PEOPLE IN HEALTH CARE
Anita Hobson-Powell, Chief Allied Health Officer
Department of Health and Aged Care, Australian Government
Filmed Sunshine Coast, Queensland | September 2024
Anita Hobson-Powell holds the position of Chief Allied Health Officer for the Australian Government within the Department of Health and Aged Care. With a background as an exercise physiologist and extensive experience leading allied health professional associations*, she has been entrusted with three main priorities. First, she aims to raise awareness about the significance of allied health professionals and their role in the healthcare system. This involves ensuring that decision makers and individuals engaging with health services understand the contributions of allied health professionals.
Second, Anita is focused on increasing engagement within the sector and fostering collaborative relationships with government entities and regulatory bodies. By enhancing recognition and value of allied health professions, she aims to strengthen their involvement in decision-making processes and policy development.
Finally, her strategy includes promoting the inclusion of allied health services in government policies, programs, and reforms. This entails advocating for the consideration of allied health from the inception of new programs or policies, ensuring their active involvement, and emphasising the value they bring to both professionals and consumers of healthcare services.
Anita spoke to Australian Health Journal on her role overseeing the development of Australia’s first national allied health workforce strategy. This initiative involves collaboration with state and territory governments and the sector to address recruitment, retention, and ensuring the availability of a skilled workforce to deliver healthcare services across various domains.
She speaks to the vital role of the allied health workforce in preventive healthcare strategies and improving the health and wellbeing of Australians.
Recognising the delivery across Australia Anita recognises the importance of addressing healthcare needs in rural and remote areas, highlighting the essential contributions of the allied health workforce in meeting these unique challenges.
*Editors note – Anita’s past roles
- Former Chair of National Alliance of Self Regulating Health Professions
- Former CEO of Exercise & Sports Science Australia
- Former Board Member Allied Health Professions Australia
-
Integrated oral health care in midwifery practice
There is limited emphasis being placed on perinatal oral health by prenatal care providers in Australia. Pregnant women have no system in place that can offer them regular oral assessment during pregnancy and prompt dental treatment at minimal or no cost as experienced in other countries. To address the oral health needs of pregnant women, a unique midwifery initiated oral health (MIOH) model was developed to promote and maintain maternal oral health.
-
Autonomy in Emergency Nurse Practitioner role
Stefanie Edson is a dedicated Nurse Practitioner specialising in Emergency Care, with a strong commitment to improving patient outcomes. As the Tasmanian State Chapter Secretary for the Australian College of Nurse Practitioners (ACNP), Stefanie advocates for the growth and recognition of the Nurse Practitioner profession across Tasmania and beyond.
-
Care workforce challenges
In a wide ranging report looking at the carer needs across Australia, PwC Australia published Reimagine Care Workforce Solutions in October 2022.
Australian Health Journal spoke with Kerryn Dillon, Director Ageing and Reablement and Health Workforce at PwC Australia about the community care sectors of aged care, disability care and childcare the report covers.
