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Tuesday 2 March 2010

TAFE NSW Riverina Institute’s Director Rosemary Campbell (on left) and GSAHS Acting Chief Executive Dr Maggie Jamieson (on right)

Greater Southern Area Health Service (GSAHS) and TAFE NSW Riverina Institute signed a Memorandum of Understanding on Thursday 4 March to continue delivering an award-winning training program which is addressing the rural allied health workforce shortage in the bush.

The innovative Rural Allied Health Assistant's project is training Allied Health Assistants to support and enhance the delivery of allied health services in rural and regional NSW.

The project won two awards at the 2009 National Accolades for Excellence from the Community Services and Health Industry Skills Council (ISC).

GSAHS Acting Chief Executive Maggie Jamieson said attracting and retaining allied health professionals to rural and regional areas is a challenge for communities across Australia.

"A new qualification in Allied Health Assistance created several years ago by the Community Services and Health Industry Skills Council gave us the opportunity to develop a rurally-focused solution to workforce challenges," Dr Jamieson said.

This created the opportunity for school students to complete a school-based nationally accredited Certificate III in conjunction with Riverina Institute as part of the Higher School Certificate, move to employment and training in while studying the Certificate IV with the Riverina Institute and then progress to the new Bachelor of Health and Rehabilitation Science with Charles Sturt University - all without leaving their local area.

"Using a traineeship model has allowed us to recruit people from local communities without the need to relocate. Creation of a career structure for people in rural settings is critical to building and retaining skilled health workers in regional Australia," Dr Jamieson said.

Trained Allied Health Assistants can provide clinical support to Allied Health Professionals, including physiotherapists, occupational and speech therapists, podiatrists and dietitians. The professional assesses the client and develops a care plan while the assistant works with the client to carry out the care plan.

Assistants also undertake routine tasks such as administration, equipment maintenance and ordering, which frees allied health professionals to see more clients.

The Certificate III Allied Health Assistance course is currently offered at Riverina Institute's Cootamundra Campus with plans to extend it to its Griffith Campus next year.

"We have excellent facilities which mimic contemporary hospital settings.

These give students good hands on experience in a realistic environment explained Riverina Institute Director Rosemary Campbell. "Our strong partnership with Greater Southern Area Health Services makes sure the program is completely in sync with industry requirements."

The first six high school students, from the Cootamundra, Junee and Temora areas, graduated in 2009.   Seven GSAHS staff have completed the Certificate IV in Allied Health Assistance with another 11 staff currently studying the course.

The Certificate IV is offered from Riverina Institute's Cootamundra Campus using a flexible distance education delivery model of 'on the job' training and assignments.

Newly qualified Allied Health Assistants are now being employed to work mainly in chronic care and rehabilitation in health facilities across GSAHS.