Thursday, 14 October, is Allied Health Day, where we recognise the significant contribution Allied Health Professionals and Assistants make in caring for our community.
Allied Health has demonstrated this year’s theme, Stronger Together, through responding to the challenges of managing COVID-19. From clinical roles in the Emergency Department and ICU to those assisting with contact tracing and vaccination, Allied Health has offered support and assistance in our response to COVID-19.
During this time, managers, educators, and clinicians have also worked with the Student Coordinator team to move and adapt clinical placements to give future clinicians the best experiences possible.
We would like to share some heart-warming feedback that Allied Health has received as they provide care to families during times of crisis, which are made more complex by COVID-19 and restrictions.
Earlier this year, a family described the care given to their father from clinical and non-clinical teams across the professions and the kindness they witnessed and experienced when their father was in palliative care. They said;
“I have never met a more caring bunch of strangers. I guess another example for us was whoever arranged for the music therapist to walk in and play for Dad. If you ever wanted to see two grown men burst in tears at an act of kindness, that was it – we lost it, but only because we were once again overwhelmed with the care Dad was being shown.”
Another example of Allied Health demonstrating they are Stronger Together in caring for our community comes from feedback provided by a stroke survivor following a recent rehabilitation admission. They speak to the incredible impact that Allied Health played in facilitating their recovery. They wrote;
“My life changed in an instant when I suffered a stroke at home. [In rehabilitation] it was very clear that this would be a collaborative effort, side by side, working together, setting goals and celebrating even the smallest of achievements. Recovery from stroke was very much a darkened room, so to suddenly find these people who could shine a light, and illuminate for me what the possibilities were, was an enormous breakthrough…these wonderful people worked with me to make those possibilities a reality…Not too many of us get a second chance in life… and my gratitude will be everlasting.”
This year the Mental Health Program initiated a service in Casey Emergency, providing psychosocial support to people whose distress was related primarily to family violence, homelessness or inadequate community-based supports.
The service provides follow-up with the consumer and family/carer to collaboratively select and engage the supports in the community that best meet the consumers’ needs. This helps calm the person in Emergency, addresses the reason for their presentation in a timely way and helps to avoid re-presentation to emergency services. One consumer wrote;
“…I didn’t understand a lot of things at Court, and she (social worker) stayed with me…She has referred me to services like legal support and Victims of Crime Assistance Tribunal… I can now see my friends, play my music, make my own decisions and have my own life away from my [partner]… who was controlling and abusive to me. [Social worker]… has been good to me by listening to me and providing practical help…she is like an angel.”
We would like to thank all Allied Health Professionals and Assistants for everything you do in caring for our community. Happy Allied Health Day!
Approved by Deb Mitchell.