Career Progression in the Allied Health Sector: A Guide for Tertiary Students

You don’t need to be a doctor or nurse to have a meaningful impact on people’s lives in the healthcare industry. In Australia, the allied health sector grows exponentially every year, with plenty of career pathways available for graduates with all skill sets – and there are ways to fast-track your career.

An ever-growing number of Australians are turning to allied health services for rehabilitation, physiotherapy, and occupational therapy. At the same time, our rising number of seniors rely on aged care and other services every day of their lives. This steadily growing demand ensures that the allied health sector provides a space where tertiary students can enjoy strong employment prospects, competitive salaries, and the chance to work virtually anywhere not only in Australia, but worldwide. 



However, the allied health sector isn’t without its fair share of prerequisites. Whilst entry level positions are available for tertiary students who are currently earning higher qualifications, career progression in the sector generally requires at least a bachelor’s degree. For tertiary students looking to develop additional skills and add credentials to their resumes, courses like the CHC43015 Certificate IV in Ageing Support are available to enhance their chances of promotion when gaining experience in the field.

Understanding the Allied Health Sector

According to the Department of Health & Human Services, allied health roles effectively refer to any healthcare specialists that work in health disciplines that can be classified as ‘therapy’ or ‘science’. This currently includes 27 different roles, such as physiotherapy, speech pathology, dietetics, and more. Simply put, allied health professionals operate in the healthcare system in tandem with doctors and nurses. 

There are already around 200,000 registered allied health professionals in Australia. This number is growing every day because of the rising number of services required by Australians of all ages.

However, Australia’s ageing population can also be credited for the sector boom. It’s estimated that the number of Australians aged 85 and over will increase from 400,000 in 2010 to 1.8 million by 2050. This highlights the growing need for allied health services for seniors and the opportunities available for career progression.

Educational Pathways and Skills Development

To enter the allied health profession, you will need to be registered, licenced or accredited through a bachelor’s degree or TAFE accreditation and then registration through the appropriate governing body like Speech Pathology Australia, Exercise & Sports Science Australia (ESSA), the Physiotherapy Board of Australia or the Occupational Therapy Board of Australia.

There are three tiers of education required to advance through the ranks in allied health. Typically, a tertiary education is required, and you also have the option of studying Honours or Masters to advance through the ranks immediately after you leave university.

Many qualifications can be added separately through TAFE and other certified educational facilities where you can upskill and add additional nationally recognised accreditations to your resume. For example, the CHC43015 Certificate IV in Ageing Support would be essential if you planned to work with the rising number of Australian seniors.

Taking courses at TAFE or other educational facilities can also help you develop the basic skills required to bridge your way into a full-scale bachelor’s degree. You can learn crucial skills and gain accreditation in skills including CPR, first aid and medication administration while also getting hands-on experience with technology like anaesthetic machines, vital signs monitors, ECG machines, IV trolleys and defibrillators.

These courses also give you invaluable experience in communicating with health professionals in allied health programs, learning about work health and safety policies and assisting with patient care. It’s a perfect way to get a real feel for the industry so you can be sure that your selected profession provides a career you’d want to pursue. 

Career Progression Opportunities

There are many different fields to choose from in allied health, including becoming an audiologist, podiatrist, psychologist, nutritionist, speech pathologist, dietitian, naturopath, optometrist, pharmacist or a range of other exciting professions.

There are career advancement opportunities in all streams of allied health, and many choose to pursue further education and training, such as a master’s degree or doctorate, to aim for higher-paying positions and leadership roles.

The demand for positions is high in Australia, which means there are well-paying, meaningful jobs available in plenty of regional and rural centres for those who want to explore the country. 

You can also choose to become a specialist or certified in your field to aim for higher positions. And along with working in your practice, a hospital, or a nursing home, there is also the scope of working directly with people in their homes under the NDIS. So if a facility isn’t a good fit for you, the growing demand of home healthcare services may provide you with the opportunities you need to enjoy a fulfilling career and make a difference to the lives of your patients.

The Benefits of Choosing a Career in Allied Health

The obvious attraction is being able to help people in many diverse and meaningful ways. However, this is just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to the benefits you will enjoy when you become part of the Australian allied health family.

One of the main reasons people gravitate toward this field is job satisfaction. You will be helping people regain their independence and improve their quality of life, which means you can rest your head at night knowing you have made a real difference in the world.

If variety is your spice in life, then that is another strong reason to consider allied health. No two days are ever the same, and you will work with a range of different people and personalities.

Job security is important to everyone, and there is plenty of it in allied health. With demand rising by the year, qualified, experienced, and skilled workers are highly valued, and you won’t have to worry about competing with hundreds of other applicants for a single position like in other industries.

Plus, there’s the opportunity to enjoy greater financial stability from the beginning of your career, with Australian allied health positions paying 30 percent more than the world average.

~ Getting started is easy. You don’t need to commit to a university degree or have recent high grades from high school for entry. You can get a taste for the industry and valuable skills and experience by taking courses that will help bridge your way into the allied health industry.

And if you’re already in the sector and want to upskill and progress further in your career, these courses are the perfect way to fast-track your progression and become a more skilled and valued member of the allied health family.