STRENGTHENING community ties, managing workloads effectively, and delivering timely professional development for early-career allied health professionals are key to improving staff retention and healthcare outcomes in rural Australia, new research suggests.
As regional towns continue to face high staff turnover and limited resources, a Flinders University study has identified both personal and organisational factors that can help attract and retain allied health workers, including pharmacists.
Lead author Dr Ali Dymmott, Academic Lead of Rural Allied Health at Flinders University, said the findings show that success depends as much on the environment as the training itself.
“Our research found that factors including community integration, local support and the right timing of enrolment were just as critical as the program content,” said Dr Dymmott.
“It’s not simply about offering training, it’s about creating the right environment for allied health professionals to thrive in rural settings.
“The regions desperately need more allied health professionals, so it’s vital we find solutions to not only encourage people to work in rural Australia, but to feel supported and connected enough to stay.”
This project builds on earlier evaluations of South Australia’s Allied Health Rural Generalist Pathway, a postgraduate, work-integrated education program aimed at strengthening clinical skills and improving service delivery among early-career allied health professionals in rural areas.
Previous research found the program had a positive impact on both participants and the communities they served.
Another study confirmed its economic viability, showing a strong return on investment when supporting trainees.
In the latest study, researchers followed 15 allied health professionals working in regional South Australia who participated in the Rural Generalist Pathway.
Through interviews and surveys with trainees, supervisors, and managers, the study explored which individuals were most likely to complete the program and the factors that contributed to their success.
“When participants are motivated, supported by their organisation and connected to their community, they are far more likely to complete the training and stay in regional practice,” said Dr Dymmott.
Waiting until they had obtained at least a year of rural experience before undertaking postgraduate study was another factor in success.
“Our research further provides practical insights for health services planning future workforce initiatives, including selecting the right people, ensuring adequate supervision and study time, and fostering community belonging,” Dr Dymmott concluded.
Read the paper HERE. KB
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