New education pathways for allied health professionals are being developed at Port Pirie, the Mid-North, Mildura and the Riverland through the College of Nursing and Health Sciences.

Allied health services in these areas will soon benefit from the local workforce being bolstered by aspiring occupational therapists, physiotherapists and speech pathologists being able to study and train within the regions, thanks to the development of new health courses at Flinders in 2024.

The new programs – Bachelors of Allied Health Sciences in Occupational Therapy, Physiotherapy and Speech Pathology – have been developed as part of a co-design process with rural and remote community members, to ensure that graduates are career-ready for the local communities they serve.

Students of the new programs will be educated about providing support and services that improve health outcomes of Indigenous communities, while bringing important cultural knowledge and value to allied healthcare in remote regions.

Professor Chris Brebner spoke to ABC Radio about the new programs and benefits they will bring to the region.

To learn more about the Regional Allied Health Courses, click here.