title: Who are they and what do they do? Profile of allied health professionals working with people with disabilities in rural and remote New South Wales.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To explore the characteristics of allied health professionals (AHPs) working with people with disabilities in western New South Wales (NSW).
  
  
  METHODS
  A cross-sectional survey was conducted using an online questionnaire.
  
  
  METHODS
  Rural western NSW.
  
  
  METHODS
  AHPs including physiotherapists, speech pathologists, occupational therapists and psychologists ('therapists') working with people with disabilities.
  
  
  METHODS
  AHPs characteristics.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The majority of respondents were women (94%), with a mean age of 39 years; average time since qualification was 14 years; mean years in current position was 6. Most worked with people with a lifelong disability. Two thirds reported that family ties kept them in rural areas; 71% grew up in a rural/remote area. Most participants (94%) enjoyed the rural lifestyle, and 84% reported opportunities for social interaction as good or very good. Participants with dependent children were less likely to cease working in western NSW within 5 years than those without dependent children (P < 0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The characteristics of therapists working with people with disabilities in rural NSW were identified. Overall working, but also social conditions and community attachment were important for this group. Understanding the workforce will contribute to policy development to meet increasing demands for therapy services.
authors.affiliation: Centre for Health Research, School of Medicine, University of Western Sydney, Penrith, New South Wales, Australia.|Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Sydney, Lidcombe, New South Wales, Australia.
authors.forename: Gisselle
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Gallego
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Sydney, Lidcombe, New South Wales, Australia.
authors.forename: Rebecca Jean
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Chedid
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Sydney, Lidcombe, New South Wales, Australia.
authors.forename: Angela
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Dew
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Sydney, Lidcombe, New South Wales, Australia.
authors.forename: Michelle
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Lincoln
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Sydney, Lidcombe, New South Wales, Australia.
authors.forename: Anita
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Bundy
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Sydney, Lidcombe, New South Wales, Australia.
authors.forename: Craig
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Veitch
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Sydney, Lidcombe, New South Wales, Australia.|Family and Community Services, Ageing, Disability and Home Care, New South Wales, Australia.
authors.forename: Kim
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Bulkeley
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Sydney, Lidcombe, New South Wales, Australia.
authors.forename: Jennie
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Brentnall
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000488:Allied Health Personnel / Q000145:classification / Q000523:psychology / Q000600:supply & distribution*; D002321:Career Choice; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D006233:Persons with Disabilities / Q000145:classification / Q000534:rehabilitation* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D020407:Internet; D008297:Male; D009517:New South Wales; D019035:Rural Health Services; D012931:Social Environment; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D000078329:Workforce; D016526:Workload / Q000523:psychology* / Q000592:standards / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: allied health professional; disability; retention; therapy; workforce