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The Allied Health Rural Generalist Pathway

A multi-jurisdictional strategy to advance the concept of an Allied Health Rural Generalist Pathway (AHRGP) has been under development since 2013. The collaboration involved in developing the AHRGP brings together health and education sector partners from across Australia.

Plenary panel discussion

National Allied Health Conference - SARRAH Presentation videos

This panel discussion was held during the National Allied Health Conference on 11 August 2021, and features representatives from organisations participating in the Allied Health Rural Generalist Pathway. Click on the thumbnails to access 5-7 minute presentations on aspects of the pathway.

Ilsa 3 Image 

Ilsa Nielsen, Principal Workforce Officer, Allied Health Professions’ Office of Queensland
 gemma T Gemma Tuxworth, Principal Project Manager

Allied Health Rural Generalist Pathway, SARRAH
 Hanna Image Hannah Mann,  Kimberley Pharmacy Services
Broome, WA
 Hamish and Mandy Image

 Rural Generalist Trainees

Hamish Pemberdy, Physiotherapist, Riverland Mallee Coorong Local Health Network SA Health

Mandy Colless, Occupational Therapist, Marathon Health, Dubbo NSW
 AlI Dymotte Image 1  Evaluation

Aly Dymott, Lecturer, School of Occupational Therapy, Flinders University, SA

 The overarching goal of the Allied Health Rural Generalist Pathway strategy (AHRGP strategy) is to improve health outcomes for rural and remote consumers through increasing access to a highly skilled allied health workforce and enhancing opportunities for multi-disciplinary care in rural healthcare teams.

The three areas of focus for the AHRGP strategy include:

  1. Rural generalist service models that support and engage allied health professionals to implement innovative and effective solutions to the challenges of delivering care across geographically dispersed and culturally diverse populations. This aims to support the growth of allied health service models that meet the needs of rural and remote communities.
  2. Workforce policy and employment structures that align to development requirements and facilitate progression from entry-level competency to proficient rural generalist in the relevant allied health profession and into extended scope roles where this is required by the service. This aims to improve the recruitment and retention of allied health professionals in rural and remote services with a focus on supporting the AHRG Training Position incumbent.
  3. A formal education program that supports the development of the clinical and non-clinical rural generalist practice requirements of the relevant allied health profession. This aim enhances the skills and capabilities of the allied health workforce to meet the challenges of delivering services in rural and remote areas.

The objective of the AHRG Pathway strategy is to scope, develop, trial and embed rural generalist service, workforce/employment and education models for allied health professions.

Key Resources

  1. Allied Health Rural Generalist Training Positions – An Overview
  2. Rural Generalists in Allied Health Professions
  3. Allied Health Rural Generalist Pathway Multi-Jurisdictional Strategy
  4. Establishing Allied Health Rural Generalist Training Positions
  5. Role Descriptions and Recruitment to AHRG Training Positions
  6. Roles and Responsibilities Associated with the AHRGP Strategy
  7. Career Opportunities for Rural Generalist Allied Health Professionals

A range of templates are also available to support health services and commissioning bodies to implement allied health rural generalist training positions.  The templates are available from SARRAH on request.  Health services can also contact SARRAH for advice and support to develop and implement allied health rural generalist training positions.

Additional Resources

The following includes additional information about the AHRGP including the design, evaluation and implementation of the pathway.

Webinar 

Experiences and Outcomes of Rural Generalist trainees in QLD, NSW and TAS(link is external)

Development

Implementation and Evaluation

Other Websites

Acknowledgements

The Allied Health Rural Generalist Pathway is a collaborative initiative of the Allied Health Professions’ Office of Queensland (AHPOQ), New South Wales Ministry of Health, Northern Territory Department of Health, Western Australia Country Health Service and Department of Health Western Australia, Country Health South Australia, Tasmanian Health Service, Victorian Department of Health and Human Services, James Cook University, Queensland University of Technology and Services for Australian Rural and Remote Allied Health (SARRAH).

Further Information

Please contact SARRAH if you require more information on the allied health rural generalist pathway.

Email: ahrgwes@sarrah.org.au

Phone: 1800 338 061

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