Registered NDIS provider
How it works – allied health assistants2023-08-09T16:47:53+11:00

Allied Health Assistant Jobs with Fora

Learn more and apply today.

Working as an Allied Health Assistant (also known as a Therapy Assistant) is a flexible and rewarding way to get practical therapy experience. You’ll work in collaboration with your client’s Allied Health Professional to help them practice therapy in-between sessions to help them reach their therapy goals.

We’re hiring now in Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane, Perth, and Adelaide.

Working with an Allied Health Assistant helps Liam reach his therapy goals faster.

Liam is a young boy on the Autism spectrum who works with his Speech Pathologist Laura on his therapy goals. In-between sessions with Laura, Liam practices implementing therapy at his home with Mia, an Allied Health Assistant.

Mia lives nearby, and is in her third year of Speech Pathology at university. She regularly checks-in with Laura to report back on Liam’s progress, 
and to get feedback on how she can best support Liam’s therapy journey.

By working with both Laura and Mia, Liam’s able to access more hours of therapy without increasing his budget, so he can reach his goals faster!

Our AHAs love working with Fora!

Blessy Thomas
Blessy Thomas
25. November, 2021.
I appreciate the opportunity and have thoroughly enjoyed working for Ally Assist for the last 1.5 years as a Physiotherapy Assistant. It has been a worthwhile experience working with various clients and I have developed not only my work-specific skills but my communication and professional skills which I will go on to use in my career. I would recommend all allied health students to consider this as it is a great opportunity to gain experience while you’re still studying!
Jess Anstee
Jess Anstee
18. November, 2021.
Thank you for giving me the opportunity to work as a therapy assistant for over a year, I have thoroughly enjoyed working in this role and appreciate all the opportunities you have given me. Transitioning from a student to a new graduate is a challenging step that I was very worried about. Fora supported me through this transition by finding a new graduate position through the Fora Employment Program. I could not of done it without your help and experience I have gained through working as a Therapy Assistant! I am more than grateful for the support and encouragement you have given me in pursuing my professional career and personal growth.
Victoria
Victoria
11. November, 2021.
I worked with Fora as a therapy assistant for over two years while completing my studies at university. I felt really well supported by Fora throughout my time working with them and enjoyed the opportunity I had to work with my client and build experience to complement my studies.
Helena Ang
Helena Ang
3. November, 2021.
Fora has provided really wonderful opportunities for allied health and physiotherapy students like myself to be connected with paediatric and adult clients. I have been able to work alongside a paediatric client for their rehabilitation, and this wouldn't have been possible without the connection through Fora. The team has been really supportive and the platform is very user friendly, with many options of clients to be connected with. Thank you for providing me with this opportunity to develop invaluable skills and grow in my physiotherapy career!
Michelle J
Michelle J
11. October, 2021.
Fora has been a really supportive platform, allowing allied health students like me to gain first-hand experience in working with clients to achieve their functional goals. I've thoroughly enjoyed working as a therapy assistant at Fora, it's been a wonderful experience that's allowed me to learn and grow as an aspiring allied health professional.
Mark and Helen Fisher
Mark and Helen Fisher
27. September, 2021.
We have used Fora for AHA (Physio) and have been extremely satisfied. The organisation is very professional and our lovely AHA personalises his support directly to our son's specific needs. Thank you Joel (AHA)!
Jess
Jess
2. June, 2021.
Fora has been a fantastic company to work for as an occupational therapy student. They provided me with the opportunity to gain clinical experience and skills in paediatrics with the flexibility required with university. Their online system was really easy to use- and even though the company is based online they constantly checked in and were available to chat to if I ever needed support. I highly recommend them as an employer for any students that would like to gain some hands on experience with choice and flexibility over hours. For families and support coordinators, I also recommend Fora for the flexibility and choice with the ability to match your client with a therapy assistant that suits you (e.g. hours, interests, experience).
Jacob Poole
Jacob Poole
15. March, 2021.
Fora is a company striving to help their clients working with therapists from external organisations. The workers are friendly and are there to help the clients to the best of their ability, providing home visits, community orientated sessions and also telehealth.
Ansley Landsman
Ansley Landsman
13. January, 2021.
I worked as a Therapy Assistant (Physiotherapy) during my last year as a Physiotherapy student. I absolutely LOVED working with my clients as well as the Fora staff. The Fora staff were always happy to answer any questions. They are very organised and pair you with clients that are in your area of interest. I recommend this company to my colleagues all the time! I am so pleased I chose Fora as a casual job during my last year of school as it gave me the opportunity to gain more experience. If you are a student in Occupational Therapy, Speech Pathology, or Physiotherapy, please consider applying! It is a fantastic company and you will gain experience outside of uni/placements!! Cannot recommend this company enough to both students looking to gain outside experience as well as potential clients who feel they may benefit!! :)
Jessica L
Jessica L
11. January, 2021.
I have enjoyed my time working with Fora as a therapy assistant. The administrative team was available when needed, and I have felt well supported especially during challenging client situations. The team is always looking for ways to improve their practice which is great to see in a growing organisation. I am very grateful for the experiences I have gained from working with them.

