Allied Health Professionals – Career, Scope & Salary
There’s a term or phrase in the medical profession that’s becoming more and more prominent these days, and that’s the term “allied health professionals.” It’s become a vital and trending sector of the medical field and something you’re likely to hear more and more about in the months and years to come.
This article will look at the industry of allied health, including what it is exactly, allied health professional jobs, along with the scope and salary when it comes to careers in this field.
What Does Allied Health Really Mean?
The term “allied health” or “allied health professionals” is quite a new term and a rather broad one. There are some 200 million healthcare services delivered in Australia each year by approximately 195,000 allied healthcare workers.
Generally speaking, when most people think about the medical profession, job roles such as doctors, nurses, specialists, and surgeons always come to mind first. These are not the roles of allied health professionals, although those working in allied health will certainly interact with and liaise with these medical professionals from time to time while caring for patients and clients.
Those who work in allied health perform many pivotal roles, and we’ll be covering some of those roles and careers in the next section. Everyone who works in allied health is a trained professional in their respective field.
Essentially, the role of allied health professionals helps in the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of a broad range of illnesses and conditions. Roles can also include things like home care and rehabilitation.
Examples of Some Allied Health Jobs
Let’s now look at just some of the important yet typical jobs and careers in the field of allied health. There are a lot of different careers in allied health, too many to list here, but here’s a snapshot of the type of roles allied health professionals perform:
- Aged care;
- Chiropractic care;
- Arts therapy;
- Exercise physiology;
- Disability support worker;
- Dietetics;
- Music Therapy;
- Osteopathy;
- Optometrist;
- Physiotherapy;
- Social Worker;
- Rehabilitation;
- And many more…
As you can clearly see, there are many varied job roles and professions when it comes to allied health, and the above list is really just a small slice of the jobs available within this industry. All of these professions – along with doctors, nurses and specialists – give clients and patients every facet of healthcare required. Allied health, combined with traditional medicine, provides a comprehensive range of professional healthcare.
Where Do Allied Health Professionals Typically Work?
Just as the job roles in allied health are varied, so can the locations of where these workers may be employed. Some are self-employed professionals who work out of their own office or practice, such as a physiotherapist or a chiropractor, for example. At times, the role of an allied health professional may see them working in a hospital or a local clinic.
Other allied health professionals work within the home of a client, such as a disability support worker who is charged with the day-to-day care and support of someone living with a disability. Other locations where an allied healthcare worker may work include:
- Community health centers;
- A school or university;
- Nursing homes or homes for aged care;
- Palliative care facilities;
- And others…
What Can Allied Health Professionals Expect To Get Paid?
Wondering what the pay rates for people working in allied health might be? Well, the answer to this question is as varied as the roles in allied health itself. What we can do is look at some current averages for salaries in allied health Australia.
Presently, the average median salary for an allied health professional is around $100k per year, with salaries ranging from about $80k right up to $106k. These figures will certainly vary, depending on things like whether it’s an entry-level position, the worker’s experience, the type of job or career, where they are employed, and so on.
The Wrap
A career in allied health can be both lucrative and personally rewarding. It’s a field with a lot of scope for variety, career advancement, and a positive lifestyle that makes a difference in the lives of others. If you’re looking for a healthcare career, allied health might be the perfect industry for you.
