Gippsland Allied Health Symposium explores ways to improve allied health delivery in Gippsland
The Gippsland Allied Health Symposium held on the 17th of November at Federation University in Churchill, brought together 70 allied health professionals from across Gippsland and beyond to discuss ways to increase the allied health workforce in the region.
The symposium, presented by the Gippsland Allied Health Education Group (GAHEG), showcased the work of allied health practitioners in Gippsland. Highlights included local Gippsland initiatives through the Latrobe Health Assembly, such as the Mental Health Cafe (which came out of the response from the Hazelwood Mine Fire research), and clinical evaluations of allied health work.
Some of the diverse presentations at the Symposium explored themes of mental health, foot care, early childhood development, pain management, LGBTQIA+ health equity, HoloLens technology, and aged care.
Briana Baass, Chief Allied Health Officer of Safer Care Victoria talked about the Victorian Government's work on career pathways while Catherine Maloney, CEO of Services for Australian Rural & Remote Allied Health (SARRAH), discussed the Allied Health Rural Generalist pathway as a way of increasing allied health support for regional areas.
Monash Rural Health was proud to support the Symposium as a silver sponsor, with Dr Clare McHugh, Dr Pam Harvey and Kelly Abbott contributing through their involvement on the Symposium organising committee. Georgea Lehmann and Katherine Vaughan also provided invaluable administrative support. Dr Pamela Harvey presented at the event about aged care allied health placements, while Dr Clare McHugh co-authored a presentation about allied health assistant education and support. 
Dr McHugh commented on the need for more workforce education for allied health assistants.
“Research shows that there is inadequate workplace education for allied health assistants. We hope that this presentation on our work in Gippsland will inspire health services to address the needs of this important group of allied health workers.”
Dr Pam Harvey, Director of Rural Nursing and Allied Health Partnerships, spoke of the importance of this event.
“This Symposium provided a great way to progress discussions about building a more robust allied health workforce in regional areas. Having the availability of allied health workers in rural areas builds the strength of holistic care through early intervention and rehabilitation. Supporting people in their recovery or management of illness or injury prevents the burden on acute health systems, and allied health services are vital in achieving this. Place-based initiatives such as those developed by the Latrobe Health Assembly, also show local ways forward to a more effective and equitable healthcare system for rural people.”