What can an Allied Health Assistant do?

Allied health assistant helping elderly man with walking in path way at home garden for relaxant or rehabilitation physiotherapy

Physiotherapy

Allied health assistant speech therapy concept. Young boy with autism correct pronunciation with a female speech therapy assistant.

Speech Pathology

Toddler girl in child occupational therapy session doing sensory playful exercises with her occupational therapy assistant.

Occupational Therapy

allied health assistant holds with his hands the head of a child with multiple disabilities, tetraplegia, during an aquatic therapy session in a swimming pool.

Hydrotherapy

Public Transport Training

Emotional Regulation

Morning Routines

Allied health assistant helps child on the autism spectrum at school

School Readiness

Am I eligible?

In general, we accept applicants from the following backgrounds:

Asian allied health university student smile to you at home

Allied health student

Currently enrolled university student in:

  • Speech Pathology
  • Occupational Therapy
  • Physiotherapy
  • Exercise Physiology
Portrait of a smiling young afro american man allied health assistant dressed in hoodie carrying backpack isolated, holding books

Certificate III or IV of Allied Health Assistance

Fully completed Cert III or Cert IV in Allied Health Assistance at a recognised institution

Allied health graduate

Completed a university degree from Australia or internationally in:

  • Speech Pathology
  • Occupational Therapy
  • Physiotherapy
  • Exercise Physiology

How do I begin?

Step 1: Create an account and get verified

To apply for a job as an allied health assistant begin by creating an account and answering some simple questions about who you are. Get verified by uploading your:

  • NDIS Worker Screening Check
  • Working with Children Check
  • NDIS orientation module
  • Professional referee details

Step 2: Meet with clients

Your dashboard shows you clients looking for an allied health assistant with your skill set. It's as easy as finding somebody close by and organising a time to meet.

View the Meet & Greet guide
Allied health professional teaching allied health assistant to work with two young boys

Step 3: Have a Team Meeting with your client and their allied health professional

Touch base with your client's allied health professional to learn about the client's goals and how you can assist in achieving them.

View the Team Meeting guide

Step 4: Regular sessions and check-ins

Carry out the tasks delegated to you by your client's allied health professional.

Keep the AHP in the loop via email, and regularly attend their regular sessions with the client. If this is not possible, you can check in using email, video or phone calls. The AHP will decide how frequently check-ins occur based on the needs of the client.

Frequently asked questions

What CAN an allied health assistant do?2022-08-12T11:06:18+11:00

An allied health assistant can:

  • Implement an allied health professional’s (AHPs) therapy strategies and programs in the client’s home or community. This includes instructing, encouraging, and assisting clients in performing therapy-related activities, as well as other daily living activities.
  • Interview a client at the Meet & Greet, receive and understand information about a client’s condition and healthcare history at the initial handover with the client’s AHP.
  • Help clients in using assistive technology or supportive devices if required.
  • Document sessions, progress and collect data via online timesheet and note-taking tool.
  • Relay the information provided by the client’s allied health professional to the clients and their carers; i.e. therapeutic regimens, general information, and promoting wellness and health maintenance.
  • Attend and observe a session between the client and the client’s allied health professional with permission from the client/client’s parent or guardian and AHP.
  • Maintain and monitor goal objectives as specified by the client’s allied health professional.
  • Contribute to an allied health professional’s effectiveness by identifying client care issues.
  • Maintain regular communication with the client’s allied health professional.
What am I signing up to?2022-08-12T11:06:14+11:00

By creating a Fora worker profile you’re letting us know you’d like to work casually as an Allied Health Assistant (AHA).

