Allied Health Assistants / Therapy Assistants
Peninsula Plus is committed to offer a range of therapy options to suit all our clients and help them achieve their goals.
Our Allied Health Assistant programs boost client progress and skill generalisation in natural contexts outside the clinic.
What is an AHA?
An Allied Health Assistant has completed a Certificate IV from a recognised institution or is studying to become a qualified Allied Health Professional. The qualification and experience trains them to provide therapeutic and program-related support to allied health professionals. A Speech Pathology or Occupational Therapy AHA has completed specialty units specific to this area. They are able to implement routine therapy programs for individuals and groups under the guidance of a qualified and registered Speech Pathologist/Occupational Therapist.
How do I access AHA services?
An assessment would be carried out by your therapist who then develops a therapy plan based on evidence-based methods of therapy and in consultation with the family. Services are currently provided on a term by term basis.
The AHA administers the therapy program at the clients home/school/kinder and documents progress, reporting directly to the supervising therapist, and following their direction. The supervising therapist may request videos of the client participating in therapy to best monitor progress.
The AHA is responsible for communicating with parents and carers regarding client progress as well as demonstrating and providing therapy activities to be done at home.
Frequently Asked Questions
The following information will shed light on how our AHA programs work and whether this might be something you could pursue to complement your therapy.
What is the difference between an Allied Health Practitioner and Allied Health Assistant?
Allied Health Practitioners (clinicians/therapists) are university-trained and qualified in a specific discipline (e.g. Occupational Therapists, Speech Pathologists, Psychologists, Physiotherapists). They responsible for assessing, diagnosing and treating people with health conditions, developmental disorders or disabilities. Allied Health Practitioners must be registered to practice through the Australian Health Practitioners Regulation Agency (AHPRA) or another professional regulatory agency (e.g. Speech Pathology Australia).
Allied Health Assistants assist clients under the direction of qualified Allied Health Practitioners, implementing therapy plans towards agreed goals within relevant environments. Peninsula Plus AHAs are student speech pathologists or occupational therapists, or have completed a Certificate IV in Allied Health Assistance. AHAs are covered under the supervising clinician’s professional indemnity and public liability insurance.
Who has access to an Allied Health Assistant?
Any current client can access the program. A client must have been assessed and seen by a clinician for at least 3 sessions before recommendation to the AHA program.
Where will the Allied Health Assistants work?
AHAs work in a variety of environments according to the client’s goals and individual needs. AHAs travel to schools, kindergartens, childcare settings, homes, and other environments. Clinic based sessions can also be arranged if needed.
How does an AHA program work?
1. 30-minute goal-setting session with the qualified clinician and parent/carer
Goal setting may occur within a regular therapy session or booked as a separate session and billed accordingly by the clinician.
2. 70-minute program planning appointment
The clinician designs and documents the AHA program, drawing on parent/carer discussion and their knowledge of evidence-based practices. The clinician will bill for this time.
3. 70-minute joint session with the clinician and AHA
The clinician and AHA discuss the AHA plan and prepare the AHA to deliver therapy effectively. Two invoices will be sent after this appointment, one for each worker at their respective rates (listed below).
4. 70-minute resource-making appointment
This will be billed by the AHA and may not be required, depending on the goals in the AHA plan. Additional resource creation charges may apply during therapy, with prior notification by the AHA if necessary.
5. Block of 10x AHA appointments (usually weekly or fortnightly)
AHA sessions can be scheduled between regular sessions or act as the primary support for therapy goals. AHAs will administer and document progress, reporting to the supervising clinician and communicating with parents/carers. Clinicians may request videos to monitor progress, and AHAs will bill after each appointment. The AHA is responsible for communicating to parents/carers regarding client progress, as well as demonstrating and providing therapy activities to be completed at home.
6. 30-minute joint session with the clinician and AHA
During this session, the clinician and AHA will review the outcomes of the AHA therapy block and will document this in the therapy notes.
7. Parent/carer feedback with the clinician
The clinician will provide feedback on the final outcomes of the AHA therapy block via phone call or email and provide recommendations for continuing or ceasing AHA services.
What are the costs?
Our hourly rate for the clinician is $193.99 p/h.
Our hourly rate for the AHA is $86.79 p/h.
Please keep in mind our sessions are billed at 70 minutes ($100.68 for AHA). We also charge travel based on the workers’ respective rates and a charge per kilometre for offsite visits.
The AHA rate for joint sessions with the clinician is billed at a lower rate of $56.16 p/h – this is because the qualified clinician is working directly with the AHA. AHA sessions are not claimable through Medicare or private health funds.
What do we do now?
If you are interested in our AHA programs, discuss with your therapist or call Customer Service on (03) 5975 1500.