2008 SARRAH Conference

About the 2008 SARRAH National Conference

The 8th SARRAH National Conference was hosted by the Rydges Capricorn Resort, Yeppoon in Queensland from 27-30 September 2008.

It was trhe 8th national conference for rural and remote allied health professionals (AHPs) and represented the ideal vanue for those with an interest in and concern about the delivery of allied health services in rural and remote communities to come together. This conferenced represented an opportunity to share many of the unique challenges faced by AHPs across Australia. Delegates were able to take time out and reflect on their professional practice, immersed themselves in dialogue about the future of rural and remote allied health and most importantly create networks with like minded colleagues. Delegates attending the 2008 SARRAH National Conference embraced the overarching theme:

“Many Paddocks: One Herd”

Concepts that were explored within the idea of Many Paddocks: One Herd included:.

• Educate-a-bull and Train-a-bull: Innovation by Universities, Departments of Rural Health and other education providers
• Employ-a-bull and Retain-a-bull: Recruitment and retention strategies and innovation in recruitment of staff
• Deliver-a-bull and Sustain-a-bull: Outcomes measurement of allied health interventions / programs for the client
• Measure-a-bull: Building allied health research capacity in rural and remote Australia
• No-bull: Stories about issues faced by rural and remote allied health professionals

The conference attracted AHPs working in rural and remote areas and managers of these services; workforce planners, developers and funders of health policy and programs relating to rural and remote allied health services, educators of allied health professionals and consumers of these services who are interested in the dynamic developments in allied health services.

Allied health professions were considered to be those providing a clinical service with direct client contact involved in assessment, diagnosis, treatment, management, clinical intervention, rehabilitation, patient education and health promotion; with a recognised university degree or equivalent tertiary qualification. For example: audiologists, dietetics, medical radiation science, occupational therapy, optometry, orthoptics, orthotics and prosthetics, pharmacy, physiotherapy, podiatry, psychology, social work and speech pathology.

Conference Sponsors

SARRAH would like to thank the financial sponsors of the 2008 SARRAH National Conference for their support of this event

Australian Government Department of Health and Ageing

Queensland Government Department of Health

Community Rehabilitation Workforce Project