An allied health assistant’s role is to help a client build their capacity and increase their independence. You would do this by:

  • Helping clients to implement the therapy plan and strategies created by a qualified therapist or allied health professional (AHP).
  • Seeing clients between their appointments with their AHPs.
  • Helping clients practise and reinforce what they’ve learned with their allied health professionals.
What CAN’T an allied health assistant do?2022-08-12T11:06:11+11:00

It is crucial to recognise that an allied health assistant does not replace an allied health professional.

An allied health assistant MUST NOT:

  • Make an assessment, diagnosis or treatment plan for a client.
  • Modify a treatment plan in a way that has not been recommended by a therapist.
  • Verbally or in-writing make recommendations or suggestions about the treatment plan.
    • If therapy assistants are ever asked to write a report for the client, it must be strictly from a reflective and objective perspective.
    • I.e. therapy assistants can only make comments about their experiences and progress witnessed in the time working with the client. They must not include their opinions about what they think has or hasn’t been working, or what should be done next.
  • Share personal information about a client to any person outside the client’s therapy team.
    • All client information must be kept strictly confidential. This means de-identifying any information (not naming clients, their suburb, their place of work or school, their disability) when discussing work outside of Fora or with the client’s healthcare team. This includes any private discussion with friends or family or public discussions like in a hospital or university class.
Types of clients allied health assistants work with2022-08-12T11:06:01+11:00

Our allied health assistants handle caseloads of a variety of ages (from infants to the elderly) and conditions (physical and intellectual disabilities):

  • Paediatric clients have conditions that include ASD, ADHD, speech delays, global developmental delay, cerebral palsy, global coordination disorder, down syndrome, intellectual disability.
  • While adult clients present conditions such as post-stroke, multiple sclerosis, acquired brain injury, geriatrics, multiple sclerosis, muscular dystrophy, Parkinson’s disease and others.
What work do Physiotherapy allied health assistants do?2022-08-10T12:32:52+11:00
  • Physiotherapy allied health assistants often work with 
    • children living with cerebral palsy, muscular dystrophies, developmental delay, and 
    • adults who have had strokes or acquired brain injuries.
  • They handle muscular and neurological-based caseloads with a mix of tasks including rehabilitation, mobilisation, pain management, and preventative techniques.
What work do Occupational therapy allied health assistants do?2022-08-12T11:05:08+11:00

Occupational therapy allied health assistants:

  • Work with clients of all ages.
  • Tasks may include helping children with emotional regulation, routine management, practising fine and gross motor tasks, or assisting with hydrotherapy.
  • Help young adults with community engagement, public transport training and developing independence with ADLs. OT allied health assistants often work with children living with autism spectrum disorder, ADHD, sensory processing disorder, and other intellectual disabilities.
What work do Speech Therapy allied health assistants do?2022-08-12T11:04:38+11:00

Speech Pathology allied health assistants:

  • Work with clients of all ages.
  • Tasks include helping non-verbal individuals use augmentative and alternative communication devices, supporting individuals with social skills, and helping children reach developmental milestones.
  • Speech Therapy allied health assistants often work with children with autism spectrum disorder, developmental delay and other speech disorders.
Are allied health assistants required to assist with support work, personal care and hygiene activities?2022-08-12T11:05:18+11:00

You have no strict requirements regarding support work and personal care. You will be provided with information about a client’s needs before you apply to work with them.

An allied health assistant’s primary role is to help build a client’s capacity. This said, sometimes your role and responsibilities won’t appear ‘therapeutic’, e.g helping a client with an intellectual disability to get ready for school. However, it is important to remember that there are strategies you can use to help organise their thoughts and executive planning to increase your client’s independence.

When supporting a client in everyday tasks, remember to keep a client’s goals in mind and implement therapy strategies where appropriate. You can ask the client’s allied health professional to provide guidance on how to do this.

