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Physician Assistants in Australia. Function and Friction in Australian Healthcare: An Integrative Review
Shannon Widderick1, Amy-Louise Byrne2, Tracy Flenady3
1Central Queensland Hospital and Health Service, Rockhampton, Queensland, Australia.
Introduction:
Australia's ongoing healthcare workforce shortages have prompted exploration of alternative models of care. One such model is the Physician Assistant (PA), a role established and trialled internationally but inconsistently implemented in Australia.
Objective Design:
To examine the role, function and professional positioning of PAs within the Australian healthcare system.
Design:
Integrative review, guided by Whittemore and Knafl's (2005) framework.
Findings:
Limited evidence of PA use in Australia was found. Of the identified literature, findings reveal that PAs have contributed across diverse clinical settings in Australia, including emergency departments, surgical units, and primary care, particularly in underserved and rural areas. Their scope of practice has spanned diagnostic, procedural, and care coordination roles, delivered under varying levels of medical supervision.
Conclusion:
There is limited evidence on the use of PAs in Australia. Despite some positive outcomes, significant barriers, such as professional resistance and concerns about patient safety, role ambiguity, and lack of national regulation, have hindered broader adoption.
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