In Australia, the role of Allied Health Assistants (AHAs) is integral to the delivery of quality healthcare services, yet the profession still faces significant challenges due to lack of standardisation, inconsistent training standards, and limited recognition in funding models. With approximately 25,000 AHAs operating under various state and territory awards, the need for cohesive regulation and recognition has never been more pressing.
AHAs play a vital role in supporting allied health professionals, delivering essential services to diverse patient populations, including older adults, individuals with disabilities, and those transitioning from hospital care. Despite their importance, AHAs operate under disparate state and territory frameworks, lacking standardised training and even ANZSCO occupation codes, which hampers workforce utilisation, visibility and policy development.
To address these issues, the Allied Health Assistant National Association (AHANA) has established standards for Practicing AHAs, ensuring qualifications, experience, and quality assurance measures. AHANA has also been instrumental and guiding the Australian Bureau of Statistics review to assign a distinct ANZSCO code to AHAs, signalling visibility of the profession and enabling better workforce tracking.
Co-regulation, wherein government and employers recognise AHANA as the standard-setting body for Practicing AHAs, is essential. This recognition would enable AHAs to access funding models akin to those available to allied health professionals, fostering consistency in employment and remuneration.
Currently, many allied health professionals who are a registered member of their association can access a provider number which gives them access to funding from certain bodies, such as NDIS, My Aged Care, Medicare, private health insurance, and state-based insurance services. However allied health assistants do not have access to these funding models; thereby limiting the utility of AHA and the optimisation of healthcare services. Options for co-regulation of AHAs might include a provider number or a funding package that includes care provided by an AHA.
It is in the interests of governments to support professional association certification schemes where they have the capacity to improve the safety, quality and competence of the health workforce. Governments also have an interest in ensuring the most cost-effective use of limited health funding and can use these co-regulatory arrangements to promote the most efficient and effective division of labour in healthcare.
By strengthening co-regulatory partnerships with government agencies, AHANA's certification program can enhance the quality and quantity of allied health services. AHANA’s Practising AHAs, recognised under government programs, would facilitate more efficient division of labour within healthcare, allowing allied health professionals to focus on complex cases while AHAs handle routine tasks. AHA co-regulation will help address unmet needs in the community, improving patient access to healthcare by providing cost effective and efficient services.
AHANA's certification scheme ensures quality care, public safety, professional ethics, and continuous professional development among AHAs. Recognition by government programs would bolster public confidence in AHAs and increase their employability and funding opportunities.
Government co-regulation of AHAs is essential for standardising the profession, enhancing workforce visibility, and ensuring equitable access to funding and employment opportunities. By recognising AHANA's certification program, governments can promote quality healthcare delivery, optimise resource utilisation, and meet the evolving needs of the population.
To achieve co-regulation, dialogue between AHAs, their employers, allied health professionals, government stakeholders, and funders is crucial. Proposed models include recognising AHAs as service providers with specific funding item numbers and restricting reimbursement to AHANA’s Practising AHAs. However, considerations such as award structures, funding mechanisms, and healthcare financing reforms must be addressed.
An Industry Reference Group will be formed for AHANA’s Organisation Members to progress a proposal to the Federal Government to establish co-regulation for the AHA workforce. If your organisation employs, educates or supports Allied Health Assistants then please join AHANA so we can advocate, and involve you, in progressing co-regulation for the AHA workforce.