Enhancing Rural Allied Health Workforce Sustainability: A Comprehensive Examination of Perspectives on Recruitment and Retention among Rural Allied Health Professionals and Final Year Allied Health Students
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| Saturday, June 14, 2025 |
| 11:20 AM - 11:30 AM |
| Knowledge Hub | Halls MNO, Ground Level |
Overview
Hannah Hill and Elizabeth Quixley
Details
⏫ Research insights
⏲️ 11.20m - 11.30am
⌛ 10-minutes
📚 Assumed knowledge of attendees: Foundational (new/casual familiarity with the topic e.g. treated a single case)
⏲️ 11.20m - 11.30am
⌛ 10-minutes
📚 Assumed knowledge of attendees: Foundational (new/casual familiarity with the topic e.g. treated a single case)
Presenter
Miss Hannah Hill
Lively Eaters Feeding Therapy
Enhancing Rural Allied Health Workforce Sustainability: A Comprehensive Examination of Perspectives on Recruitment and Retention among Rural Allied Health Professionals and Final Year Allied Health Students
11:20 AM - 11:30 AMPresentation summary
The recruitment and retention of allied health professionals (AHPs) in rural communities in Australia remains a critical challenge, contributing to the scarcity of essential allied health services in these areas. Understanding the perspectives of AHPs and final-year allied health students is vital for addressing this issue, particularly as these insights can inform strategies to improve workforce stability in rural settings.
This study used a mixed-methods approach with an embedded design, gathering data through online surveys via Qualtrics. The participants included 65 final year allied health students, 45 rural AHPs and 5 metropolitan-based AHPs with prior rural experience, from South Australia and Western New South Wales. Quantitative data was analysed using SPSS, while qualitative responses were examined through NVivo. The study aimed to compare student perceptions with those of current AHPs, focusing on factors that influence employment decisions and retention in rural areas. The open-ended survey responses provided nuanced insights into these factors.
Key findings indicate that improving connections to rural communities and providing positive placement experiences are crucial for attracting and retaining new graduates. Additionally, enhancing professional support and access to interdisciplinary work opportunities in rural areas emerged as significant factors. The study revealed discrepancies between student perceptions and the realities faced by practicing AHPs, highlighting areas where targeted interventions could bridge this gap.
The research contributes to the field by emphasising the importance of tailored recruitment and retention strategies for rural AHPs. By addressing the specific needs and perceptions of both students and new graduate professionals, employers can better support the upcoming rural allied health workforce, ultimately improving service delivery in these communities.
This study used a mixed-methods approach with an embedded design, gathering data through online surveys via Qualtrics. The participants included 65 final year allied health students, 45 rural AHPs and 5 metropolitan-based AHPs with prior rural experience, from South Australia and Western New South Wales. Quantitative data was analysed using SPSS, while qualitative responses were examined through NVivo. The study aimed to compare student perceptions with those of current AHPs, focusing on factors that influence employment decisions and retention in rural areas. The open-ended survey responses provided nuanced insights into these factors.
Key findings indicate that improving connections to rural communities and providing positive placement experiences are crucial for attracting and retaining new graduates. Additionally, enhancing professional support and access to interdisciplinary work opportunities in rural areas emerged as significant factors. The study revealed discrepancies between student perceptions and the realities faced by practicing AHPs, highlighting areas where targeted interventions could bridge this gap.
The research contributes to the field by emphasising the importance of tailored recruitment and retention strategies for rural AHPs. By addressing the specific needs and perceptions of both students and new graduate professionals, employers can better support the upcoming rural allied health workforce, ultimately improving service delivery in these communities.
Refrences
Andrade, C. (2020). The Limitations of Online Surveys. Indian Journal of Psychological Medicine, 42(6), 575-576.
Australian Institute of Health and Welfare. (2024). Rural and Remote Health. Australian Government – Australian Institute of Health and Welfare. https://www.aihw.gov.au/reports/rural-remote-australians/rural-and-remote-health
Brown, L., Smith, T., Wakely, L.,M. Wolfgang, R., Little, A. & Burrows, J. (2017). Longitudinal Tracking of Workplace Outcomes for Undergraduate Allied Health Students Undertaking Placements in Rural Australia. Journal of Allied Health, 46(2), 79-87.
