About allied health careers
Allied health is part of a passionate multi-disciplinary workforce. Professionals play a vital role in our teams, with almost 2,000 staff across 19 disciplines working collaboratively to achieve the best outcomes for our patients.
The diversity of settings across the District means that there are always new skills to learn, or different clinical areas to try. From inpatients to community services, and across the lifespan, there are professional interest areas for everyone. The geographical scale of Hunter New England LHD provides exciting opportunities to gain valuable and unique experiences in regional and rural areas.
Allied health professions include:
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Clinical supervision and support
Clinical supervision, also known as professional practice supervision, is an important part of being an allied health professional. Hunter New England LHD acknowledges the importance of professional practice supervision and is committed to ensuring all allied health staff members participate in clinical supervision throughout their career.
What is professional practice supervision?
Professional practice supervision is usually provided by a more experienced clinician to a less experienced clinical to improve knowledge, skills, self-reflection, and clinical ability within clinical practice.
It runs across the continuum of a health professional’s career and is part of a lifelong learning journey. It is considered a vital part of healthcare delivery, safety, competence, and confidence in clinical practice.
Frequency and length
The minimum frequency and length of supervision provided in Hunter New England LHD employees will be an average of one hour per month occurring at least bi-monthly.
A greater number of hours and more frequent sessions or other arrangements will be required for new graduates and staff commencing employment in a new area of professional practice.
Contracts
As a staff member of Hunter New England LHD, it is mandatory to have a professional practice supervision contract in place as a requirement of your employment.
Contracts will detail the service to be delivered including frequency, location, duration, and reporting arrangements. This is an agreement between you as a supervise and your supervisor.
Support
We're committed to developing you as an allied health clinician to be the best you can be through:
New graduate and early career opportunities:
- New graduate programs.
- Early Career Rural Generalist Program.
Professional development and ongoing education:
- site-based in-services
- profession and allied health forums
- support to attend external training, conferences, and education
- case review meetings
- online continuing education opportunities
- opportunities are often available at remote sites via videoconferencing.
If you would like any more information regarding professional practice supervision and support options please visit Clinical Supervision | HETI or contact the Allied Health Directorate at hnelhd-alliedhealthdirectorate@health.nsw.gov.au
Allied health scholarships
Level up your allied health career with the various scholarships available here with us at Hunter New England LHD.
Explore our current scholarship opportunities:
Rural Allied Health Assistant Scholarship
Get a $3,000 scholarship to complete the Allied Health Assistant qualification and use funds for associated training fees, technology, travel, accommodation, or childcare.
Allied health assistants are crucial in providing care in our communities and if you're thinking that a career in health could be for you, becoming an Allied Health Assistant in rural NSW is a great choice.
Rural Allied Health Undergraduate Scholarship
Rural Allied Health Undergraduate Scholarships are offered to students from a rural background undertaking "entry-level" studies in allied health (leading to a degree that qualifies the student to practice).
Up to 20 NSW Rural Allied Health Scholarships, valued up to $10,000, are offered each year.
Allied Health Rural Generalist Program Scholarship (level 1)
The Allied Health Rural Generalist Program Scholarship (Level 1) provides financial assistance of up to $12,000 to complete the Level 1 Allied Health Rural Generalist Program through James Cook University. Scholarship funds can be used for course fees, technology or other costs associated with completing this training program within your local health district.
The scholarship is available for new graduates and early career (less than 3 years’ experience) NSW Health allied health professionals working in a rural setting.
Allied Health Rural Postgraduate Scholarship
Scholarships of up to $10,000 are available to fulltime or parttime allied health clinicians employed by, and currently working in, a rural located public health service, to assist with educational expenses directly associated with postgraduate study.
Aboriginal Allied Health Workforce
Hunter New England LHD is committed to Closing the Gap, with the aim to improve the health and wellbeing of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities. It is important to grow the Aboriginal Allied Health workforce as these professionals provide the opportunity to enhance cultural safety for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and help to enhance overall cultural responsiveness and understanding in the system.
The NSW Aboriginal Allied Health Cadetship program is for Aboriginal peoples living in NSW who are undertaking full-time study in an eligible undergraduate allied health qualification, or eligible postgraduate allied health course.
