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The Allied Health Rural Generalist Pathway | Services for Australian Rural and Remote Allied Health

The Rural Allied & Community Health Team in Gayndah (Wide Bay HHS) has participated in state-wide trials since 2014 of the Allied Health Rural Generalist Pathway, including redesign of existing positions into Rural Development Pathway and Rural Generalist Training Positions, and implementation of service improvement projects to support the learning of the trainees and to provide tangible benefits for the local community.

Simultaneous development and expansion of allied health assistant roles in Gayndah and outlying service centres and increased use of Telehealth is increasing access to allied health services across the region.

Aim

  • Implement an “own grown” workforce approach that facilitates recruitment when unable to recruit to senior allied positions in our rural location.
  • Attract base level allied health professionals to rural roles through a recognised training position.
  • Support training in rural generalist clinical and service capabilities relevant to the local community and service setting, to enhance skills of early career allied health professionals.
  • Increase access to allied health services for rural consumers in the Wide Bay HHS including expanding the range of services available “closer to home”.
  • Improve the quality and safety, appropriateness, efficiency and sustainability of rural and remote allied health services.

Benefits

Workforce:

  • The Gayndah team has had good recruitment pools for advertised rural generalist training positions, and strong engagement from existing staff to transition to training roles.
  • A training focus is being embedded in the team at all levels – not just rural generalist positions.
  • The Allied Health Rural Generalist Pathway is being embedded in the team structure and culture and is providing continued impetus for innovative service development strategies.

Service development:

  • Service development initiatives have produced positive outcomes for clients including greater local access to services across the region.
  • Allied health assistant roles have been created in seven communities and provide service continuity between outreach and Telehealth -supported allied health interventions. Service and clinical outcomes have been positive (see “Evaluation” section for data).
DATE: 2021
REGION: QLD
ORGANISATION: Queensland Government
Target Sector: Allied Health
Priority Population: Regional and Remote

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