The Ultimate Allied Health Guide
Navigating the Allied Health field can sometimes feel like a maze. But don’t worry, our Ultimate Guide has got you covered! This handy resource shines a spotlight on key practice areas and services across Allied Health professions in the private practice world. So, sit back, relax, and let us guide you to the therapy that suits you best.
Occupational Therapist
An occupational therapist (OT) can help you develop skills, adapt the activity or change your environment so you can do the things you need to, want to, and are expected to do.
Key practice areas and services
- Child development
- Child development (social, emotional, cognitive, motor)
- Supporting assessments for diagnosis
- Self-Care
- Toileting
- Sensory
- Social skills
- Handwriting
- Self-management skills
- Self-management skills
- Disability and age care
- Driving
- Home modifications
- Equipment prescription
- Home assessment
- Return to work
- Pain management
- Functional Capacity Assessment
- NDIS access
- NDIS access
- Injury prevention and management
- Rehabilitation
- Lymphoedema management
- Hand therapy
- Splinting
- Mental Health
- Coping skills
- Mental health treatment
- Trauma recovery
- Counselling
- Case management
- Psychotherapy
Want to know more about occupational therapy?
Visit Occupational Therapy Australia – About Occupational Therapy (otaus.com.au)
Speech Pathologist
Speech Pathologists help people of all ages to communicate (listen, understand, talk, read and spell). They also treat swallowing problems that make it difficult to eat or drink.
Key practice areas and services
- Child development
- Communication
- Feeing
- Voice production
- Stuttering
- Literacy, reading and spelling
- Social skills
- Listening
- Assessments for diagnosis
- Assessments for diagnosis
- Disability, rehabilitation and age care
- Swallowing
- Assistive technology for communication
- Work related communication skills
Want to know more about speech pathology?
Physiotherapist
Physiotherapists help you to develop, maintain and restore movement. They can help people at any stage of life, when movement and function are threatened by ageing, injury, diseases, disorders, conditions or environmental factors.
Key practice areas and services
- Child development
- Gross motor development
- Strength
- Endurance
- Endurance
- Disability and age care
- Mobility
- Exercise prescription
- Pain Management
- Equipment prescription
- Hydrotherapy
- Hydrotherapy
- Injury prevention and management
- Rehabilitation
- Lymphoedema management
- Sports injury
- Return to work
- Dry needing
- Massage
- Exercise prescription
- Pre/post pregnancy
Want to know more about physiotherapy?
Psychologist
Psychologists study individuals and groups to better understand how people, communities and societies function. Psychologists aim to help you to understand mental and biological functions that drive behaviour.
Key practice areas and services
- Child development
- Emotional development
- Educational assessment
- Diagnosis (autism, mental illness, intellectual impairment)
- Parenting support
- Parenting support
- Disability and Aged Care
- Mental health treatment
- Coping skills
- Trauma recovery
- Return to work
- Behaviour support
- Counselling
- Psychotherapy
- Psychotherapy
- Sports psychology
- Organisational psychology
- Neuropsychology
Want to know more about psychology?
Social Worker
Social workers support individuals, families, groups and communities. Social workers offer solutions, supports and pathways that make sense for your unique situation, preferences and abilities.
Key practice areas and services
- Disability and Aged Care
- Access to services
- Understanding the health system
- Behaviour support
- Specialist Support Coordination
- Mental Health
- Coping skills
- Mental health treatment
- Trauma recovery
- Counselling
- Case management
- Psychotherapy
- Parenting support
Want to know more about social work?
Visit About Social work | AASW
Exercise Physiologist
Exercise physiologists work with you to understand your health condition and use exercise safely to improve your overall health and function.
Key practice areas and services
- Disability and age care
- Movement
- Exercise prescription
- Health education
- Health education
- Injury prevention and management
- Rehabilitation
- Sports injury
- Workplace assessment
- Pre/post pregnancy
Want to know more about Exercise Physiology?
Visit What is an Accredited Exercise Physiologist? (essa.org.au)
Dietitian
Dietitians are experts in food and nutrition. They provide guidance about how to appropriately manage diets and nutrition so you can maintain your health and reduce the risk of developing chronic disease.
Key practice areas and services
- Diabetes
- Eating Disorders
- Food Allergies And Intolerances
- Gastrointestinal Diseases
- Heart Disease
- Malnutrition
- Obesity
- Renal Disease
Want to know more about dietetics?
Visit The leading voice in nutrition and dietetics | Dietitians Australia
Podiatrist
A podiatrist is an expert in foot care, including toenails, joints, arches and ankles. Podiatrists also support older people to reduce their risk of falling.
Key practice areas and services
- Arthritis
- Orthotics
- Exercise Prescription
- Falls Prevention
- Diabetes
- Foot Care
- Foot Ulcers
- Toenail Problems
Want to know more about podiatry?
Visit Podiatry Australia
Osteopath
An osteopath can help you to improve movement, reduce pain and manage and/or treat a range of physical impairments. Osteopathy focuses on the whole body to promote healing, improving the body’s mobility, circulation and wellbeing.
Key practice areas and services
- Child development
- Motor control and orthopaedic assessment
- Strength
- Posture and positioning
- Posture and positioning
- Injury prevention and management
- Rehabilitation
- Sports injury
- Massage
- Dry needing
- Chronic pain
- Exercise prescription
- Return to work
- Pre/post pregnancy
Want to know more about osteopathy?
Chiropractor
A chiropractor can help you to prevent and manage problems with your muscles and bones. Chiropractors work with people who have conditions such as neck pain, back pain, headache, whiplash, strains and sprains, overuse injuries, work and sports injuries.
Key practice areas and services
- Injury prevention and management
- Massage
- Stretching
- Mobilisation
- Manipulation
- Chronic pain
- Exercise prescription
Want to know more about chiropractic therapy?
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Practitioner
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Practitioners partner with first nations people, families and communities to overcome barriers to health care with the aim to improve health outcomes for first nations people overall.
Key practice areas and services
- Access to services
- Support
- Advocacy
- Understand health information
- Communicate with health providers
- Advocate and promote culturally safe practice in health settings
Nurse
Nurses work in a range of private practice settings including GP and allied health clinics to assist clients with their health and wellbeing.
Key practice areas and services
- Diabetes education
- Continence assessments and recommendations
- Cancer care
- Women’s health
- Health education
- Health liaison
- Midwifery
- Nurse practitioner
- Mental Health Nurse
- Coping skills
- Mental health treatment
- Trauma recovery
- Counselling
- Case management
- Psychotherapy
Want to know more about nursing?…
Visit About nurses and midwives | Australian Government Department of Health and Aged Care
Didn’t find what you were looking for?
Visit Allied health professions – Allied Health Professions Australia (ahpa.com.au)
Keep in mind that not all therapists will be qualified in every service area of their profession, so pay attention to any additional qualifications listed in the therapist’s profile.