Key Responsibilities and Required Skills for Open Call for Allied Health Care Workers

🎯 Role Definition

An Allied Health Care Worker delivers specialized clinical services that support diagnosis, treatment, rehabilitation and prevention across diverse patient populations. Working under professional guidance and in multidisciplinary teams, the role combines direct patient care, comprehensive assessment, individualized treatment planning, documentation in electronic health records (EHRs), patient and family education, and quality improvement activities. This open call seeks professionals with strong clinical reasoning, excellent communication skills, and the ability to adapt interventions to meet individual needs while complying with regulatory standards and organisational policies.

📈 Career Progression

Typical Career Path

Entry Point From:

Graduate allied health professional (e.g., newly qualified physiotherapist, occupational therapist, speech pathologist, dietitian, radiographer).
Allied health assistant or therapy aide seeking clinical progression.
Transfer from community health or primary care support roles with relevant certifications.

Advancement To:

Senior Clinician / Specialist Therapist (e.g., Senior Physiotherapist, Advanced Practice OT).
Team Leader / Clinical Coordinator.
Clinical Educator or Mentor.
Allied Health Manager or Service Lead.

Lateral Moves:

Transition into rehabilitation specialties (e.g., paediatrics, geriatrics, neuro-rehab).
Move into diagnostic services (e.g., radiography, respiratory diagnostics).
Shift into community health, public health programs, or telehealth service delivery.

Core Responsibilities

Primary Functions

Conduct comprehensive, evidence-based clinical assessments to identify patient needs, functional limitations, and rehabilitation goals, using validated assessment tools and standardised outcome measures.
Develop, implement and revise individualized treatment plans that align with patient goals, clinical best practice, and multidisciplinary care pathways, ensuring measurable outcomes and discharge planning.
Deliver direct therapeutic interventions (e.g., manual therapy, exercise prescription, activities of daily living training, swallowing therapy, dietary management, respiratory treatments, wound care) tailored to each patient’s condition and stage of recovery.
Accurately document clinical findings, treatment plans, progress notes and discharge summaries in the electronic health record (EHR) in a timely manner, ensuring legal and regulatory compliance with record-keeping standards.
Communicate effectively with patients and families to provide education, self-management strategies, and health promotion advice, including coaching on home programs and community supports.
Coordinate care with multidisciplinary teams including physicians, nursing staff, social workers, and other allied health professionals to ensure continuity and integration of services.
Manage caseloads efficiently, prioritising clinical demands, scheduling sessions, and ensuring equitable access to services for urgent and routine referrals.
Perform clinical reasoning and risk assessments to identify safety concerns (e.g., falls risk, aspiration risk), implement mitigation strategies and escalate care when necessary.
Provide specialist input into discharge planning, transitional care arrangements and community referrals to reduce readmission risk and promote successful community reintegration.
Deliver telehealth and remote consultations using secure platforms, adapting assessment and treatment techniques for virtual care while maintaining patient safety and data privacy.
Participate in multidisciplinary case conferences, clinical reviews, and handover meetings to contribute professional insights and ensure coordinated decision-making.
Comply with infection prevention and control protocols, including PPE use, decontamination of equipment and adherence to organisational and public health guidelines.
Undertake and interpret relevant diagnostic tests or objective measures within scope of practice (e.g., spirometry, functional mobility tests, swallow studies, dietary analyses) and integrate findings into treatment planning.
Supervise, mentor and delegate tasks to allied health assistants, students and volunteers, providing constructive feedback and ensuring delegated activities meet clinical standards.
Participate in clinical audits, service evaluations and quality improvement projects to support service development and evidence-based practice improvements.
Maintain professional registration, mandatory training, and competence in clinical skills through ongoing professional development and reflective practice.
Support medication administration and monitoring where within scope and trained competencies permit, documenting responses and liaising with prescribing clinicians.
Operate and maintain specialised clinical equipment (e.g., therapeutic ultrasound, splinting tools, pressure-relief devices, diagnostic imaging equipment) safely and according to manufacturers’ and local policies.
Advocate for patient-centered care and equitable access, incorporating cultural safety, health literacy and person-first approaches into all clinical interactions.
Contribute to the development and review of clinical guidelines, protocols and care pathways to align practice with current evidence and organisational objectives.
Respond to clinical emergencies (e.g., sudden deterioration, airway compromise) according to local emergency procedures, providing immediate interventions where trained and escalating appropriately.
Support community outreach, health promotion campaigns and school or workplace assessments as part of population health initiatives and early intervention programs.
Prepare and present clinical findings, reports and recommendations for multidisciplinary teams, external agencies, insurers and legal proceedings when required.
Assist in service planning and rostering to support service sustainability, flexibility across sites (including rural/remote locations) and responsive coverage for weekend or after-hours services as needed.

