What are allied health professionals?

About allied health professionals

Allied health professionals are health professionals that are not:

• medical practitioners (doctors)
• dentists
• nurses
• midwives.

They work with you to identify and assess your health concerns. They also provide treatment and help your recovery. More specifically, they can help you take care of both your physical and mental health with these types of services:

• diagnosis
• treatment
• rehabilitation.

They are university qualified with specialised expertise in preventing, diagnosing and treating a range of conditions and illnesses.

In many cases, allied health professionals can reduce or remove the need for any medical intervention. Allied health professionals often work in a multidisciplinary health team to provide specialised support according to your needs.

Examples of allied health professionals

Examples of allied health professionals include:

• Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health workers and professionals
• Audiologists
• Chiropractors
• Dieticians
• Exercise Physiologists
• Optometrists
• Orthoptists
• Osteopaths
• Pharmacists
• Physiotherapists
• Podiatrists
• Psychologists
• Speech Pathologists.

How are allied health professionals regulated in Australia?

Allied health professionals are regulated through the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (Ahpra) and the National Boards or are self-regulated through the relevant professional organisation.