Mr Nathan Fox1, Ms Cheryl-Ann Bennett1
1Rural Support Service, Sa Health, Adelaide, Australia
Biography:
Nathan is an experienced allied health leader and physiotherapist with a passion for workforce strategy, leadership and rural health. As Allied Health Strategy Consultant with SA Health’s Rural Support Service, he has co-authored the 2025 SA Health Allied Health Assistant Framework, the 2024 Regional LHN Rehabilitation Model of Care, and has led the development and implementation of several key workforce initiatives. Nathan brings over 14 years of clinical and strategic experience and is committed to advancing high-quality, sustainable allied health services across regional South Australia.
Cheryl-Ann Bennett is the Manager of Strategic Clinical Change at the Rural Support Service (RSS), South Australia. With over 18 years of experience in SA Health, including 15 years in the Limestone Coast Local Health Network as a dietitian, Cheryl-Ann has built a strong foundation in service delivery and system improvement. Her passion for clinical leadership was sparked through opportunities to work across professions and diverse roles, leading to a project focused on strengthening allied health clinical leadership across regional Local Health Networks. Cheryl-Ann is committed to creating opportunities that support and empower allied health clinicians, strengthening their voice and highlighting value.
Abstract:
Developed by SA Health’s Rural Support Service and Flinders University, the INVEST Clinical Leadership Framework (INVEST) specifically supports clinical leadership growth in allied health professionals (AHPs), empowering them to fulfil their clinical leadership potential across the career spectrum.
Opportunities for AHPs to exercise clinical leadership exist at every level of an organisation. However, poor understanding of clinical leadership, and its influence on personal and professional development, result in its underutilisation in AHP growth. This can lead to missed opportunities to better address known AHP workforce challenges including career progression, job satisfaction, and attraction and retention.
Consistent with SA Health strategic and workforce plan objectives, INVEST aimed to address the current absence of an allied health-specific clinical leadership framework, and deliver a comprehensive, evidence-based process to support AHP clinical leadership development. INVEST outlines clinical leadership pathways and workplace opportunities, empowering AHPs in shaping future healthcare leadership.
Comprising of six domains, INVEST reflects the scope of AHP clinical leadership:
– Improve Self
– Nurture Others
– Value Teams
– Engage Collaboratively
– Strategic Outlook
– Transform Systems.
These domains are underpinned by 120 leadership statements, across 4 capability levels (Foundational, Emerging, Consolidating, Expert). Two documents supporting the use of INVEST have been developed:
– The ‘Self-INVEST’ self-assessment tool: supporting determination of AHP clinical leadership capability.
– Clinical Leadership Development Plan: connecting areas of growth identified from Self-INVEST with workplace and formal training opportunities, to support clinical leadership skill development.
This novel INVEST Framework will empower AHPs to shape healthcare through clinical leadership.