Secondary Functions

Participate in departmental or organisational committees focused on safety, quality improvement, patient experience and workforce planning.
Support data collection for service metrics, patient outcomes and key performance indicators, contributing to reports that inform operational decision-making.
Contribute to education programs for patients, carers and community groups, including the development of written resources, digital content and workshops.
Assist with procurement, inventory management and safe storage of clinical supplies and equipment, ensuring calibration and maintenance schedules are met.
Provide support for research activities, including recruitment, data collection, and adherence to research protocols under appropriate supervision.
Coordinate with external providers, insurance bodies and community organisations to arrange follow-up services, equipment loans, and funding applications.
Deliver in-service training for non-clinical staff on topics such as manual handling, basic communication strategies and recognition of clinical deterioration.
Help maintain clinical spaces to professional standards, ensuring infection control, privacy and patient comfort in therapy areas.
Support recruitment and onboarding of new allied health staff by contributing to orientation, competency checks and initial supervision.
Engage in workforce flexibility initiatives, including cross-skilling and covering allied roles as appropriate within scope and competence.

Required Skills & Competencies

Hard Skills (Technical)

Clinical assessment and diagnostic reasoning using validated tools and outcome measures relevant to the allied health discipline (e.g., Berg Balance Scale, Functional Independence Measure, MMSE, MNA).
Evidence-based treatment planning and intervention delivery across a range of conditions (neurological, musculoskeletal, cardiopulmonary, paediatric, geriatric).
Proficiency with electronic health records (EHR) systems for documentation, scheduling and clinical communication (e.g., Epic, Cerner, MediTech or local equivalents).
Competence in therapeutic modalities and equipment operation (e.g., manual therapy, therapeutic exercise prescription, splinting/orthoses, mobility aids and adaptive equipment).
Infection control and PPE best practices, including decontamination protocols for reusable equipment and aseptic technique where relevant.
Telehealth delivery skills: remote assessment techniques, digital consent, privacy/compliance and adapting interventions for virtual care.
Basic life support (BLS) and, where applicable, advanced life support (ALS) certifications and the ability to respond to clinical emergencies.
Medication administration knowledge within scope (where permitted), including documentation of administration and monitoring for adverse reactions.
Clinical audit, quality improvement methodology and ability to interpret service-level data to drive improvements.
Knowledge of relevant legislation, professional practice standards, confidentiality and mandatory reporting obligations.
Diagnostic test administration and interpretation relevant to role (e.g., spirometry, ECG basics, phlebotomy, imaging protocols for radiography assistants).
Assistive technology assessment and prescription, including fitting, measuring and education for mobility and communication devices.

Soft Skills

Exceptional verbal and written communication skills for patient education, documentation and professional collaboration.
Strong clinical judgment, critical thinking and problem-solving to tailor interventions and adapt to changing clinical presentations.
Empathy, patience and cultural competence to provide person-centered care that respects diversity, health literacy and individual preferences.
Time management and organisational skills for prioritising caseloads, coordinating appointments and meeting documentation deadlines.
Teamwork and collaboration abilities to work effectively in multidisciplinary teams and contribute constructively to case discussions.
Resilience and stress management to maintain high-quality care in fast-paced, emotionally demanding environments.
Coaching, mentoring and teaching skills to support students, junior staff and caregivers in skills development.
Negotiation and advocacy skills to coordinate services, secure resources and support patient access to community supports.
Attention to detail and accountability for clinical governance, compliance and risk management.
Flexibility and adaptability to work across different settings, shift patterns and evolving service models (including community and outreach work).

Education & Experience

Educational Background

Minimum Education:

Diploma or Bachelor's degree in an allied health discipline (e.g., Physiotherapy, Occupational Therapy, Speech Pathology, Dietetics, Radiography, Respiratory Therapy, Laboratory Science) or an equivalent nationally recognised qualification.

Preferred Education:

Bachelor’s degree or higher in the specific allied health profession with professional registration/licensure (e.g., HCPC, AHPRA, state licensure) where applicable.
Postgraduate qualifications, clinical specialisation certificates, or clinical educator training relevant to the role.

Relevant Fields of Study:

Physiotherapy / Physical Therapy
Occupational Therapy
Speech and Language Pathology
Dietetics / Nutrition
Radiography / Medical Imaging
Respiratory Therapy
Clinical Laboratory Science / Medical Laboratory Technology
Podiatry
Prosthetics & Orthotics
Rehabilitation Counselling

Experience Requirements

Typical Experience Range:

0–5+ years depending on role level; entry-level roles may accept newly qualified candidates, while experienced clinician roles typically require 2–5 years of relevant clinical practice.

Preferred:

Minimum 1–2 years of hands-on clinical experience in acute, subacute, outpatient or community-based settings.
Experience working within multidisciplinary teams, contributing to care planning and case management.
Demonstrated experience using EHRs, participating in quality improvement projects and providing telehealth services.
Evidence of professional development, registration with the appropriate regulatory body and clearance to work (e.g., background checks, immunisation records).

If you meet these criteria and are passionate about delivering high-quality allied health services, please respond to this open call with your CV, registration details, and a brief cover letter highlighting your clinical experience and areas of specialty.