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Transforming outcomes for rural children: a scoping review investigating use of Allied Health Assistants in outpatient paediatrics settings
Conference presentation   Open access

Transforming outcomes for rural children: a scoping review investigating use of Allied Health Assistants in outpatient paediatrics settings

Linda Furness, Charmaine Bernie, Sherrilyn Waters, Kelly Simpson, Chrissie O'Connell, Hannah Woodall and Jessica Traves
National Rural Health Conference, 18th (Adelaide, 14/09/2026–16/09/2026)
15/09/2026
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18th National Rural Health ConferenceView
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Abstract

Early childhhod services Developmental delay Scoping review Allied Health Assistant
Background: Data from the Australian Early Development Census (AEDC, 2021) reported that just under a quarter of children start school with delays in one or more developmental domains. Children who live in regional or remote geographical areas and/or who are Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander are more likely to present with and are disproportionately impacted by developmental challenges. The use of Allied Health Assistants (AHA) to support children’s access to developmental supports may be one way to support children with development delays in regional and remote Australia amid ongoing professional role shortages. To better understand the potential for AHAs, a scoping review was conducted to answer the question: How have AHAs been used in outpatient paediatric settings?   Methods: We used the five-step methodological framework proposed by Arksey and O’Malley (2005) to search seven databases: MEDLINE, CINAHL, Scopus, Emcare, speechBITE, PEDro, OTseeker. Included articles examined the use of allied health assistants or therapy aides in outpatient settings supporting children under 18 years of age, with no restrictions on publication date. Content and thematic analysis were used to describe studies and the use of AHAs in each of the identified papers.  Results: Forty-nine studies of the 6258 records retrieved met criteria for inclusion. Most articles (92%) were published from 1990 onwards. Articles were published in United states and Canada (35%), United Kingdom (33%), Europe (6%) and Asia (24%), Africa (2%) with AHAs assisting to provide speech therapy (67%), physiotherapy (13%), occupational therapy (10%), audiology (2%) and psychology services (8%). Ten percent of studies were based solely in rural areas, with a further 12% spanning both rural and metropolitan settings. The majority of AHAs services were used to increase access to therapy (65%) or extend funding (5%). In addition to providing ongoing therapy or specific interventions, AHA roles identified included service navigation, education, and assessment of children.  Discussion: Transforming rural paediatric healthcare in Australia requires innovation in practice and creative means of addressing workforce shortages. Our review highlighted the increasingly documented role played by AHAs throughout the world in supporting children and young people.  Despite potential for AHA’s to support community paediatric practice nationally, no Australian studies were identified. With studies showing AHA’s capacity to increase access to therapy, provide education, and assist families to navigate access to services, their potential application in rural Australia requires further attention and investigation.  

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