A Guide to Becoming an Allied Health Assistant
Allied health assistants are invaluable team members in any multidisciplinary allied health organisation. If you’re considering a career in therapy, especially behaviour therapy, consider working as an allied health assistant.
In this guide, we’ll outline what allied health assistants do and how you can get started on the path to becoming one.
Allied health assistants – who are they and what do they do?
The easiest way to understand the role of allied health assistants, sometimes called therapy assistants or behaviour therapists depending on their area of specialisation, is to support other health professionals by coordinating programs, implementing therapies and/or aiding with behaviour plans.
On any given day, allied health assistants can be involved in a number of tasks:
- Monitoring clients’ developments, health and welfare, including putting together reports.
- Preparation and coordination of behaviour, therapy or treatment plans.
- Working with parents, guardians, advocates, and support workers.
- Provide assistance and administrative report to other allied health professionals and clinicians.
Allied health therapists work with clients of all ages, all abilities and all backgrounds to help them achieve their therapeutic goals and live a happier and more meaningful life.
Therapy assistants work across a range of companies and organisations, including both in the public and private sector. Some examples include schools, community health centres, hospitals, private allied health centres etc.
While some assistants specialise in providing support to one particular clinical discipline, many work with a range of professionals, such as occupational therapists, speech pathologists and psychologists.
Becoming an allied health therapy assistant
Qualification
In Australia, it is generally required to have some level of qualification to work as a health assistant.
One of the more common courses, therapy assistants complete include Certificate III in Allied Health Assistance which also includes a practical, work experience component.
Many employers will have additional requirements such as National Police Checks, NDIS Worker Screenings, Working with Children Checks or immunisation histories.
To further your skills and knowledge, and further your career, you can study a Certificate IV in Allied Health Assistance or even choose to specialise further in the various allied health disciplines available including:
Therapy assistants at One Central Health
Our therapy assistants are invaluable contributors to not just our team but to the lives of our clients. In fact, many of our professional clinicians began as assistants working right here at OCH! Find out more about behaviour therapy and the great work our allied health assistants do today.