16 Jul 2025

What Do Allied Health Assistants Do?

Allied Health Assistant roles put you right where the action is — supporting patients through their treatment journeys and working with healthcare specialists to deliver quality care.

It's hands-on, rewarding work where you see the direct impact of your efforts on people's health and wellbeing. If you're drawn to meaningful healthcare, Allied Health Assistant roles could be exactly what you're looking for.

What is an Allied Health Assistant?

Allied health professionals are healthcare workers beyond doctors and nurses who focus on rehabilitation, therapy and patient support. This includes occupations like audiology, physiotherapy, occupational therapy and speech pathology.

Allied Health Assistants are needed to help these health professionals with their day-to-day administrative tasks and patient care, which is where you could come in.

What does an Allied Health Assistant do?

According to the Allied Health Assistant framework by Queensland Health, Allied Health Assistants are also responsible for (but not limited to):

Assisting in administrative operations and reporting
Liaising with patients
Maintaining a comfortable and supportive environment
Supporting and assisting Allied Health practitioners

An Allied Health Assistant will also have a basic knowledge of medical terms and the skills to assist in patient care and keep up infection prevention and control standards. Communication skills are just as important as the role relies on clear back and forth between professionals and patients.

Career outcomes in Allied Health Assistance

Allied Health Assistance opens up a few different career directions. You can work across different areas or find your niche in one specialty that really clicks with you.

Allied Health Assistant

This is your all-rounder role — perfect if you want to try a bit of everything. You'll work alongside Physiotherapists, Occupational Therapists, Audiologists, Exercise Physiologists and other specialists, picking up skills from each area. They'll guide you through treatment programs and activities with patients.

Physiotherapy Assistant

As a Physiotherapy Assistant, your job is helping people get back on their feet. You'll support patients through their treatment plans, whether they're recovering from injuries or dealing with a chronic illness or disability.

Occupational Therapy Assistant

Occupational Therapy Assistants work under Occupational Therapists to help disabled and injured people live their lives more independently. Here, 'occupational' means all the everyday stuff we do, like showering, cooking and working.

Nutrition and Dietetics Assistant

Nutrition and Dietetics Assistants team up with nutrition professionals to help people sort out their eating habits and health issues. Whether someone's dealing with diabetes, food allergies or just wants to eat better, you're there to guide them through the process.

Where does an Allied Health Assistant work?

The great thing about being an Allied Health Assistant is that you are not limited to your job opportunities or job location! You have the flexibility to decide when and where you want to work in your preferred specialty! Most of the time, this is a private or public hospital, aged care facility or specialist's clinic.

Allied Health Assistance industry trends

With plenty of flexibility and job opportunities in this career pathway, allied health workers are becoming more and more popular. Rising numbers of 1.5 million people are being employed throughout the health care and social assistance sector, according to Labour Market Insights.

If you’re searching for your next career opportunity and ready to take on healthcare, then now is the time!

How to become an Allied Health Assistant

A career in allied health is hands-on and rewarding, so if you love the idea of helping others through health care, becoming an Allied Health Assistant might be just what you’re looking for! Here’s what you need to study to get into allied health.

HLT33021 Certificate III in Allied Health Assistance

Our HLT33021 Certificate III in Allied Health Assistance will give you the skills to work under the delegation of allied health professionals. On completion of your Certificate III in Allied Health Assistance, you may progress to work as an Allied Health Assistant, Occupational Therapy Assistant or a Physiotherapy Assistant.

HLT43021 Certificate IV in Allied Health Assistance

Want to build on your Certificate III skills? The HLT43021 Certificate IV in Allied Health Assistance gives you more advanced knowledge to support allied health professionals across specialised areas. You'll be better equipped to handle complex patient needs and take on greater responsibility in your role, opening doors to higher-level positions and better pay.

Study Allied Health Assisting with Foundation Education

Looking to study Allied Health Assisting? Foundation Education's flexible study means you can get your certificate around your current commitments — work, family or whatever else you've got going on. And what’s more, as the learning is online with full support from our health team and with payment plans to suit, access to this new career could be closer than you think.

So, if you think a career in allied health could be what you’re made for, call one of Foundation Education’s friendly Careers Advisors today at 1300 616 197 to discuss your future in the healthcare industry.