Beeler, E., Brenton-Rule, A., & Carroll, M. (2022). Recruitment and retention of the rural podiatry workforce in Aotearoa New Zealand: a qualitative descriptive study of podiatrist perceptions. Journal of Foot and Ankle Research, 15 (1), 1-8.
Campbell, N., Eley, D. S., & McAllister, L. (2016). How do allied health professionals construe the role of the remote workforce? New insight into their recruitment and retention. PloS One, 11(12).
Campbell, N., McAllister, L., & Eley, D. (2012). The influence of motivation in recruitment and retention of rural and remote allied health professionals: a literature review. Rural and remote health, 12, 1900.
Cosgrove, C. (2020). Context Matters: Findings from a Qualitative Study Exploring Service and Place Factors Influencing the Recruitment and Retention of Allied Health Professionals in Rural Australian Public Health Services. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 17(16), 5815-5842.
Couch, A., Hylton, M. B., Coker, F., White, J., Haines, T., & Williams, C. (2021). Factors that influence workplace location choices in the different allied health professions: A systematic review. The Australian Journal of Rural Health, 29(6), 823-834.
Devine, S. G., Williams, G., & Nielsen, I. (2013). Rural Allied Health Scholarships: do they make a difference?. The International Electronic Journal of Rural and Remote Health Research, Education, Practice and Policy, 13(4), 2459-2742.
DiCicco-Bloom, B. and Crabtree, B.F. (2006), The qualitative research interview. Medical Education, 40: 314-321.
Dhakal, K. (2022). Nvivo. Journal of the Medical Library Association, 110(2), 270-272.
Durey, A., Haigh, M., & Katzenellenbogen, J. M. (2015). What Role can the Rural Pipeline Play in the Recruitment and Retention of Allied Health Professionals? The International Electronic Journal of Rural and Remote Health Research, Education, Practice and Policy, 15(3), 3438-3449.
Fetters, M., Curry, L., & Creswell, J. (2013). Achieving Intergration in Mixed-Method Designs – Principles and Practices. Health Services Research, 48(6), 2134-2156.
Franke, T. M., Ho, T., & Christie, C. A. (2011). The Chi-Square Test: Often Used and More Often Misinterpreted. American Journal of Evaluation, 33(3), 448-458. https://doi.org/10.1177/1098214011426594
Hess, A.S., & Hess, J.R. (2017). Understanding tests of the association of categorical variables: the Pearson chi-square test and Fisher's exact test. Transfusion, 57, 877-879..
IBM Corp. (2023). IBM Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (version 29.0.1.0) https://www.ibm.com/products/spss-statistics.
Kumar, S., Tian, E. J., May, E., Crouch, R., & McCulloch, M. (2020). “You get exposed to a wider range of things and it can be challenging but very exciting at the same time”: enablers of and barriers to transition to rural practice by allied health professionals in Australia. BMC Health Services Research, 20(1), 105-119.
Maurer, C., Alexander, I., Nezic, L., Woods, S., & Humphries, B. (2024). A Mixed-Methods Approach to Examining the Experiences of Allied Health Clinicians and Managers of the Performance, Appraisal, and Development Framework in a Regional Health Care Service. The Australian Journal of Rural Health, 32(1), 103-116.
McAuliffe, T., & Barnett, F. (2009). Factors influencing occupational therapy students’ perceptions of rural and remote practice. Rural and Remote Health, 9(1), 1078-1090.
Miles, E., Adams, R., Anaf, S., & Sheppard, L. (2010). Factors Identified by Physiotherapists that Influence the Retention of Regional Clinicians: A Qualitative Investigation. The Internet Journal of Allied Health Sciences and Practice, 8(1), 1-6.
Moran, A., Nancarrow, S., Cosgrave, C., Griffith, A., & Memery, R. (2020). What works, why and how? A scoping review and logic model of rural clinical placements for allied health students. BMC Health Services Research, 20, 866.
Nvivo. (2023). Nvivo. (version 14). https://help-nv.qsrinternational.com/20/win/Content/about-nvivo/installation.htm
Peterson, M., Nielsen, S., & Olson, D. (2024). Recruitment and Retention of Allied Health Professionals: A Scoping Review. Rural and Remote Health, 24(2), 8374-8388.
