The Rural Allied Health Educator Pilot Program, a joint venture between NSW Health and the Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development (DPIRD), is building a pipeline of allied health clinicians in rural, regional and remote communities, by boosting the number of student placements in Far West Local Health District (FWLHD).
Since the Rural Allied Health Educator Pilot Program was introduced in FWLHD, student placement numbers have increased from 17 in 2023 to 33 in 2025.
The program is enticing allied health students to stay and take up full time roles in rural, regional and remote locations.
A survey of students participating in the program found prior to commencing placement only 56.2 per cent were interested in working for NSW Health in a rural area as a graduate.
Following completion of placement, 85 per cent were more interested in working for NSW Health in a rural area as an allied health graduate and 95 per cent of students were satisfied with their placement experience and would recommend a rural placement to other students.
Allied health clinical placements typically take 4-6 weeks but can be up to 4 months and give students experience across a range of clinical areas relevant to their profession. This includes occupational therapy, speech pathology, social work, physiotherapy, dietetics, radiography and exercise physiology.
In Far West LHD, the allied health educator works with universities and health staff to help coordinate and promote student placements. The role also supports allied health clinicians to provide student supervision by facilitating education opportunities for staff and students while on placement.
Edwin Valle completed their social work student placement at Broken Hill Health Service from August to December 2024 where they gained valuable experience working in a rural health setting. Having relocated from Sydney, this opportunity provided Edwin with a strong foundation in becoming a generalist social worker, as they worked across various hospital wards.
The $1 million Rural Allied Health Educator Pilot Program is a joint venture between NSW Health and the Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development across Hunter New England, Western NSW, Far West, Murrumbidgee and Southern NSW Local Health Districts.
DPIRD has invested $1 million per year over three years into the Rural Allied Health Educator Pilot Program.
For further information visit: https://www.health.nsw.gov.au/workforce/alliedhealth/Pages/professions.aspx
Quotes attributable to Regional Health Minister, Ryan Park:
"Staffing is one of the most critical issues we face in the healthcare system, and in regional, rural and remote locations that problem is amplified.
"I am really proud a program like this is having great results at encouraging allied health students to take up a rewarding role in the bush.
"The Minns Labor Government is committed to boosting our allied health workforce by increasing training and education pathways for students in rural and regional NSW."
Quotes attributable to Minister for Regional NSW, Tara Moriarty:
"We support the Rural Allied Health Educator Program through funding these important regional allied health workforces.
"Getting essential workers into regional NSW is a major focus of the Government and this program plays a role in that plan.
"The students also have the opportunity to participate in The Welcome Experience while on placement.
"The Welcome Experience is a service which provides essential workers the support they need to make the move into live and work in regional communities by assisting them to get to know the local area and people first."
Quotes attributable to Member for Barwon, Roy Butler:
"The attraction and retention of an allied health workforce has been the focus of rural and remote health services for many years. The Rural Allied Health Educator Pilot Program is showing definite results, by having an allied health educator to assist with student placements and support the allied health clinicians to provide student clinical supervision during this placement.
"It's wonderful to have student Occupational Therapists, Speech Pathologists, Physiotherapists, Social Workers, Dietitians, Radiographers and Exercise Physiologists gaining valuable clinical experience in our hospitals and at the same time immersing themselves in some of the lifestyle of Broken Hill, including the cafés and sporting culture.
"Access to quality housing and support during clinical placements all play a part in encouraging allied health graduates to return to a rural and remote setting to practice. This scheme will work well with other programs to help solve the problem of staff shortages in remote areas."
Quotes attributable to Allied Health Educator, Heidi Drenkhahn:
'Having been an allied health clinician in Far West Local Health District for nearly 15 years, I'm enjoying the opportunity to help develop the future workforce and provide improved career opportunities for our staff.
'Ensuring students have a high-quality placement experience not just within our workplaces but also within our broader communities is one of the best long-term recruitment strategies that we have seen bear fruit time and time again."
Quotes attributable to Social Work Student, Edwin Valle:
"I definitely enjoyed my time living in the Far West region and I would highly recommend that all students take the opportunity to experience rural communities. These towns hold a rich history and incredible stories from the people you meet as everyone is so lovely.
"From this experience, I believe it's valuable to gain experience in both rural and metropolitan areas to fully understand the comprehensive and ever-changing nature of our health system. The Far West region has so much to offer, from arts and culture to history and a strong sense of community.
"Now having finished my placement and being a social work graduate, my time at Broken Hill Health Service has provided me with significant guidance for my future practice but also deepened my appreciation for working rurally."
