“The Right Fit”: learnings to inform the selection of AHPs to undertake the Allied Health Rural Generalist Pathway

The Allied Health Rural Generalist Pathway (AHRGP) is a workforce initiative that supports the development of rural generalist specialist skills in early-career AHPs, to better meet the needs of consumers and improve workforce retention in rural areas.

In 2019 SA Health introduced the AHRGP in its regional local health networks for the first time. A research partnership with Flinders University is formally evaluating the effectiveness, appropriateness and suitability of the program. A four-phase evaluation is being undertaken with the first cohort of AHPs who entered the program in 2019, seeking feedback from the AHPs, their line managers, clinical supervisors and profession leads, as well as the project team and consumer representatives at the pre, mid-way, post, and 6-month follow-up stage.

Completion of the pre- and mid-way evaluation phases has provided valuable insights from stakeholders’ early experiences of the program, including early positive outcomes, challenges, and areas for improvement. It also provided early recommendations on which professions, locations, and trainee characteristics were particularly suited to the AHRGP.

When SA Health secured funding to enrol a new cohort of AHPs in the AHRGP from 2021, this research was drawn on to modify the selection process used in 2019, and inform the key factors considered when choosing successful applicants. The final 2021-cohort of AHPs selected were comprehensively assessed against priorities set for professions, rural location, local supports available, length of experience, and commitment to rural practice. Outcomes for the 2021-cohort will be further monitored and compared to those observed for the 2019-cohort.