Tell us a bit about your story – your professional journey and experiences working with AHAs 

I am a PhD qualified podiatrist of 30+years. My interest in AHAs started at the Victorian DHS, as project manager to develop the Victorian Assistant Workforce Model, followed by the Supervision & Delegation Framework for AHAs and the support workforce in disability.    

I was the AHA Advisor at Monash Health, looking after 120 AHAs, now working in the disability sector as General Manager for Therapy Services. One of my key areas of interest is to grow the AHA workforce in disability, with new and innovative AHA roles. 
 

What has been a defining event or highlight of your career/experiences?  

As a single, full-time working mum, completing a PhD in Footwear and Falls that eventuated in an AHA-led footwear prescription program. 
 

Can you tell us about your involvement in establishing AHANA?  

I am very excited to be part of AHANA as I see AHAs as the future for sustaining and growing the health, disability and aged workforce. There are amazing opportunities and it's very exciting to be a pioneer in this space with you all. 
 

What have some of your learnings been through the process of establishing AHANA?

Consult with the people on the ground, always for the richest information.

A big challenge will be nationally-standardising processes as we all do things a bit differently and are at different levels of maturity, but we all are keen to do it. 
 

Why is establishing a national network for AHAs so important? Where do you see it heading in the future?  

AHAs need to be at the table with a voice to contribute to the national conversation and strategies around health, disability and aged care workforce decisions. AHAs are just as important as the AHPs in the future of health service delivery across the sectors. AHANA gives AHAs that voice. 
 

What’s your vision for the future AHA workforce?  

There is so much more AHAs can do! The future is very exciting. We need to think more innovatively about what AHAs can do and where they can add value. 
 

Is there anything else you would like to tell us?  

Watch this space, we are just getting started!