Investigation of the Allied Health Workforce in Tasmania

All members of the Tasmanian allied health and oral health workforce working in the public sector, private sector, employed under an Australian Government funded program or in the not for profit sector are invited and encouraged to participate in this study of the clinical and therapeutic allied health and oral health professions.

Data collection has commenced in this joint University Department of Rural Health and Department of Health and Human Service project which aims to develop a comprehensive allied health and oral health workforce profile for Tasmania.

A key to improving the health of Australian communities is well planned and integrated health services. Allied health professionals are essential members of the health team serving these communities. Planning successful health services that meets the needs of disparate metropolitan, rural and remote communities is improved by accurate, detailed and contemporary workforce information enabling a match of health need to workforce supply. However, in the case of the allied health professions, the ability to plan services is hampered by the quality and availability of allied health information.

Allied health: Aboriginal Health Worker, Audiologist, Chiropractor, Dietitian, Exercise Physiologist, Medical Laboratory Scientist, Nuclear Medicine Technologist, Occupational Therapist, Optometrist, Orthoptist, Orthotist or Prosthetist, Osteopath, Paramedic, Community or Hospital Pharmacist, Physiotherapist, Podiatrist, Psychologist, Radiation Therapist, Radiographer, Social Worker, Sonographer or Speech Pathologist.

Oral health – dentists, dental therapists.
The study, which has received ethics approval from the Human Research Ethics Committee (Tasmania), will provide data for Tasmanian health workforce planning and reform. Members of the Tasmanian allied health and oral health workforce can participate by completing a brief but concise questionnaire either online or by hardcopy.

Why participate?
By participating in this study you will ensure that the workforce reports are as comprehensive as possible. You will have a direct impact on Tasmania’s health outcomes by ensuring that the allied health workforce data being used in workforce planning to meet health service needs, education and training requirements, and to implement the Tasmanian Health Plan is as accurate as possible.

You may complete the questionnaire either online or by hardcopy. To obtain a copy of the questionnaire if you have not already done so and for further information please contact Shelagh Lowe, Associate Lecturer Allied Health, Ph: 03 6324 4000, Email: Shelagh.Lowe@utas.edu.au.