Mrs Roanna O'Hara1
1Murrumbidgee Local Health District, Wagga Wagga, Australia, 2NSW Health.
Biography:
Roanna is the Allied Health & Disability Manager for Murrumbidgee Local Health District (LHD), a rural LHD covering a large geographic portion of New South Wales. A Physiotherapist by clinical background, Roanna also holds a Master of Health Science specialising in Stroke Management, and a Master of Health Leadership & Management. She is passionate about advocating for rural Allied Health clinicians, ensuring they are well supported in their roles regardless of geographical location.
Abstract:
The NSW Health Principles of Allied Health Governance document provides a framework for considering the efficacy of Allied Health Governance structures, within a complex public health organisation. Strategic, Operational, Clinical and Professional Governance domains are outlined, with principles and key components outlined for each domain.
Murrumbidgee Local Health District utilised this document to undertake a self-assessment across a range of clinical services, including its base hospitals, district hospitals, multi-purpose services and streamed community-based services.
A range of strategies were utilised to inform the self-assessment, including one on one interviews with operational line managers, focus groups with Allied Health professional leads and broad stakeholder engagement with Allied Health staff.
The self-assessment identified variations between sites and services depending on existing operational and professional structures, highlighting opportunities for improvement and areas of success.
The results of the self-assessment were themed and developed into a suite of 18 high level recommendations to strengthen Allied Health Governance within the local health district.
Executive endorsement and sponsorship for the recommendations was sought and are progressively being implemented through a shared work plan led by the Allied Health advisory group.
Since June 2024, this work plan has demonstrated significant improvements in a range of governance principles, including student placements, education and training, availability and implementation of clinical supervision, allied health involvement in clinical auditing, representation of Allied Health on facility and district committees, and fostering a sense of Allied Health connectedness through forums, orientation pathways, and communication initiatives.