It’s a good idea to chat about any non-therapeutic work that the client may need help with while you’re working with them during your meet and greet. Depending on what your clients need are and how comfortable you feel with the type of additional activities they are requesting, you can decide how you would like to proceed.

You can

  • let them know you’d like to work with them but would prefer not to assist with anything that is non-therapeutic,
  • let them know you’d like to work with them but ask them to modify the activities to a level you feel comfortable helping with, or
  • choose not to proceed.

The main thing to keep in mind is that it’s always better to be open and honest from the get-go.

What kind of experience do I need to be an allied health assistant?2022-08-12T11:05:17+11:00

For clients, families, allied health professionals, and Fora to feel comfortable that you have the skills to be an allied health assistant, ideal candidates have the following experience and skills:

  • Work or volunteer experience working with children and adults with disabilities or mental health disorders
  • Completion of university or TAFE placements working with children or adults
  • Professional (paid work or volunteer) experience and/or personal experience with people with disabilities is also highly regarded (for example, support work, tutoring, babysitting, sports or swim coaching, special-school aiding or volunteering at disability organisations).
What if I don’t have much experience?2022-08-12T11:05:42+11:00

If you are in the earlier stages of your degree and do not have a lot of experience, you can still become an allied health assistant. In this case, we recommend you apply only to work with clients with low needs.

When working with a client with low needs, your role might be similar to that of a support worker. A support worker is somebody that helps an individual in their activities of daily life. These roles may require no input from allied health professionals and might be unrelated to your therapy domain.

They may involve tasks like:

  • Supporting somebody to attend social and community activities
  • Assisting with everyday activities such as grocery shopping, cooking a meal, completing homework or getting ready for school
  • Pick-up and drop-offs to school or therapy sessions, as some people do not have the capacity to independently take public transport

These roles are a great way to develop your experience in working with people with disabilities and may allow you to step into more therapy-based roles later in your studies.

Am I suitable to be an allied health assistant?2022-08-12T11:05:55+11:00

To be eligible to apply, you must have at least ONE of the following:

  • Be currently enrolled in or have graduated from the following accredited Australian university degrees:
    • Occupational Therapy
    • Physiotherapy
    • Speech Pathology
  • Completion of a Physiotherapy, Occupational Therapy or Speech Pathology degree at an international university
  • Completion of a Certificate IV in Allied Health Assistance
What is the process if there’s a work-related injury?2022-08-12T11:05:58+11:00
  1. Both Fora and the allied health assistant will fill out a worker injury claim form
  2. We will send the form to our insurance company
  3. The insurance company will investigate
  4. The insurance company decides next steps and informs parties involved
Who is responsible for an allied health assistant?2022-08-12T11:05:04+11:00
  • Fora assumes all responsibility for the actions of our allied health assistants and provides all the necessary insurances, i.e. Professional Indemnity, Public Liability and WorkCover Insurance.
  • A client’s AHP is not liable for the actions of Fora’s allied health assistant.
    • Allied health assistants do not fall under the professional indemnity insurance of client’s therapists, they are covered by Fora. This said, it is expected that tasks are delegated within the competency of the family or allied health assistant.
    • This means we are responsible for everything an allied health assistant does as long as what you’ve delegated to them is within their competency
      • i.e. if they are following your plan and make a mistake or go out of scope it’s under our liability
      • if you delegate something that is not appropriate for the client or the allied health to do, and then it’s under your liability
  • Fora will remove allied health assistants from any role/s where:
    • there is an unsafe work environment
    • they are not appropriately guided by an AHP”
How much do allied health assistants get paid?2022-08-12T11:04:53+11:00

For sessions less than 2 hours long the pay structure is as follows:

Day Minimum pay per session Minimum pay per session incl. superannuation
Weekdays $60.80 $67.18
Saturday $77.40 $85.52
Sunday $99.60 $110.05

For 1.5 hour sessions, note-writing time will now be included in the 2-hour minimum pay.

For sessions lasting 2-hours or more the pay structure is as follows:

 

Day Pay per hour Pay for note-writing Minimum pay per session
Weekdays $36.00 $5.70 $85.86
Saturday $49.00 $5.70 $114.59
Sunday $62.00 $5.70 $143.32
Public Holidays $65.00 $5.70 $149.95

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