SARRAH exists so that Rural and Remote Australian communities have Allied Health services that support equitable and sustainable health and well-being.
Your rural health career begins here
Join SARRAH
Tailored professional development resources for allied health professionals, assistants and students working in remote and rural clinical practice.
Be a rural or remote employer of choice: build workforce and service capacity with SARRAH’s corporate member program.
Outreach or out-of-reach?
Access to Occupational Therapy Services in Australia
More than half a million Australians are missing out on essential occupational therapy (OT) services simply because of where they live, according to a new national report commissioned by Services for Australian Rural and Remote Allied Health (SARRAH).
The report, Outreach or Out‑of‑reach? Access to Occupational Therapy Services in Australia, reveals that over 550,000 people live more than 30 minutes’ drive from an occupational therapist, with the vast majority living in rural, remote and very remote communities.
Children, older Australians, people with chronic conditions, unpaid carers and First Nations communities are among those most affected. In very remote areas, nearly two‑thirds of residents have no access to an occupational therapist at all within a reasonable travel distance.
The report, Outreach or Out‑of‑reach? Access to Occupational Therapy Services in Australia, reveals that over 550,000 people live more than 30 minutes’ drive from an occupational therapist, with the vast majority living in rural, remote and very remote communities.
Children, older Australians, people with chronic conditions, unpaid carers and First Nations communities are among those most affected. In very remote areas, nearly two‑thirds of residents have no access to an occupational therapist at all within a reasonable travel distance.
Occupational Therapy Workforce Access Interactive Tool
Charles Sturt University has developed a new, interactive tool to explore geographic access to Occupational Therapists in Australia. You can search by state and federal electoral boundaries, Primary Health Network boundaries, and even by local government area.
SARRAH 2026
The 16th National Conference for Rural and Remote Allied Health
The 16th National Conference for Rural and Remote Allied Health
9 - 11 November 2026, Coffs Harbour NSW
ABSTRACT SUBMISSIONS STILL OPEN!
SARRAH 2026 Keynote Speakers
Stay tuned for more announcements!
The Hon. Emma McBride
Assistant Minister for
Rural and Regional Health
Rural and Regional Health
Adj Prof Nicole Turner
NSW Aboriginal Woman
of the Year 2026
of the Year 2026
Assoc Prof Geoff Argus
Deputy National
Rural Health Commissioner
Rural Health Commissioner
The Hon. Pat Conaghan
Federal Member for Cowper
Learning for Purpose with SARRAH
Developed by a panel of experienced rural and remote clinicians and educators, Rural and Remote Practice Foundations is your go-to resource for allied health professionals, assistants and students making the move to remote and rural clinical practice.
The SARRAH Leadership Program, developed in collaboration with the Australian Rural Leadership Foundation, is a facilitated online group learning program covered in approximately 20 hours.
You will learn about your leadership style and develop capabilities to empower teams and navigate change in rural and remote allied health settings.
You will learn about your leadership style and develop capabilities to empower teams and navigate change in rural and remote allied health settings.
Retain a skilled rural and remote workforce and build service capacity with an allied health rural generalist training position. Learn more about how SARRAH is working with health and education sector partners to advance the Allied Health Rural Generalist Pathway.
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