title: Building allied health workforce capacity: a strategic approach to workforce innovation.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of the present study was to identify areas where allied health assistants (AHAs) are not working to their full scope of practice in order to improve the effectiveness of the allied health workforce.
  
  
  METHODS
  Qualitative data collected via focus groups identified suitable AHA tasks and a quantitative survey with allied health professionals (AHPs) measured the magnitude of work the current AHP workforce spends undertaking these tasks.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Quantification survey results indicate that Victoria's AHP workforce spends up to 17% of time undertaking tasks that could be delegated to an AHA who has relevant training and adequate supervision. Over half this time is spent on clinical tasks.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The skills of AHAs are not being optimally utilised. Significant opportunity exists to reform the current allied health workforce. Such reform should result in increased capacity of the workforce to meet future demands.
authors.affiliation: Alfred Health, 260 Kooyong Road, Caulfield, Vic. 3162, Australia. Email.
authors.forename: Lisa
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Somerville
authors.affiliation: Monash Health, Clayton, Vic. 3168, Australia. Email.
authors.forename: Annette
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Davis
authors.affiliation: Alfred Health, 260 Kooyong Road, Caulfield, Vic. 3162, Australia. Email.
authors.forename: Andrea L
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: Elliott
authors.affiliation: Department of Health and Human Services, 50 Lonsdale Street, Melbourne, Vic. 3000, Australia. Email:.
authors.forename: Desiree
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Terrill
authors.affiliation: Alfred Health, 260 Kooyong Road, Caulfield, Vic. 3162, Australia. Email.
authors.forename: Nicole
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Austin
authors.affiliation: Department of Health and Human Services, 50 Lonsdale Street, Melbourne, Vic. 3000, Australia. Email:.
authors.forename: Kathleen
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Philip
mesh_terms: D000488:Allied Health Personnel / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D057191:Capacity Building; D002983:Clinical Competence; D017144:Focus Groups; D017146:Models, Organizational; D014739:Victoria