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AHA Day 2020 Poll Results:What is your outlook for the AHA Workforce?We had a great response to this question, and there were clear themes that came out across the various answers. AHAs are hopeful and generally positive about the future of the role. AHAs want a clearly defined workforce model - further training and professional development opportunities which ultimately lead into career development.AHAs are looking to expand their roles and responsibilities under a clearly defined scope of practice. AHAs want recognition as a skilled workforce and greater utilisation and understanding of their roles from the AHPs that they work with.AHAs also want further leadership opportunities.What are the most important factors for you in the workforce place? Clear scope of practice16%Career pathway opportunities25%Clear delegation practice guidelines11%Clear Professional Development guidelines4%Consistent competency training11%Other1%No Answer31%What are the ways you have seen AHA career pathways broadened or progressed?AHAs are excited about the expansion of scope of practice and competencies over recent years. The general sense across many organisations is that there is greater utilisation of AHAs in multidisciplinary roles in various settings, including many newly developed roles in both inpatient and community settings.AHAs at various organisations are excited by career opportunities expanding into training and assessment, as well as AHAs being given greater leadership and non-clinical portfolios. The idea of AHAs being able to teach at TAFE was also well received. Monash Health was not the only organisation to offer a funded TAE to its AHAs as a professional development opportunity. Support from managers and AHPs in the form of professional development opportunities continued to be a highly valued way for AHAs to progress. Another way that management contributed greatly was through creation and support of AHA-led forums and working parties within organisations.Various organisations have seen the introduction of team leader and advanced practice AHA roles. There has been greater recognition, utilisation and acknowledgement by AHPs of the AHA role and what they can bring to the wider AH team.Although the majority of responses were positive, there were also AHAs who felt as though they were restricted or limited within their organisations – some of these were either regional or had smaller numbers of AHAs. Some AHAs were not aware of any career pathways until AHA Day 2020. Do you have access to formal competency training? Yes 34%No 19%No Answer 47%Has COVID changed the way in which you work?For many Victorian AHAs, this was an overwhelming ‘yes’. COVID changed the way that we work in many ways, some positive and some not so much. Communication was highly impacted and reported to be very challenging when wearing masks, shields and other PPE. The added challenge of conducting telehealth sessions was also noteworthy. Some AHAs reported a loss of connection with colleagues due to distancing and ‘bubble’ requirements. The social aspects of work were all but removed or moved to a virtual format, which in some instances provided greater reach and accessibility, but in many instances were reportedly just not the same as face-to-face. AHAs reported that they had to find new ways to work due to limited clinical interaction. Some AHAs found themselves completing more non-clinical work, project work or working from home. The need to be adaptable and flexible came up again and again, with many challenges being thrown at us throughout this year but also many silver linings. Various students responded and key themes were again adaptability and flexibility. There was a recognition that virtual learning and engagement is the way of the future, so the COVID environment provided a great learning opportunity in this sense.There was a major leap in the use of virtual technology for meetings and therapy – and AHA Day. This greater reliance on technology provided greater accessibility and remote engagement but also proved to be a steep learning curve for some. Which of these AHA innovations are you most likely to implement?'Move It' Program8%AHA Led Nail Care Clinics4%AHAs delivering Early Supported Discharge Program11%Do we need Allied Health Assistant Team Leaders?17%Kindy Moves: activity-based program5%Kindy Moves Board Game2%Optimising the role of Nutrition AHAs at Monash Health5%No Answer48%What are the best ways you have maintained personal wellbeing this year? Exercise was overwhelmingly the number one way that AHAs have maintained their personal wellbeing this year.AHAs also reported doing the little things that represent a sense of normality in our lives: eating well, sleeping well, creating good habits and making time for self-care. Creating structure and a sense of purpose. For those working from home – separating ‘work’ and ‘life’ was important.AHAs identified the need to put themselves first – to use Sika Turner’s aeroplane emergency analogy.Also important was identifying stressors and being open and forgiving of your own mental health, as well as checking in with others and making that human connection where possible and however possible – debriefing with others and that need for peer support.Some also reported the need to accept the situation for what it is and appreciate the opportunities and the silver linings, appreciating family and friends, and also being there for family and friends.Which AHA Day 2020 presentation did you like best?At 31% of votes, Alyce Raine and her presentation on her Stroke Journey was the clear favourite for this year. This was followed by Megan Bailey on Guillain-Barre Syndrome and Sharon McLean and Tony Sheng speaking to AHA Career Pathways, both at 8% of votes. Frequently Asked QuestionsWhere can I access all material from the day?All presentations and posters from AHA Day 2020 can be accessed via the Monash Health website here: What are the different AHA grades across Victoria?The grading system, along with lots of other useful information about the Allied Health Assistant role in Victoria can be found here: What is the TAE and how can I obtain it?The TAE is a Certificate IV in Training and Assessment and allows qualified individuals to conduct training and assessment in the vocational education and training (VET) sector.The TAE course is offered at various Australian Skills Quality Authority (ASQA) certified Registered Training Organisations (RTOs) across Australia.Does Monash Health provide the TAE to its AHAs?Monash Health offers the TAE as a professional development opportunity to a select number of Grade 3 AHAs involved in student supervision. How can I find out more information about the AHA State-wide Workforce Plan Project?All enquiries can be directed to Lucy.Whelan@ or Kathryn.Greer@. What training is required to become a Speech AHA?The formal training is the same as any other AHA training, i.e. the Cert IV in Allied Health Assistance, however there are competency-based training packages that Speech Pathology require new AHAs employed into SP AHA roles to complete. These are usually completed on the job.What are the job opportunities like for Speech AHAs?SP AHA roles are not nearly as commonly advertised as PT and OT but they do exist. They can also exist as part of a multidisciplinary AHA role. If you are really interested, Monash Health offers Speech workshops ruin over two days; one on dysphagia and one on communication disorders. These are only run by Monash Health at present, however AHAs from all over the country can attend. These courses will be offered next year. For further information, please contact louise.britzman@ AHA Day 2020 CommentsHi Lucy and all presenters, I have thoroughly enjoyed today, you delivered a wide range of informative subjects. I have written 15 pages of notes and will be sharing this with my Line manager and other Allied health assistants. It was a meaningful and amazing insight to a patient’s journey from Alyce and Megan. Thank you well done! Thank you for all the presentations, all the personal stories were very touching and so brave. Very much enjoyed the day well organised.Just wanted to say that today went really well - it was a great day with so much variety and awesome content, and great to see all the speakers from around Australia! Well done everybody!So inspiring. The support Monash Health provides blows me away. I think one of the biggest hurdles in AHA career progression is organisational support/available fundingMonash Health AHAs are very well supported in terms of trainings and career progression, hopefully in the next few years we see similar processes and emphasis on professional development everywhere else for the AHA workforce ................
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