Smith, T., Cross, M., Waller, S., Chambers, H., Farthing, A., Barraclough, F., Pit, S. W., Sutton, K., Muyambi, K., King, S., & Anderson, J. (2018). Ruralization of students’ horizons: insights into Australian health professional students’ rural and remote placements. Journal of Multidisciplinary Healthcare, 11, 85-97.
Spiers, M., & Harris, M. (2015). Challenges to student transition in allied health undergraduate education in the Australian rural and remote context: a synthesis of barriers and enablers. Rural and Remote Health, 15(2), 3069-3086.
Qualtrics (2005). Qualtrics. Utah, United States America. Version July 2024. Available at: https://www.qualtrics.com.
Roots, R., & Li, L. C. (2013). Recruitment and retention of occupational therapists and physiotherapists in rural regions: a meta-synthesis. BMC Health Services Research, 13(1), 59-72.
Wasti, S., Simkhada, P., Teijlingen, E., Sathian, B., & Banerjee, I. (2022). The Growing Importance of Mixed-Methods Research in Health. Nepal Journal of Epidemiology, 12(1), 1175-1178.
Wolfgang, R., Wakely, L., Smith, T., Burrows, J., Little, A., & Brown, L. J. (2019). Immersive placement experiences promote rural intent in allied health students of urban and rural origin. Journal of Multidisciplinary Healthcare, 12, 699-710. https://doi.org/10.2147/JMDH.S214120
World Health Organization. (2024). Social Determinants of Health. World Health Organization. https://www.who.int/health-topics/social-determinants-of-health#tab=tab_1.
Australian Institute of Health and Welfare. (2024). Rural and Remote Health. Australian Government – Australian Institute of Health and Welfare. https://www.aihw.gov.au/reports/rural-remote-australians/rural-and-remote-health
Brown, L., Smith, T., Wakely, L.,M. Wolfgang, R., Little, A. & Burrows, J. (2017). Longitudinal Tracking of Workplace Outcomes for Undergraduate Allied Health Students Undertaking Placements in Rural Australia. Journal of Allied Health, 46(2), 79-87.
Beeler, E., Brenton-Rule, A., & Carroll, M. (2022). Recruitment and retention of the rural podiatry workforce in Aotearoa New Zealand: a qualitative descriptive study of podiatrist perceptions. Journal of Foot and Ankle Research, 15 (1), 1-8.
Campbell, N., Eley, D. S., & McAllister, L. (2016). How do allied health professionals construe the role of the remote workforce? New insight into their recruitment and retention. PloS One, 11(12).
Campbell, N., McAllister, L., & Eley, D. (2012). The influence of motivation in recruitment and retention of rural and remote allied health professionals: a literature review. Rural and remote health, 12, 1900.
Cosgrove, C. (2020). Context Matters: Findings from a Qualitative Study Exploring Service and Place Factors Influencing the Recruitment and Retention of Allied Health Professionals in Rural Australian Public Health Services. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 17(16), 5815-5842.
Couch, A., Hylton, M. B., Coker, F., White, J., Haines, T., & Williams, C. (2021). Factors that influence workplace location choices in the different allied health professions: A systematic review. The Australian Journal of Rural Health, 29(6), 823-834.
Devine, S. G., Williams, G., & Nielsen, I. (2013). Rural Allied Health Scholarships: do they make a difference?. The International Electronic Journal of Rural and Remote Health Research, Education, Practice and Policy, 13(4), 2459-2742.
DiCicco-Bloom, B. and Crabtree, B.F. (2006), The qualitative research interview. Medical Education, 40: 314-321.
Dhakal, K. (2022). Nvivo. Journal of the Medical Library Association, 110(2), 270-272.
Durey, A., Haigh, M., & Katzenellenbogen, J. M. (2015). What Role can the Rural Pipeline Play in the Recruitment and Retention of Allied Health Professionals? The International Electronic Journal of Rural and Remote Health Research, Education, Practice and Policy, 15(3), 3438-3449.
