An evaluation of phase one of the Allied Health Rural Generalist Training Pathway has found positive experiences of early-career rural health professionals could help boost rural health workforces in the future.
The program, introduced into SA for the first time last year, is a workforce development initiative for recently-graduated allied health professionals that combines a formal education program with local systems in order to upskill AHPs to care for regional patients.
As part of phase one, experiences of the inaugural 13 early-career AHPs from across the state - who commenced the program in 2019 - were collected to determine the effectiveness, appropriateness, suitability and success of the program in rural SA.
Early outcomes included good job satisfaction in the program participants (averaging 78 out a possible 100), with participants generally very motivated to work across different clinical areas in rural generalist roles.
Furthermore, many of the participants were motivated to undertake their profession in rural areas due to the associated lifestyle, the varied caseload, job opportunities and the ability to work in a public health service.
The overall response to the program has been overwhelmingly positive
- HENDRIKA MEYER
Intentions to stay in rural areas varied among participants, with opportunities to work with a broad range of consumers and in a broad range of areas listed as an advantage, while challenges to likelihood of retention including challenges of professional isolation, short-term contracts, workload and service gaps.
Health and wellbeing minister Stephen Wade said early outcomes indicated the program would support new graduates to work as more advanced rural generalist clinicians.
"Allied health services such as physiotherapy, occupational therapy, podiatry and speech pathology provide important every day support to patients, so we are determined to make sure that care is accessible in regional communities," he said.
SA Health Rural Support Service chief clinical advisor Dr Hendrika Meyer said the AHRGP would make a significant difference to patients living in regional SA.
"We know it is extremely important to boost the numbers of clinicians available across regional SA so communities can receive the care they need without having to travel," she said.
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"The overall response to the program has been overwhelmingly positive, with the recent evaluation providing confirmation that key stakeholders, graduate trainees will benefit from this training pathway."
"Through the training pathway, allied health trainees will extend their knowledge in a range of clinical areas in order to respond to the diverse healthcare needs of rural communities, as well as undertake service development projects with a rural focus.
"This formal education program is designed to develop both clinical and non-clinical skills, with trainees able to gain a Graduate Diploma of Rural Generalist Practice at the completion of the course," Dr Meyer said.
The AHRGP is funded by the Marshall Government's $20 million Rural Health Workforce Plan, and received further funding in February to further support the program and extend the program's evaluation strategies.
The evaluation of phase one can be found here.
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