A national plan to empower allied health professionals and enable more connected care for Australians has been released today by the Australian Digital Health Agency (the Agency) and the Department of Health, Disability and Ageing, with support from Allied Health Professions Australia.
The National Allied Health Digital Uplift Plan sets out a coordinated pathway to uplift digital capability across the nation's allied health workforce so that Australians can benefit from their broad care teams sharing key health information between them.
Agency CEO Amanda Cattermole PSM said the plan is a call to action - supporting allied health professionals to embrace the digital tools and services that are becoming available to them as part of the shift towards a more digitally connected, collaborative and data-driven system, designed with Australians at its centre.
"Allied health professionals form the largest workforce in primary care and the second-largest clinical workforce nationwide. In collaboration with peak bodies and industry, government is providing the tools to enable the sector to transform their way of providing care," Ms Cattermole said.
"Empowering professionals with training and support, and integration with tools like My Health Record and Provider Connect Australia, will strengthen multidisciplinary care and enable a more sustainable, integrated health system that delivers better outcomes for all Australians."
Chief Allied Health Officer Anita Hobson-Powell said that allied health professionals work in tandem with other health and care providers but experience delays in receiving key health information for their patients.
"This plan will make a real difference for Australians, particularly those living with complex or chronic health conditions," Ms Hobson-Powell said.
"By improving the way health information is shared and accessed, allied health professionals can provide more timely, coordinated and personalised care. Ultimately, this means better support and outcomes for people who rely on a range of health and care providers to manage their health."
Agency Chief Program Officer Paul Creech PSM said the plan is the result of close consultation with over 220 allied health professionals, 60 peak bodies, consumers, software vendors and government stakeholders.
"By engaging in meaningful conversations and truly listening to everyone involved, we've ensured the plan gets it right for allied health professionals, delivering infrastructure that suits their needs, smoother registration, hands-on training, and secure ways to share information," Mr Creech said.
"These initiatives will help ensure that digital healthcare solutions are accessible, intuitive, and relevant across all care settings, including for culturally diverse and remote communities.
"The Agency is encouraging allied health professionals to access tailored assistance and practical guidance to register and connect to digital health tools like My Health Record and Provider Connect Australia.
"Allied health professionals are essential to delivering integrated, joined-up care for all Australians, enabled through digital technology. The National Allied Health Digital Uplift Plan sets the path to deliver on this vision."
Explore the National Allied Health Digital Uplift Plan and its many resources, take action, and help create a more connected, person-centred health system.
