The University of Southern Queensland (UniSQ) is expanding its health care programs this year, offering an innovative new program for students looking to break into the health profession as an allied health assistant.
The Associate Degree of Allied Health enables graduates to finish with two qualifications in as little as two years and job certainty within the burgeoning industry.
The program, which starts next month, is part of a suite of new allied health and wellbeing degrees the University has launched at its Ipswich campus to help tackle the shortage of skilled workers in the rapidly growing region and rural and remote areas.
Program director for the new degree Dr Anna Girardi said the degree was designed to ensure students had strong networks with students from other allied health courses and industry experience so they could enter the workforce job ready.
“We wanted to create a degree that enabled students to study core allied health courses alongside students enrolled in the Bachelor programs,” Dr Girardi said.
“Students will be able to select a stream, such as occupational therapy, speech pathology, social work or physiotherapy (commencing 2024), and will have the opportunity to learn from industry professionals while commencing their studies in allied health.”
With a strong focus on rural and regional health, students will cover the foundations of evidence-based practice, human communication, anatomy, physiology, culture, health, illness and working with diverse populations.
Students will graduate with a university qualification and a Certificate IV in Allied Health Assistance, ready to work as an allied health assistant or commence further study in occupational therapy, speech pathology, social work or physiotherapy.
“Allied health professionals represent more than a quarter of the health workforce, and demand for more allied health workers is expected to grow further over the next decade, especially in rural and remote areas,” Dr Girardi said.
“Allied health assistants are integral to allied health professionals being able to perform their role effectively and deliver excellent patient care.
“It’s a rewarding profession; you get to work with people from all walks of life in various healthcare settings.
“Every patient has different needs, which means no two workdays are the same.
“The great thing about the Associate Degree of Allied Health is the opportunity to transition into a Bachelor program following completion, so it opens many doors for students looking for a career in healthcare.”
Do you have a healthy interest in helping people? With a bigger world focus on health than ever, start a career in allied health with UniSQ’s Associate Degree of Allied Health.
