The Role of Allied Health Assistants
Allied Health Assistant – an extra support for your child and family to achieve your goals
With the huge demand on paediatric allied health services across Australia, Allied Health Assistants (AHA’s) have emerged as an important way for kids and families to be able to get access to supports to help them with their needs and to achieve their goals.
Read on below to find out more about the ways Allied Health Assistant supports may enhance your child and family’s care.
What is an Allied Health Assistant?
Allied Health Assistants (AHA’s) are trained workers who work under the supervision and delegation of an Allied Health Professional (as in, under the guidance and supervision of a physio, an occupational therapist, speech pathologist or psychologist).
What do Allied Health Assistant’s do?
AHA’s help Allied Health Professionals to implement therapy plans and provide ongoing care to clients. Sometimes the AHA will work alongside or under the direct supervision of the therapist, like in joint appointments where the therapist and AHA are working together supporting the same client. Sometimes the AHA will deliver supports independently to a client, by following the guidelines provided by the therapist, and collaborating and liaising between the family and the therapist when needed. And other times the AHA might be working behind the scenes to develop resources for individual clients as prescribed by the treating therapist.
Some examples of how our Allied Health Assistant’s support children and families:
Providing regular direct therapy to help children and families, by following the program or guidelines provided by the child’s treating therapist. This is often helpful when a child needs regular, consistent practice to work towards a goal. Direct therapy might happen in the child’s home, in the community, in our clinic, or as a hydrotherapy session.
Creating AHA programs for clients, which the AHA’s develop in conjunction and under the supervision of the child’s treating therapist. Each program is reviewed and signed off by a qualified therapist before the AHA implements it with the child.
Monitoring the child’s progress over time, and report any changes or issues with the child’s treating therapist.
Running or assisting in the running of group programs, under the guidance of, or alongside a qualified health professional.
Being a ‘second set of hands’ during appointments when a child’s needs require more intensive hands on facilitation or engagement
Developing resources for children and families to assist them in their daily lives, such as visual prompts, social stories, monitoring charts, therapy activities the child can complete, or learning tools.
As you can see, AHA’s play a crucial role in ensuring high-quality care for our clients and their families.
What are some of the benefits of seeing an Allied Health Assistant?
Increased access to regular or consistent therapy supports: AHA’s provide a great opportunity for children to access more regular therapy to help them practice their therapy activities and achieve their goals. AHA’s allow primary therapists to focus on assessment, planning and developing individualised treatment approaches, and the AHA’s help to implement the treatment plans with consistency.
Facilitation of skills development across disciplines: AHA’s work closely with children and families during therapy sessions, assisting in various activities, sometimes across multiple focus areas or disciplines. AHAs help kids gain confidence and independence by gradually increasing their involvement in therapy activities. They also bring creativity and energy to sessions to assist children to engage in the therapy activities.
Cost-effective care: By delegating tasks to AHAs, our clinic can improve efficiency and reduce costs for families. This makes it easier for families to access the frequency of care they need at a lower cost.
Enhanced communication across the team: AHAs act as a bridge between therapists, children, and their families, ensuring everyone stays informed and involved in the child's therapy journey. This open communication fosters a supportive network that prioritises the child's well-being and ensures the child’s ongoing care is meaningful and effective.
Direct support for families: AHAs provide families with guidance, education, and resources to help them support their child's therapy journey at home. This holistic approach ensures that families feel empowered to help their child thrive.
Move and Play Paediatric Therapy offer Allied Health Assistant services to support the care of our clients and their families. All of our Allied Health Assistants at Move and Play have a high level of experience, work under the direct guidance and supervision of our qualified Physio’s, OT’s and Speech Pathologists, and are supported by our ongoing in-house professional development and mentoring program. Their contributions enhance the overall therapeutic experience for children and their families, making a huge difference in the lives of our young clients.
If you are interested in accessing Allied Health Assistant services as part of your child’s or family’s therapy plan, please contact our team or speak with your child’s treating therapist.