Allied Health Courses

Allied Health Courses

From physiotherapy to dietetics, Australia‘s allied health industry is diverse, stable and perfect for anyone looking to work in healthcare without the years of medical school. A career in Allied Health is rewarding and allows you to interact directly with patients to help them become happier and healthier versions of themselves. 

Allied health in Australia

Australia‘s health industry is quickly growing, and as a result the demand is rising for more skilled allied health professionals, allied health assistants and community health support workers. 

By completing an allied health Certificate III or IV, you’ll be eligible to work directly with allied health professionals and their clients, helping to support them through their therapeutic and health programs.

Allied health is made up of a wide range of disciplines such as:

• Speech pathology
• Occupational therapy
• Physiotherapy
• Nutrition and Dietetics
• Chiropractics
• Community rehabilitation
• Mental health services

Entering the industry as an allied health assistant or an occupational therapy assistant is a great way to explore the various specialisations within allied health while still making a difference in peoples’ lives.

Allied health industry outlook?

Allied health describes a wide variety of healthcare practitioners that are (usually) not considered to be part of the dental, medical, or nursing professions. 

There are currently around 200,000 allied health professionals working across the country and together they provide approximately 200 million health services each year. While many work for themselves in private practice, others can be based anywhere from schools, hospitals, and mental health facilities right through to aged care homes and community health centres.

According to the latest Australian Government data, the majority of Allied Health professions will experience strong growth over the next 5-10 years. Furthermore, Australia’s population is ageing rapidly – with 1 in 6 Australians now 65 years or older – which means that the need for skilled and qualified health professionals is sure to rise dramatically over the coming years.

Most of Australia’s allied health professionals work regular business hours in clinic-type settings, although evening and weekend work is also sometimes required. The rate of pay varies widely according to your role; for example, an allied health assistant salary usually starts at around $55,302, physiotherapists earn roughly $70,000, while chiropractors bring home an average of $85,000.

Allied health job outlook

A Certificate III or IV in Allied Health is a great way to gain an entry-level role in the allied health industry, such as an assistant or community worker role. Those who wish to become an allied health professional in their field will need to complete further study such as a Bachelor or Postgraduate degree. The following are just some of the many jobs considered to be part of allied health:

• Community support worker
• Mental health worker
• Disability service office
• Chiropractor
• Dietician
• Occupational therapist
• Physiotherapist
• Speech pathologist
• Caseworker
• Social welfare worker
• Support facilitator
• Occupational therapy assistant
• Physiotherapy assistant
  

How do you get trained in allied health?

To legally practice allied health in Australia, the right training through an RTO is a must. Most Allied Health assistants and community service workers complete a Certificate III or Certificate IV qualification, both of which require work placement and can be studied both full-time and part-time. 

For those who wish to receive more training after the Certificate IV level, may choose to continue on with a Graduate Certificate or Diploma qualification. In this course, you will boost your skills, knowledge, and confidence dramatically. Most diplomas also include a practical component where you will gain invaluable experience and contacts. 

Many Allied Health courses are offered online. It’s important to note, however, that these online courses also include in-person work placement requirements.Most of these TAFE courses have no entry requirements and even offer recognition of prior learning for those who may already have some experience under their belt. 

To check your eligibility and for more course details or information about enrolment, enquire about one of our Allied health courses today!