Visit NSW Aboriginal Allied Health Cadetship Application App to express your interest in the Aboriginal Allied Health Cadetship program with Hunter New England.
For any queries about the program, email MOH-Cadetship@health.nsw.gov.au.
Allied Health Work Experience Program
Hunter New England LHD is focused on unlocking the potential of local students and supporting the development of the future Allied Health workforce through the Allied Health Work Experience program. The program offers Year 10 students an opportunity to explore different allied health careers within NSW Health to see what truly sparks interest.
Students will dive into the world of allied health and gain invaluable insights into the diverse roles and responsibilities of allied health professionals.
Allied Health Work Experience Program
We encourage students who are interested in an allied health career to discuss with their school careers advisor about applying for our 3-day program.
Program dates
The work experience program will be held in Tamworth and Armidale on the dates below:
Tamworth:
- Term 2: 5th - 7th June 2024 (Closed)
- Term 3: 4th - 6th September 2024 (Closed)
- Term 4: 6th - 8th November 2024
Armidale:
- Term 3: 16th - 17th September 2024 (Closed)
Before you apply
The Hunter New England Local Health District Allied Health Work Experience program will run in Term 3 and 4 at two locations: Tamworth Hospital and Armidale Hospital.
We are currently only accepting applications from students attending school in these areas and who are able to attend the full 3-day Tamworth program or 2-day Armidale program.
You can register your interest in a program in another HNELHD area by contacting the Allied Health Directorate via email hnelhd-alliedhealthdirectorate@health.nsw.gov.au
Completion of the application form does not guarantee a place in the program. All eligible applicants will be notified by their school about the result of their application.
Correspondence about the program will be through the Hunter New England Health Allied Health Directorate.
Successful applicants will be required to:
- be 15 years old by the time of undertaking the program
- obtain consent from their parent or guardian
- complete the Allied Health Work Experience Program attendance form, including media and image consent, medical management plan (if applicable) as well as permission for long-term follow-up
- sign the student agreement form
- complete the student placement record, as required by the school
- places are strictly limited. Students who are not successful are encouraged to re-apply for subsequent programs.
Who can apply?
We encourage students meeting the following criteria to apply for our Allied Health Work Experience program:
- High school students who attend school in Tamworth or Armidale (or surrounding areas with transport access to these locations)
- Are currently in Year 10
- Interested in one or more allied health careers:
- psychology
- social work and welfare services
- radiography and radiation therapy
- podiatry
- pharmacy
- occupational therapy
- audiology
- speech pathology
- nutrition and dietetics
- physiotherapy
- Aboriginal health worker
- allied health assistant.
How to apply?
Applications for 2024 are currently closed.
For future opportunities, you can complete our Allied health work experience application form.
Contact our work experience team
For more information contact your school’s careers advisor or the work experience team via hnelhd-alliedhealthdirectorate@health.nsw.gov.au
Allied Health Early Career Generalist Program
The Allied Health Early Career Rural Generalist Program is a two-year development program that provides health professionals the exciting opportunity to work across a diverse range of clinical settings within Hunter New England. The program aims to take great clinicians and support them to become excellent, generalist professionals who can confidently provide the highest quality healthcare.
The Allied Health Early Career Rural Generalist Program is unique, offering rural training opportunities and supported professional development that facilitates career progression. Having the chance to rotate through different sites and services across the district allows for broad experiences and skill set development.
Throughout this program, Allied Health professionals are offered the chance to not only make a difference to local communities but shape the future of rural healthcare. Working on quality improvement projects, with innovative practices such as telehealth models, and being involved in service development and evaluation are some of the other benefits of being involved in this program.
Who can apply?
Allied Health professionals who have completed their qualification within the past 3 years in the following disciplines:
- social work
- occupational therapy
- physiotherapy
- podiatry
- speech pathology
- nutrition and dietetics
For further information on the program, contact: hnelhdalliedhealthdirectorate@health.nsw.gov.au.
Meet the team
Contact us
To learn more about Allied Health opportunities email Aly Holt, Hunter New England LHD Allied Health Recruitment Coordinator: Alexandra.holt@health.nsw.gov.au.