Fetters, M., Curry, L., & Creswell, J. (2013). Achieving Intergration in Mixed-Method Designs – Principles and Practices. Health Services Research, 48(6), 2134-2156.
Franke, T. M., Ho, T., & Christie, C. A. (2011). The Chi-Square Test: Often Used and More Often Misinterpreted. American Journal of Evaluation, 33(3), 448-458. https://doi.org/10.1177/1098214011426594
Hess, A.S., & Hess, J.R. (2017). Understanding tests of the association of categorical variables: the Pearson chi-square test and Fisher's exact test. Transfusion, 57, 877-879.
IBM Corp. (2023). IBM Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (version 29.0.1.0) https://www.ibm.com/products/spss-statistics.
Kumar, S., Tian, E. J., May, E., Crouch, R., & McCulloch, M. (2020). “You get exposed to a wider range of things and it can be challenging but very exciting at the same time”: enablers of and barriers to transition to rural practice by allied health professionals in Australia. BMC Health Services Research, 20(1), 105-119.
Maurer, C., Alexander, I., Nezic, L., Woods, S., & Humphries, B. (2024). A Mixed-Methods Approach to Examining the Experiences of Allied Health Clinicians and Managers of the Performance, Appraisal, and Development Framework in a Regional Health Care Service. The Australian Journal of Rural Health, 32(1), 103-116.
McAuliffe, T., & Barnett, F. (2009). Factors influencing occupational therapy students’ perceptions of rural and remote practice. Rural and Remote Health, 9(1), 1078-1090.
Miles, E., Adams, R., Anaf, S., & Sheppard, L. (2010). Factors Identified by Physiotherapists that Influence the Retention of Regional Clinicians: A Qualitative Investigation. The Internet Journal of Allied Health Sciences and Practice, 8(1), 1-6.
Moran, A., Nancarrow, S., Cosgrave, C., Griffith, A., & Memery, R. (2020). What works, why and how? A scoping review and logic model of rural clinical placements for allied health students. BMC Health Services Research, 20, 866.
Nvivo. (2023). Nvivo. (version 14). https://help-nv.qsrinternational.com/20/win/Content/about-nvivo/installation.htm
Peterson, M., Nielsen, S., & Olson, D. (2024). Recruitment and Retention of Allied Health Professionals: A Scoping Review. Rural and Remote Health, 24(2), 8374-8388.
Smith, T., Cross, M., Waller, S., Chambers, H., Farthing, A., Barraclough, F., Pit, S. W., Sutton, K., Muyambi, K., King, S., & Anderson, J. (2018). Ruralization of students’ horizons: insights into Australian health professional students’ rural and remote placements. Journal of Multidisciplinary Healthcare, 11, 85-97.
Spiers, M., & Harris, M. (2015). Challenges to student transition in allied health undergraduate education in the Australian rural and remote context: a synthesis of barriers and enablers. Rural and Remote Health, 15(2), 3069-3086.
Qualtrics (2005). Qualtrics. Utah, United States America. Version July 2024. Available at: https://www.qualtrics.com.
Roots, R., & Li, L. C. (2013). Recruitment and retention of occupational therapists and physiotherapists in rural regions: a meta-synthesis. BMC Health Services Research, 13(1), 59-72.
Wasti, S., Simkhada, P., Teijlingen, E., Sathian, B., & Banerjee, I. (2022). The Growing Importance of Mixed-Methods Research in Health. Nepal Journal of Epidemiology, 12(1), 1175-1178.
Wolfgang, R., Wakely, L., Smith, T., Burrows, J., Little, A., & Brown, L. J. (2019). Immersive placement experiences promote rural intent in allied health students of urban and rural origin. Journal of Multidisciplinary Healthcare, 12, 699-710. https://doi.org/10.2147/JMDH.S214120
World Health Organization. (2024). Social Determinants of Health. World Health Organization. https://www.who.int/health-topics/social-determinants-of-health#tab=tab_1.
**********
Miss Elizabeth Quixley
Novita
Enhancing Rural Allied Health Workforce Sustainability: A Comprehensive Examination of Perspectives on Recruitment and Retention among Rural Allied Health Professionals and Final Year Allied Health Students
11:20 AM - 11:30 AM**********
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