Allied health professionals are integral to the delivery of high quality multiprofessional services that address the health needs of rural and remote communities. However, there are known challenges to small allied health workforces delivering services to widely dispersed populations. The concept for a national Allied Health Rural Generalist (AHRG) Pathway has been advancing since 2013. It is a workforce and service development initiative pursued through a cross-jurisdictional collaboration that includes state and territory health services from across Australia.
Health service partners involved in developing the AHRG Pathway identified the need to have a benchmark for rural generalist education and training programs. A common understanding of the capabilities and competencies developed in rural generalist education and training programs was needed to allow health services to integrate the qualification into industrial instruments, employment models and business/commissioning processes.
AHHA was engaged to develop:
- Accreditation standards for education programs providing post-graduate training in rural generalist practice for the occupational therapy, pharmacy, nutrition & dietetics, podiatry, physiotherapy, speech pathology and radiography professions.
- A comprehensive description and supporting resources that will facilitate the implementation of a governance body that is responsible for the standards and for administering the accreditation process.
