Hills District Speech Therapy is proud to offer Allied Health Assistant (AHA) service for current and new speech therapy and occupational therapy clients.

Allied health assistants (AHA) (interchangeable with the term ‘Therapy Assistants’) are employed/contracted to support the work of allied health professionals (AHP) (O’Brien et al., 2020). They can provide support services in a range of settings in varying areas of practice for clients of all ages (O’Brien et al., 2020). AHAs must be supervised by an AHP when performing non-clinical, administrative, and clinical duties that require direct client contact.

At Hills District Speech Therapy, our AHAs are trained to perform duties in the following three areas, as guided by the NSW Government Allied Health Assistant Framework: Revised Edition: Clinical, Administration: Clinical Support and Administration: Admin Support. Our current AHA team consists of university students completing a masters program in speech pathology.

What’s included in our AHA Packages?

Why use our AHA services?

Our AHA services are a wonderful option for clients currently on a waiting list to see a speech pathologist. Our AHAs are supervised by certified practicing speech pathologists, and complete extensive training to ensure they can adequate provide therapeutic services to clients of all ages in a range of practice areas. Our AHA services are also fantastic for families wanting:

  • A cost effective solution to targeting speech and language goals
  • To commence therapy immediately
  • Flexible options around days and times for sessions
  • To trial an alternative pathway for accessing speech & language services
  • Additional therapy sessions to facilitate learning and progress
  • To access an AHA as per their NDIS plan

Learn more about AHAs

What to Expect when engaging with our AHA services

Prior to engaging with our AHA services, the following is required:

  • Full assessment with a SP/OT (or assessment that is at least 11 months old)
  • Assigning of client to a supervising clinician

To commence an AHA service, initial set up time (non face to face)  is required by the supervising speech pathologist to:

  • Review goals, progress and need
  • Set up goals
  • Set up programming
  • Training of the AHA
  • Correspondence between stakeholders

Time required varies and will be between 1.5 hours and 2.5 hours. If less time is required, you will be billed at the lesser rate.

Extra time may be required for the supervising clinician to develop/ alter the program during the term. If this occurs, the clinician will discuss this in advance with the client – and a further quote will be provided based on complexity and goals required

Enquire about our AHA services

For more information or to book your child in for speech pathology services with one of our AHAs, please fill in the form below. A member of our intake team will be in contact with you soon!