SARRAH, established in 1995, is a grassroots’ organisation advocating on behalf of rural and remote Australian communities in order for them to have access to allied health services which support equitable and sustainable health and well-being.
SARRAH is nationally recognised as the peak body representing rural and remote allied health professionals (AHPs) working in the public, private and community sectors. SARRAH exists to support equitable and sustainable health and well-being across regional, rural and remote Australia.
SARRAH develops and provides services for AHPs to carry out their professional duties confidently and competently and to provide a range of clinical and health education services to people who reside in these settings.
SARRAH’s representation comes from a wide range of tertiary qualified allied health professions (AHPs) who apply their skills in preventing, diagnosing and treating diseases, health conditions, illnesses and injuries.
AHPs are critical to patient centred and enabling health care, in the management of clients’ health needs, including in relation to chronic disease and complex care needs.
SARRAH maintains that every Australian should have access to equitable health services wherever they live and that allied health professional services are fundamental to the well-being of all Australians.
In the 21st year of SARRAH, 2016, it was decided time to take stock and consider what the organisation has achieved over the years. 10 prominent members - past presidents and other significant contributors - were interviewed for their perspectives. Their interviews highlighted that SARRAH has:
SARRAH has always been about networking, bringing people together with common cause to try to improve health services for rural and remote Australians.
SARRAH has given us an effective seat at the table so, as rural and remote AHPs, we are no longer ‘out of sight, out of mind.
SARRAH has been very actively engaged at the political level. We’re now well known in Canberra by politicians of all political persuasions and by senior bureaucrats.
The SARRAH conferences have been pivotal in bringing people together to share information, debrief, and empower one another to take chances and advocate.
The rural allied health scholarships have been huge for SARRAH in terms of providing a valued program and for the SARRAH brand.
The SARRAH web resource, Transition to Rural Practice, was noted as being a particularly useful tool for AHPs new to rural and/or remote health care roles.
Two projects cited as being recipients of pivotal support from SARRAH have been the Indigenous Diabetic Foot project and the North-west Queensland Allied Health project.
