Application

This unit describes the skills and knowledge required to provide assistance to an Allied Health Professional. Work includes following treatment plans for therapeutic interventions or conducting programs.
This unit applies to allied health assistants and should be performed under the direct, indirect or remote supervision and delegation of an Allied Health Professional (AHP).
The skills in this unit must be applied in accordance with Allied Health Assistant Framework, Commonwealth and State or Territory legislation, Australian standards and industry codes of practice.
No occupational licensing, certification or specific legislative requirements apply to this unit at the time of publication.

What You'll Learn

Assessment Requirements

Performance Evidence

Evidence of the ability to complete tasks outlined in elements and performance criteria of this unit in the context of the job role, and:
• document and assist with five allied health activities as delegated by the Allied Health Professional, for people with different needs, and this must include:
• at least two different individual therapy activities – in the workplace
• at least one group therapy activity – in simulation
• perform the activities outlined in the performance criteria of this unit during a period of at least 120 hours of allied health assistance work. At least 60% of this work must be carried out in an allied health workplace. The remaining 40% may be carried out in a simulated environment, if an allied health workplace is unavailable.

Knowledge Evidence

Demonstrate the knowledge required to complete the tasks outlined in elements and performance criteria of this unit:
• procedures for escalation of risks
• allied health core competencies:
• person-centred care
• individual therapy
• group therapy
• communication of information
• equipment and environment
• key features and the role of the Allied Health Assistant in allied health disciplines
• terminology used by allied health care workers
• engagement with allied health services
• communication techniques including:
• use of open-ended questions
• active listening
• asking for clarification and probing
• responses to a range of views from the person, carers or others
• understanding use of empathy with the person, carers or colleagues
• using discretion and confidentiality, respecting individual differences especially when using touch and other non-verbal means of communication
• use of interpreters
• scope of role of the Allied Health Assistant and Allied Health Professional
• therapy tasks, treatment plans and programs associated with particular populations
• the person’s readiness for therapy and whether there are changes that might affect the prescribed therapy
• common allied health equipment and resources and their use
• organisational policies and procedures in relation to:
• confidentiality
• documentation:
• reporting
• recording data
• written communication to Allied Health Professional
• professional behaviour and presentation
• infection control practices
• work health and safety (WHS)
• manual handling
• supervision and delegation
• manufacturer instructions for equipment usage
• difference in therapy approaches across Allied Health disciplines
• social and interpersonal behaviour
• principles of empowering the older person
• principles of empowering people living with disability or serious mental illness
• changes related to ageing
• concepts of holistic health and wellbeing
• social determinants of health
• concepts of the medical model, the biopsychosocial models and the human rights-based approach of allied health interventions
• principles of choice and control
• concept of reablement
• allied health settings:
• hospital
• community health
• mental health
• disability sector
• aged care sectors.

Assessment Conditions

Skills may be demonstrated in the workplace, or in a simulated environment, as per the conditions outlined in the performance evidence.
Assessment must ensure:
• access to suitable facilities, equipment and resources that reflect real working conditions and model industry operating conditions and contingencies
• access to manufacturer instructions
• access to individualised plans and any relevant equipment outlined in the plan
• access to organisational policies and procedures
• opportunities for engagement with real people accessing allied health services.
Assessors must satisfy the Standards for Registered Training Organisations requirements for assessors, and:
• be a Certificate IV qualified Allied Health Assistant with a minimum of three years of professional experience in allied health services; or
• a registered Allied Health Professional.

Foundation Skills

• {'skill': 'Foundation Skills', 'description': 'Foundation skills essential to performance are explicit in the performance criteria of this unit of competency.'}

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