business. SLP licensing in Hong Kong is very easy, particularly if you are registered with a known SLP board such as Speech Pathology Australia or similar. Finding somewhere to live was relatively smooth for me as I had met my (now wife) while on my study abroad period. So I was able to move in with her on my return to Hong Kong.
What motivated you to pursue work opportunities abroad as an SLP?
I have always wanted to explore working overseas, but didn’t realise how many opportunities are actually out there. I love working in a multicultural mish mash of a city, meeting interesting people and having the opportunity to travel freely around Asia and beyond. I was nervous about making the leap, especially as a new graduate, however having met my partner was a huge motivator and we agreed on one year to see if it worked - 5 and a half years later and I’m still here!
How does the pay rate, cost of living, and quality of life compare to living in your home country?
The pay in Hong Kong in private practice is somewhat higher than in Australia, but the biggest factor is tax. Tax here is limited to a maximum of 16%, which means that you take home so much more of what you earn! The cost of living is high (particularly in regards to rent) but there are ways around it. I live in a village on an island where rent is significantly lower than in the city, we have buffalos grazing outside our window and the city is only a 30 min ferry ride away. Additionally, I feel like the cost of living in Australia has increased to an almost comparable level over the last few years.
What specific challenges do you face working abroad as a SLP?
I feel like strong referral pathways can be more difficult to find, particularly when most people are working in the private sector. I have really benefited from using peer mentoring with my friend in Australia to help me define appropriate referral pathways for complex cases. There are also less clearly defined scopes of practice here, so you need to have a very clear idea of what you are and aren’t able to provide, as the odds are that you will be asked to do something outside of that!
As my paediatric therapy is highly play based, and I’m doing my best to provide intervention which is neurodiversity affirming, my sessions often don’t look like what people here are expecting. In Asia there can still be a very traditional “sit still and listen” approach to learning, and it’s been a journey for me learning how to explain to parents that just because their child isn’t sitting at a desk, that they are still learning, communicating, and connecting. Not everybody is open to my approach, so I’ve had to had very clear rationale for why I make the clinical decisions I do. This has meant that I’ve also had to be able to explain these concepts to parents in a clear and non-confrontational way, and accept that it may not appeal to all families here.
What are your favorite things about working abroad as a SLP?
The people I get to meet (especially in a city as vibrant as Hong Kong!) and the ability to travel so freely. I can pop to Thailand for a weekend and be back at work on Monday morning.
What are the most significant differences between practicing as a SLP in your home country versus abroad?
I don’t know if I’m the best person to ask, as I moved abroad immediately after graduation.
How does your experience working abroad influence your perspectives on diversity and cultural sensitivity in speech-language pathology?
Hugely. I am working with families from all different backgrounds - there is a thriving expat community in Hong Kong so I see children from a range of cultural and linguistic backgrounds - French, Argentinian, Indian, German, South African, American, to name a few. As well as working with many local bi- or tri- lingual Cantonese and Mandarin speaking families. I have had to learn how to work with culturally diverse communication styles and also approached this in my thesis where we looked at cultural implications of delivering parent-lead therapy (the Lidcombe Program) in mainland China.
What advice would you give to other SLPs who are considering working abroad for the first time?
Do. It. Take the leap, it will be terrifying but the experiences you will have will shape you as a person and a practitioner forever.
How do you handle homesickness or any potential challenges related to being far away from family and friends?
Covid was difficult. Prior to that I was seeing my family a few times a year, but during Covid I didn’t see any of them for 2.5 years which was really really challenging. I try to find time to call or at least message once a week, but family is definitely the biggest factor involved when I consider moving back home. In the end I love my life here and I know my family are proud of the path I have trailblazed, so they are supportive even though I know they miss me a lot.
Any other information, stories, and experiences that you would like to share?
When I was initially looking at moving to Hong Kong I was not excited. I thought it was a big, smelly, noisy city and nothing else. And while it is a big, smelly, noisy city, it also has the most incredible cultural diversity, amazing beaches, mountains, and country parks, a thriving social scene, and is literally the land of possibility. As well as opening my own business I’ve written and published a children’s book which doubles as a speech sound screener, worked in training student barristers to improve their performance skills, and started professional voiceover work on the side. The opportunities here are genuinely endless.
Can SLPs contact you for more information? How can they contact you?
I am actually looking to hire in the next 6-12 months as my company grows! If you are a speech-language therapist who is interested in moving to Hong Kong, and particularly if you are eligible for a working holiday visa, I would love to hear from you!
You can email me at: imogen@imaginespeechlp.com; WhatsApp: +85265879692;
Website: imaginespeechlp.com ; Instagram: @imaginespeechlp
