Championing Allied Health Professionals in Australia and New Zealand
As CEO of the ASA, I’ve witnessed the profound impact allied health professionals have on our healthcare systems. On 14 October, we celebrate Allied Health Professionals Day—a day dedicated to recognising their invaluable contributions across Australia and New Zealand. This is the perfect opportunity to reflect on the critical role they play in ensuring the health and wellbeing of our communities and part of the ongoing celebration of Medical Ultrasound Awareness Month during October.
With around 200,000 allied health professionals in Australia and over 30,000 in New Zealand, these experts provide a wide range of services, from genetic counselling to physiotherapy and midwifery. They work closely with doctors, nurses, and other healthcare professionals to deliver the best outcomes for patients. I encourage all sonographers to join in this celebration and appreciate the teamwork that drives success in healthcare.
A Collaborative Healthcare System
Healthcare is built on collaboration. It’s not just about a few professions, but a network of highly skilled individuals working together to provide comprehensive care. Sonographers, for example, deliver critical diagnostic insights that guide patient treatment. Sonographers collaborate with genetic counsellors, who provide families with important information about potential health risks, and with physiotherapists to support patients through rehabilitation and recovery. The expert knowledge of sonographers also feeds directly into the work of midwives as they bring new life into the world, and helps them to ensure safe deliveries for both mother and baby.
Allied health professionals are especially vital in supporting society’s most vulnerable. Whether helping the elderly manage chronic conditions or assisting individuals with disabilities in their daily lives, allied health professionals provide steady, expert care that makes a real difference. Their work ensures patients across Australia and New Zealand receive the best care throughout their health journeys.
Allied Health at Every Life Stage
Allied health professionals are present at every stage of life. For many families, the journey begins with a sonographer capturing that first tiny heartbeat during an ultrasound. A midwife then guides the parents through pregnancy and safe delivery. As children grow, they may need a genetic counsellor to understand inherited health risks or a physiotherapist to support physical development and recovery.
After childbirth, new mothers often turn to physiotherapists to help with recovery, while speech therapists and occupational therapists ensure that children reach their developmental milestones. From the very beginning of life to end-of-life care, allied health professionals are there, providing the expert services that enhance quality of life for patients and their families.
Recognising Dedication and Resilience
In recent years, allied health professionals have faced immense challenges, from an aging population to workforce shortages and the global pandemic. Despite these pressures, they continue to deliver care with empathy, resilience, and dedication. Their commitment to their patients and professions is extraordinary, and it is this dedication we celebrate on 14 October.
At the ASA, we stand proud alongside the allied health community, including genetic counsellors, physiotherapists, midwives, and so many others. Their expertise is central to the health and wellbeing of our communities in Australia and New Zealand.
Moving Forward Together
As healthcare demand continues to grow, it is crucial that we advocate for strong professional standards and ensure adequate support for the allied health workforce. By continuing to work together and striving for excellence, we can empower allied health professionals to deliver the highest quality care across both nations.
This Allied Health Professionals Day, I’m proud to celebrate with our sonographers and the entire allied health community in Australia and New Zealand. Together, we are building a future defined by collaboration, innovation, and excellence in healthcare.
Tony Coles
CEO, Australasian Sonographers Association
