The release of Australia’s Primary Health Care 10 Year Plan 2022–2032 (the Plan) recognises that allied health professionals have a key role to play in reforming Australia’s primary care system. The Plan highlights the need to shift from a treatment-based system to one focused on prevention and wellbeing. Allied health workers can facilitate this by working as part of multidisciplinary teams to improve access to services, improve integration, safety and quality of care as well as improve cost-effectiveness and reduce the burden on the tertiary health system.
Primary Health Tasmania engaged HMA to develop a strategic approach to its engagement with Tasmanian allied health providers. The purpose of the engagement strategy was to define methods of engagement between Primary Health Tasmania and the allied health sector from the level of the individual provider or practice, through to peak bodies. In doing so, it will allow Primary Health Tasmania to understand the priorities of the sector, how these priorities align with Primary Health Tasmania’s strategic goals, priority health areas and priority populations. Key tasks for this project included:
The project commenced in December 2022 and was completed in April 2023.