Allied Health Assistance Training Package Product Development: STA Consultation

Background

In 2018–2019 the Direct Client Care and Support IRC identified that Health Assistance and Health Support Services Qualifications were in need of being updated to fill gaps in the knowledge and skills of workers within these Direct Client Care and Support sub-sectors. Using and implementing technology, recognising and responding appropriately to abuse, and providing person-centred customer service are skills that workers within the sector need now and will need in the future.

Developing cultural awareness and competency to interact with and support the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community, people from Culturally and Linguistically Diverse (CALD) backgrounds, and the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Intersex and Queer/Questioning (LGBTIQ) communities is also important for workers within this sector.

This project will update the Allied Health Assistance Training Package Products under the remit of the Direct Client Care and Support IRC in response to the Key Drivers for Change findings, located in the 2018 - 2019 Industry Skills Forecast.

This review relates to the Qualifications and Units of Competency under the remit of the Direct Client Care and Support IRC which are contained in the HLT Training Package.

As a result, the following developments have been proposed:

Qualifications

• HLT23221 Certificate II in Health Support Services
• HLT33021 Certificate III in Allied Health Assistance
• HLT43021 Certificate IV in Allied Health Assistance.

Skill Sets


• HLTSS00070 Allied Health Assistance – Rehabilitation and Reablement Skill Set
• HLTSS00071 Allied Health Assistance - Nutrition and Dietetics Skill Set
• HLTSS00072 Allied Health Assistance - Psychosocial Skill Set
• HLTSS00073 Allied Health Assistance - Movement and Mobility Skill Set
• HLTSS00074 Allied Health Assistance - Medical Imaging Skill Set
• HLTSS00075 Allied Health Assistance – Communication and Hearing Skill Set
• HLTSS00076 Allied Health Assistance – Podiatry Skill Set.

HLTAHA Units

• HLTAHA027 Assist with an allied health program
  
• HLTAHA028 Deliver and monitor physical and manual therapy programs
  
• HLTAHA029 Support independence and community participation
  
• HLTAHA030 Assist with basic foot hygiene
  
• HLTAHA031 Assist in rehabilitation programs
  
• HLTAHA032 Support maintenance of an individual’s functional status
  
• HLTAHA033 Conduct group sessions for individual outcomes
  
• HLTAHA034 Support the development of speech and communication skills
  
• HLTAHA035 Provide support in dysphagia management
  
• HLTAHA036 Assist and support the use of augmentative and alternative communication systems
  
• HLTAHA037 Deliver and monitor a hydrotherapy program
  
• HLTAHA038 Support the donning of assistive technology
  
• HLTAHA039 Assist in the development of meals and menus to meet dietary and cultural requirements
  
• HLTAHA040 Assist with the monitoring and modification of meals and menus according to individualised plans
  
• HLTAHA041 Support food services and dietetics in menu and meal order processing
  
• HLTAHA042 Assist with screening and management of nutritional risk
  
• HLTAHA043 Support the provision of basic nutritional advice and education
  
• HLTAHA044 Work within a community rehabilitation environment
  
• HLTAHA045 Assist the management of people in medical imaging
  
• HLTAHA046 Support the medical imaging professional
  
• HLTAHA047 Engage with clinical supervision and delegation
  
• HLTAHA048 Provide allied health assistance in remote or isolated settings
  
• HLTAHA049 Identify impact of health condition
  
• HLTAHA050 Assist with podiatry assessment and exercise
  
• HLTAHA051 Assist with podiatric procedures
  
• HLTAHA052 Assist with social work
  
• HLTAHA053 Support and deliver individual hearing rehabilitation program.

HLTHSS

• HLTHSS009 Perform general cleaning tasks in a clinical setting
  
• HLTHSS010 Handle and move equipment, goods and mail
  
• HLTHSS011 Maintain inventory
  
• HLTHSS012 Handle medical gases safely.
  

Project Governance

This project is being overseen by the Direct Client Care and Support IRC. The membership of this Committee is as follows:



Members of the Direct Client Care and Support IRC have consulted with technical specialists in their respective sub-sectors to inform the development of this update. The IRC includes subject matter experts from across Australia who provide: :

• guidance at the national level to ensure Training Package Products are flexible and responsive to changing needs and practices
• specialist advice and strategic direction in relation to stakeholder feedback and issues relevant to their sector
• views and feedback on behalf of the sector/organisation they represent
• support and facilitation of communication and consultation with others, including other members of their organisations, association members and other networks.

Direct engagement was also provided by key industry bodies who ensured changes to Draft 2 were consistent with industry needs and expectations. The key industry bodies included representatives of:

• Allied Health Professions Australia
• Audiology Australia
• Australian Chiropractors Association
• Australian Podiatry Association
• Australian Orthotic Prosthetic Association
• Australian Psychological Society
• Australian Society of Medical Imaging and Radiation Therapy
• Exercise and Sports Science Australia
• Occupational Therapy Australia
• Osteopathy Australia
• Speech Pathology Australia.


Project Status – Draft 2 Validation - Closed

National consultation on Draft 2 started on Monday, 26 July and closed at 5.00pm AEST on Friday, 06 August 2021. During this period, input was sought on the following Training Package Products relating to Allied Health Assistance:

• Three updated Qualifications
• Six updated Skill Sets and one new Skill Set
• Thirty-one Units including:

      º Twenty-three updated HLTAHA Units of Competency and their associated Assessment Requirements
      º Four new HLTAHA Units of Competency and their associated Assessment Requirements
      º Four updated HLTHSS Units of Competency and their associated Assessment Requirements.

Please click here to access Draft 2 documents, including a Validation Guide.

Project Timings



Further Information

For more information, or to discuss, please contact Gary Dunshea at gary.dunshea@skillsiq.com.au or by phone on (02) 9392 8100 or 0499 908 843.