Supporting an emerging workforce: characteristics of rural and remote therapy assistants in Western Australia

Multidisciplinary therapy assistants (TAs) are an emerging but poorly understood rural and remote allied health workforce. As an aid to planning and support of TA programs in rural and remote Western Australia (WA), the number, locality and a range of practice variables of rural and remote TAs in WA were determined.

Survey questionnaire.

Rural and remote regions of WA.

Allied health professionals, TAs, TA coordinators and managers of allied health in country regions of WA.

Information was gathered on TA location, qualifications, employing organisation, allied health disciplines TAs work with, supervision practices, role and work scenarios.

Ninety-eight TAs were identified in rural and remote WA with a further 23 vacant TA positions. Most TAs work across multiple allied health disciplines, half are located at a distance to their supervisors, and very few have a recognised qualification for their TA work.

A substantial rural and remote TA workforce was found. A range of TA characteristics were identified that have considerable relevance to the future planning of TA initiatives in rural and remote WA.