On this page you will find various resources to assist rural and remote allied health professionals.
Australians will soon be able to add their Medicare card to the digital wallet in the myGov app.
We released the new myGov app last year. The app has a digital wallet where people can securely store some government digital cards and certificates. People can already use the wallet to store their Centrelink concession and health care cards. READ MORE
From 1 March 2023, there will be amendments to sixteen MBS items for the assessment and treatment of Complex Neurodevelopmental Disorders (such as Autism Spectrum Disorder) and eligible disability services.The assessment and treatment items (82000, 82005, 82010, 82015, 82020, 82025, 82030, 82035, 93032, 93033, 93035, 93036, 93040, 93041, 93043 and 93044) will be amended to:
The Better Access to Psychiatrists, Psychologists and General Practitioners through the Medicare Benefits Schedule initiative (Better Access) has been running since November 2006 and takes the form of a series of item numbers on the Medicare Benefits Schedule (MBS). The MBS lists the services for which the Australian Government provides a rebate to consumers to assist them in meeting the costs. Each service is associated with a schedule fee, and the rebate is paid as a percentage of the schedule fee. READ MORE
All PHNs support the development of this Framework and have contributed through consultation input. Hunter New England and Central Coast Primary Health Network (HNECC PHN) was the lead for this initiative, with key input from other members of the Steering Team for Allied Health in Primary Care Engagement Framework (STAHF). STAHF members include Central Eastern Sydney PHN, Eastern Melbourne PHN, Nepean Blue Mountains PHN, North Queensland PHN, Sydney North PHN, Primary Health Tasmania, Western Sydney PHN, Western NSW PHN, and Western Queensland PHN. READ MORE
Australia’s universal healthcare system, Medicare, started in 1984. Much has changed in the four decades since, but the government’s approach to general practice – the backbone of our health system – hasn’t kept up. READ MORE
ADEA NDSS Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Worker/Health Practitioner Mentoring Program
The ADEA First Nations Mentoring Program aims to provide culturally safe and appropriate professional development opportunities for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Workers and Practitioners to develop and use diabetes knowledge. The Program is an important component for developing and sustaining satisfying professional careers of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Workers and Health Practitioners. Read more here
ClinEdAus aims to support high quality clinical placement experiences for allied health students and supervisors through the provision of open access, contemporary evidence-based clinical education resources that support clinical education across all allied health professions. Read more here.
Allied health treatment cycle
From 1 October 2019, referrals for DVA clients to allied health services will be valid for up to 12 sessions or a year, whichever ends first.
This new 'treatment cycle' is being introduced to promote quality clinical care for veterans so they have the best possible prospects for living a healthy life. The treatment cycle places the client at the centre of care and the general practitioner (GP) as the care coordinator. It provides a framework for better coordination and communication between GPs, allied health providers and clients. These arrangements ensure health care and allied health treatment is the most appropriate for the client's needs.
Treatment Cycle Information Leaflets, the leaflets provide targeted information for the following groups:
Discussing Choices – Indigenous Advance Care Plans – A Learning Resource acts as a culturally safe and practical case study for professional health, Aboriginal and community workers on ‘how to’ support and complete Advance Care Plans for end-of-life care in Indigenous communities. Watch the resource video here.
Read about the impact of the healthcare and social assistance industry in regions. To read the report click here.
The Extra Mile is designed to help make your transition to rural practice as smooth as possible.
From Christine Franklin, author of The Extra Mile, "If you pick up my book I hope you will discover the very essence of what I love so much about rural health - that the breadth and depth of professional and personal experience that this area of health can offer is unlimited. As much as it will challenge you, rural health has the potential to take you places you may never have imagined possible".
This eBook has been developed as a powerful learning tool and is based on the 2016 Review of Illicit Drug Use Among Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander People. It is the second eBook part of a suite of digital tools and new platforms to deliver knowledge and information to the sector. The eBook is a tactile, sensory tool which provides multiple ways of utilising the latest technology to assist learning about this important topic. The eBook has been created for Apple devices such as iPads, iPhones, laptop and desktop computers. It is free to download from iTunes and via the AODKC. Please click here to download(link is external). To further your knowledge about this important issue, please access the report and animated infographic of the eBook here(link is external).
To access other AODKC resources click here(link is external)
Community Resourcing has been funded to provide an online collaborative space for initially 1000 Community Care providers but with an eye on the world. This funding follows on from the success of our State-wide Smart Assistive Technology Sessions in 2014. As a result of the success Community Resourcing has been engaged once again by the Queensland Government Department of Communities, Child Safety and Disability Services to establish The Community Care Smart Assistive Technology Collaborative –this exciting and innovation online platform.
This platform is available to Community Care providers and provides a space to collaborate, learn and access resources and expertise. This platform contains local, state, national and international linkages and resources.
The focus on local, national and international community care practices and experiences with incorporating Smart Assistive Technology in service provision will ensure participants are able to access leading edge and contemporary information.
Access Satcommunity(link is external)
Health professionals will have access to new clinical practice guidelines to help them identify and treat mental health problems following National Health and Medical Research Council’s approval of guidelines developed by beyondblue: the national depression initiative.
In the previous government, then Minister for Mental Health and Ageing Mark Butler welcomed the release of the two clinical practice guidelines addressing depression and related issues, and said that the Gillard Government had a strong commitment to making sure that people who are dealing with mental health issues receive the best possible care and treatment. “These Guidelines will assist health professionals across Australia to identify and respond to depression and mental health risks for young people and mothers. “One guideline will provide guidance in the effective treatment of depression amongst the traditionally hard to target group of adolescents and young adults aged 13 to 24 years. The second will assist primary and maternity care health professionals provide care to those in the perinatal (around birth) period to improve quality of life for mothers and their babies.
The beyondblue Clinical Practice Guideline: Depression in Adolescents and Young Adults and Clinical Practice Guidelines for depression and related disorders – anxiety, bipolar disorder and puerperal psychosis – in the perinatal period were partly funded by the Australian Government.
Copies of the Guidelines are available from beyondblue
A unique educational resource specifically developed for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander stroke survivors and their families:
In 2010-11, the Department of Health (DoH) engaged Healthcare Management Advisors to develop the 'Supervision and delegation framework for allied health assistants' (the framework). The framework has been developed through research and broad stakeholder consultation and provides information and guidance to enhance the utilisation and development of the allied health assistant role (AHA) across health and community services throughout Victoria.
The framework incorporates the breadth of views and opinions of the varying stakeholders who took part in the consultation process from a variety of health care settings in rural and metropolitan Victoria.
The framework is available on the Vic Health Workforce website by clicking here.
DoH has also undertaken a number of activities to promote the uptake of the framework and is currently in the process of developing an additional web page which will provide AHA related information and resources, including the framework.
