Allied health professionals play a vital role in primary care, delivering accessible, connected and person-centred care that supports the health and wellbeing of people across our community.

This year’s theme, Allied health: For everyone, everywhere, highlights the breadth of allied health care and the important role allied health professionals play across communities, settings and stages of life.

SEMPHN is proud to continue strengthening its relationship with allied health professionals, helping to build capability, improve connections and support participation across the broader primary care system.

Simon Storey, a physiotherapist and Senior Program Officer (Governance and Reporting) at SEMPHN, said his experience working within the organisation had highlighted the breadth of programs and initiatives involving and supporting allied health professionals across the region.

“Having come from the aged care sector, I have a particular interest in SEMPHN's work in dementia, mental health, palliative care and Care Finder programs, and it is encouraging to see the important role allied health professionals play across these initiatives. The GP Multidisciplinary Team (MDT) program is another exciting example of how SEMPHN is supporting more integrated and collaborative care."

SEMPHN supports allied health professionals in a range of ways, including:

• Education and professional development – access learning opportunities relevant to allied health through our Events Calendar.
• Commissioning opportunities – stay up to date with opportunities to participate in commissioned programs and multidisciplinary models of care by subscribing to SEMaphore.
• Provider and practice support – access advice, resources and support to help navigate primary care initiatives and local service requirements. Contact Providersupport@semphn.org.au.
• Digital health support – receive support with digital health systems, tools and capability that enable better connected care and information sharing. Contact digitalhealth@semphn.org.au.
• Referral guidance – access local referral information and clinical guidance through SEMPHN’s Clinical and Referral Guidance Hub.
• Engagement and consultation – allied health professionals contribute to SEMPHN through advisory groups, councils and our own workforce, helping to inform programs, initiatives and engagement with the sector.
• National Allied Health Engagement Toolkit – access a PHN developed resource designed to help allied health professionals better understand and navigate the local primary care system.

“I think many allied health professionals would be surprised by the range of support available through SEMPHN, from education and training opportunities to networking, quality improvement initiatives and programs that strengthen multidisciplinary care,” explained Simon.