Monash Health has been named as the host and manager of Victoria’s new centralised hub for excellence in allied health.
Monash Health is proud to announce its appointment as the host and manager of the inaugural Victorian Centre for Advancement in Allied Health.
This significant achievement follows a competitive tender process and marks a new chapter in the development of Victoria’s allied health workforce.
The centre will serve as a centralised hub, collaborating with health services, academic institutions, and unions to support and grow Victoria’s allied health workforce.
Monash Health’s Chief Allied Health Officer Danielle Ryan said the appointment is a wonderful recognition of the strength of Monash Health’s allied health team, the commitment and care we provide to Victoria, and our leadership in delivering allied health workforce initiatives.
‘This is a “first of its kind” opportunity to bring together allied health workforce initiatives across Victoria and use the platform to work strategically with our workforce and key academic and industrial partners,’ said Danielle.
‘I’m incredibly proud of the team we have at Monash Health and the work that we do, and I am very excited about the potential of this new opportunity for Allied Health in Victoria.’
Danielle added that there will be new career opportunities for Allied Health in Victoria when the roles of Director, two Deputy Directors and a Senior Clinician are established to lead the centre.
Backed by $3.4 million in government funding over the first three years, the centre will focus on improving the profile and visibility of the allied health workforce, supporting statewide workforce planning and improving allied health professional practice, service design, and system policy.
Its core functions will also include encouraging the uptake of evidence-based clinical methods and helping allied health professionals develop and provide leadership across the sector.
Monash Health has already begun work to set up the new centre, including recruiting staff, designing operational functions, and developing the strategic work plan for the coming year.
In Victoria, allied health incorporates 27 professions, including occupational therapy, speech pathology, radiography, and physiotherapy. The state has more than 42,500 practitioners.
Minister for Health Mary-Anne Thomas congratulated Monash Health on their successful tender bid and expressed her enthusiasm for the centre’s establishment in the coming year.
‘Allied health workers do incredibly important work – that’s why the new centre at Monash Health will be key to ensuring that more than 42,000 practitioners get the support they need. We will always back our allied health workforce so they can continue delivering world-class care to Victorians across the state.’
Monash Health is committed to leading the way in allied health workforce development and looks forward to the positive impact this centre will have on the healthcare sector in Victoria.
