Cairns, Alice, Kylie Stothers, K. S., Gibson, Paul, Debenham, James, Topp, Stephanie, Campbell, Narelle, Toll, Lauren, Malcolm, Heather, and Stephen, Jena (2025) Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander Allied Health Co-Workers: A Possible Role in Advancing Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health and Well-Being. Australian Journal of Rural Health, 33 (5). e70096.

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Abstract

Aim: To propose the novel role of Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander Allied Health Co-Worker to address an urgent unmet need in rural and remote Australia that focuses on disability, rehabilitation and preventative health needs in a unique cultural context. Context: Allied health and therapy assistants represent a rapidly expanding workforce with considerable potential to relieve workforce shortages and address urgent and unmet healthcare needs in rural and remote Australia. However, the current recognised roles of “Allied Health Assistant” or “Therapy Assistant” are incompatible with the needs of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities. Approach: This commentary prosecutes the case that for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander families and communities, the allied health assistant role should be adapted to an Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander Allied Health Co-Worker (AHCW). The AHCW would provide allied health clinical care within the scope of an allied health assistant, as well as cultural brokerage and leadership to support the cultural needs of the people and communities with which the services are interacting. Recommendations are proposed for sustainable implementation of this role. Conclusion: It is proposed that Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander Allied Health Co-Workers' roles and appropriate recognition of their cultural leadership roles be introduced and embedded in health and disability employment policies.

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