Analysis of the Australian Allied Health workforce in regional areas
Teresa Lynne1 1Rural Locum Assistance Program, Canberra, Australian Capital Territory, Australia
Abstract
Introduction
It is generally acknowledged that Australians living in regional, rural and remote areas are disadvantaged in terms of health care.
Method
Health workforce data for 2021 was reviewed and analysed in the context of Allied Health practitioners working in five geographical ‘remoteness’ areas: Major Cities, Inner Regional, Outer Regional, Remote, and Very Remote.
Results and Discussion
There were approximately 173,000 registered Allied Health practitioners, spread across twelve professions. Roughly 22% were working outside major cities which aligns with the fact that about one in four Australians live in a non-metropolitan area. However, around 93% of all Allied Health practitioners worked in Major Cities and Inner Regional Areas combined, leaving less than 12,000 serving other areas. Half of the professions (Physiotherapists, Psychologists, Pharmacists, Paramedics, Occupational Therapists and Radiation Therapists) account for 86.5% of the overall Allied Health workforce and this percentage remains relatively constant across all geographies. Notably the proportion of Pharmacists, and perhaps unexpectedly, Physiotherapists and Occupational Therapists, is relatively consistent across all remoteness areas. Of the remaining six professions, some have no representation at all in Remote and Very Remote areas. As expected, numbers of Paramedics and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Practitioners tend to increase with greater remoteness. Also somewhat surprising is that 4% of practitioners working in Very Remote areas are Radiation Therapists; undoubtedly some distance from the nearest linear accelerator!
Conclusion
It can be hypothesized that perceived disadvantages in health care are specifically due to a lack of Medical Practitioners in regional areas rather than Allied Health professionals. Further, enhancements to Allied Health scope of practice may improve the situation.
Biography
Teresa is a highly qualified, widely experienced health professional who has recently transitioned back to ‘grass roots’ practice. Now working as a locum pharmacist, she has re-discovered the joys of living and working in regional Australia. In the process she has come to more fully appreciate the healthcare challenges facing those living in ‘real’ Australia and become an advocate for the rural health workforce.