A series of regional forums to discuss education and training needs of allied health across Tasmanian communities will be held throughout October.
The Expanding Allied Health Offerings project is being led by the College of Health and Medicine’s School of Health Sciences, and is designed to identify and develop allied health training and education programs which respond to needs of the State.
Kendra Strong, Chief Allied Health Advisor for the Department of Health, said “to help improve and transform health outcomes for Tasmania, the Department of Health is working closely with the University of Tasmania to create education and training programs which assist entry-to-practice qualifications in allied health, and help practitioners with ongoing studies and professional development opportunities.”
Allied health professionals from a range of organisations (e.g. private, public, non-government) across various specialties (e.g. acute care, paediatric, aged care) and disciplines (e.g. physiotherapy, occupational therapy and dietetics) are invited to participate in the forums.
“Allied health professionals are integral to the health of Tasmanian communities, playing an important role in supporting the complexities associated with persistent chronic diseases and injuries,” Head of the College’s School of Health Sciences Professor Nuala Byrne said.
“In partnership with industry, we are wanting to deliver education and training needs, which deliver direct benefit to Tasmania’s regional and urban communities.
“The project team has met with allied health leaders from across a number of different sectors, including health, disability and developmental delay, and education, identifying areas where support is needed for future education and training.
“We now want to work with allied health professionals from across Tasmania to help identify, co-produce and create the right education and training programs which respond directly to need.”
The allied health regional community forums will be held on the North West Coast (21 October), Launceston (22 October) and Hobart (23 October).
