How To Become An Allied Health Assistant in Australia

Allied Health Assistants are key links in the healthcare chain, making sure patients gain the care they need and ensuring the whole process remains streamlined and organised. The role is critical to the provision of medical care in Australia.

What is an Allied Health Assistant?

Allied Health Assistants combine medical understanding and administrative capabilities to keep treatment pathways flowing smoothly.

While patients will meet with medical professionals face-to-face, it is these Allied Health Assistants who build and maintain the framework in which these meetings are conducted.

This may take place within a hospital environment, a medical or dental clinic, or in another setting like a school or a community health centre.

What does an Allied Health Assistant do?

As an Allied Health Assistant, you will be tasked with a number of different duties and roles. These include:

• Coordination of treatment – Developing a schedule for health assessments, in-person support, and treatment plans under the guidance of clinical health professionals

• Patient status monitoring – Keeping track of the current health status of all patients and communicating any status changes to clinical health professionals in the facility

• Clinical administration – Completing reports and supporting documentation, putting together patient treatment records, and overseeing the collection and organisation of relevant documents

What is the demand for Allied Health Assistants in Australia?

There is a high demand for Allied Health Assistants in Australia right now, and it is growing. Back in 2020, it was estimated that there were around 195,000 Allied Health professionals operating in Australia, which translated to around a quarter of the entire healthcare workforce.

Today, the number of Allied Health professionals exceeds 200,000 – an increase of around 2.5%. While this might not seem like so much, it translates to a significant shift as a proportion of the workforce. Allied Health professionals now make up a third of the healthcare workforce.

The demand looks to be growing. It is estimated that the need for Allied Health Assistants will increase by 15.5% over the next five years. Right now, there are almost 3,200 unfilled positions in Australia.

What qualifications do you need to become an Allied Health Assistant in Australia?

Certificate III in Allied Health Assistant

To get started on your Allied Health Assistant career path, you'll first need to get qualified. The main qualification you will need is Certificate III from the Institute of Allied Health.

This Allied Health Assistant qualification includes training on:

- Supporting Allied Health professionals in a clinical and administrative environment

- Handling workplace health and safety

- Assisting with the implementation of an Allied Health program

- Utilising and understanding Allied Health vocabulary and terminology

Certificate IV in Allied Health Assistant

Certificate III is the foundation you will need to enter into an Allied Health Assistant job. To achieve a higher level of capability in this field, you will need to take Certificate IV with the Institute of Allied Health.

With Certificate IV, you will receive training on:

- Assisting with the development and implementation of Allied Health programs and conducting group sessions

- Developing the skills and understanding required to make a real difference in the health and community sector

- Gaining transferable skills that you can use as you provide real advantages to any Allied Health space you work within

Gaining Certificate IV opens the door to more advanced roles and can help you earn a higher Allied Health Assistant pay rate. Both certificates require a degree of on-the-job experience and direct, practical training.

How much do Allied Health Assistants earn?

Understanding the Allied Health Assistant pay rate and salary will help you decide whether this is the right role for you.

Currently, the Average Health Assistant salary in Australia is between $60,000 and $75,000 annually. In January 2025, the typical salary for jobs listed was around $70,000 a year.

To put this into perspective, the average Australian salary across the board for entry-level positions is around $69,000, which means the Allied Health Assistant salary is roughly average – or slightly above average – in Australia right now.

How do you know if Allied Health Assistant is the right career for you?

People enter roles as Allied Health Assistant from all types of background and from all walks of life. However, there are a few attributes that all Allied Health Assistants tend to share, which make it easier to handle this kind of work.

A passion for healthcare

While this is not a clinical role, it is key to the administration and implementation of healthcare. The ideal candidates will be highly passionate about healthcare and will have a strong desire to make a real difference in this field.

An organised mindset

Among the key tasks of an Allied Healthcare Assistance are organisation and administration. If you are used to this kind of work and tend to apply organisational principles to your own life and surroundings, this could be a good fit for you as a job.

A desire to help others

At its core, this profession is geared towards helping others live happy and healthy lives. This is a key motivator for many people who decide to enter this field, and this kind of compassionate view is a common trait among successful Allied Health Assistant candidates.

A problem-solving focus

One of the top aims of this kind of role is to achieve the smooth and frictionless implementation of Allied Health programs. This means encountering obstacles and then overcoming those obstacles in an effective manner.

How to become an Allied Health Assistant: Taking your first steps

As you consider how to become an Allied Health Assistant, the first step on your journey is to get qualified. This not only gives you the skills you need to fulfil this role to the best of your ability but also helps you stand out from the crowd as a candidate and shows potential employers what you can do.

To begin, take the HLT33021 Certificate III in Allied Health Assistance, a 12-month online course involving full-time study and a work placement of 120 hours in an Allied Health environment.

To further develop your skills, consider the HLT43021 Certificate IV in Allied Health Assistance, a 12-month online course involving full-time study and a work placement of 120 hours in an Allied Health environment.

With these certifications, you are ready to make your first move into this rewarding and fulfilling career path. Enrol today to get started, or reach out to our team to find out more about Allied Health Assistant careers and certification.

Allied Health Assistant FAQs

Is being an Allied Health Assistant a good job?

Most would consider Allied Health Assistant roles to be good jobs. The pay rate is currently slightly above the Australian average for an entry-level position, and the job gives you the chance to make a real difference in the lives of so many people right across the country.

What are the limitations of an Allied Health Assistant?

While working in this role does require a degree of medical knowledge and understanding, it is not a clinical role and there is no direct application of treatment. Some may find this limiting, especially if they prefer a more direct role in healthcare provision.

Are healthcare assistants considered Allied Health professionals?

Yes, an Allied Healthcare Assistant is one role within the broader Allied Health ecosystem. Assistants are also considered professionals, as this is a professional role within the healthcare sector.