Australian Council of Deans of Health Sciences - ACDHS
The Australian Council of Deans of Health Sciences (ACDHS) is the peak representative organisation f
ACDHS is a forum for representation, coordination, and information sharing, and aims to strengthen the education and training of allied health practitioners in Australia to meet the needs of their communities. ACDHS is a collective of the Australian universities that provide pre-professional education in the allied health sciences. Membership requires that a minimum of three of the following disciplines are taught and accredited:
• Audiology
• Clinical exercise physiology / sport and exercise science
• Medical laboratory science
• Nutrition and dietetics
• Occupational therapy
• Optometry
• Orthoptics
• Paramedicine
• Pharmacy
• Physiotherapy
• Podiatry
• Prosthetics and orthotics
• Psychology
• Medical radiation science
• Social work
• Speech pathology
Member Institutions are represented by 1-2 person(s) who hold a position of senior leadership in health science faculties/colleges and have the strategic responsibility for allied health professionals (AHPs) within the institution (e.g. Pro Vice-Chancellor, Dean or Associate Dean or other similar title), or hold a senior executive/director role in health science faculties/colleges.
26/10/2025
Celebrating World Occupational Therapy Day - 27 October
Today we celebrate the remarkable work of Occupational Therapists across Australia and around the world.
Occupational therapy empowers people of all ages to live meaningful, independent lives - supporting recovery, participation, and wellbeing through person-centered care.
At ACDHS, we acknowledge and thank occupational therapy educators, researchers, and practitioners who are shaping the next generation of allied health professionals. Your contributions are essential to building a healthier, more inclusive Australia.
13/10/2025
Stronger Together: Celebrating Allied Health Professions Day - 14th October 2025
Join health organisations, and allied health professionals nationwide to celebrate Allied Health Professions Day. This year’s theme, "Stronger Together", recognises the power of multidisciplinary, collaborative care in delivering better outcomes for patients and communities.
Allied health professionals are essential in prevention, diagnosis, rehabilitation, chronic condition management, mental health, disability, aged care, and much more. In Australia alone, there are over 300,000 allied health professionals delivering an estimated 200 million health services annually, accounting for more than a quarter of the health workforce. Allied Health Professions Australia
23/07/2025
SUPPORTING THE FUTURE ALLIED HEALTH WORKFORCE: ACDHS CALLS FOR PRAC PAYMENT SUPPORT
The Australian Council of Deans of Health Sciences (ACDHS) is urging the Commonwealth Government to expand the Commonwealth Prac Payment (CPP) scheme to include all allied health professional courses - an essential step in addressing workforce shortages and placement poverty across the sector.
Practical placements are vital to allied health training, yet thousands of students are forced to forgo part-time jobs to complete mandatory placement hours - often exceeding 1000 hours.
“The CPP recognises the link between financial security and successful completion of care-sector courses. It’s time allied health students were included,” says ACDHS Chair, Professor Terry Haines.
Backed by a new report, A call for the inclusion of allied health professions in the Commonwealth Prac Payment program, ACDHS is advocating for a principles-based and inclusion of all allied health students.
We're ready to work with Ministers Jason Clare and Mark Butler, along with sector stakeholders, to make sure no student is left behind - and that every community has access to the care people need.
From 26 June we’re excited to launch the ACDHS Update, a new monthly newsletter designed for academic and administrative staff across ACDHS member institutions.
Our goal is to create a broader sense of shared purpose across our national network – and to make sure the important work happening in every corner of our sector gets seen, shared, and supported.
Keep connected with key developments, sector-wide initiatives, and professional opportunities. Included will be:
• Research highlights and collaboration calls
• Strategic policy issues and updates
• Mental Health First Aid program updates
• Board-led strategic issue group news
• Event announcements and funding opportunities
• Jobs Board
Please share with colleagues, peers, and teams who’d benefit from staying connected with ACDHS activities - and let us know if you have any Allied Health job vacancies to advertise, or if you're working on a research project and seeking collaborators or participants. We'd love to feature your work!
Contact: acdhs@expertevents.com.au.
14/05/2025
ACDHS is thrilled to announce a landmark partnership with our colleagues from the UK Council of Deans of Health and the Council of Deans of Nursing and Midwifery (ANZ). Together, we are committed to driving excellence and innovation across health education, training, and research in Australia, the UK, and New Zealand.
This collaboration will foster stronger international ties, share best practices, and address key global health challenges—ensuring that our graduates are prepared to lead and excel in rapidly evolving healthcare environments.
26/03/2025
Rural and remote Australia deserves better healthcare access — and the allied health workforce is key.
Professor Gregory Kolt recently completed a consultancy project for ACDHS highlighting urgent action needed to support and expand the rural allied health workforce.
The National Rural Health Alliance echoed this in their response to the Federal Budget, calling out a $6.55 billion underspend and shocking gaps in service access.
Did you know?
Rural Australians are dying up to 13.6 years earlier than city residents
Over 18,500 people lack access to essential care within an hour of home
We're proud to support universities working to train and grow a sustainable, place-based allied health workforce. The future of rural health depends on it.
The Australian Council of Deans of Health Sciences (ACDHS) is seeking expressions of interest for two Board Director positions, ahead of our AGM on 8 May 2025 in Canberra.
We invite EOIs from passionate leaders who can contribute to the strategic direction of allied health education and research in Australia.
At this time, we are particularly looking to strengthen representation from Western Australia, South Australia, the ACT, Northern Territory, and Tasmania to ensure a truly national perspective.
The Inaugural ACDHS 2024 Symposium has officially begun! Thanks to All to Our Esteemed Members and Guests! Stay posted for more to come!
13/10/2024
Today is Allied Health Professions Day. Thank you to all the incredible health professionals who make up this network!
02/10/2024
October is Mental Health Awareness Month!
Take a moment to prioritise mental health and well-being, not just for ourselves, but for those around us. Whether it's checking in with a colleague, having a supportive conversation, or simply taking time to recharge, every action counts.
Let's continue to raise awareness, break the stigma, and remind ourselves that mental health matters every day of the year.
05/09/2024
*SUBMISSIONS CLOSING SOON!*
Allied Health Education – Innovation Award
Allied Health First Nations - Leadership/Engagement Award
Allied Health Research – Impact Award
Nomination Deadline Extended to midnight Sunday 8th September 2024!
For more details on the nomination process, including eligibility criteria and submission guidelines, please visit https://lnkd.in/ggF3Mh8W.
01/09/2024
*SUBMISSION DEADLINE EXTENDED!*
Nominations for the ACDHS Allied Health Awards have been extended! We simply need more time to handle all the submissions. So if you haven’t yet submitted your nominations, now is the time to recognise and celebrate the outstanding contributions of your colleagues (or yourself!) in the following categories:
Allied Health Education – Innovation Award
Allied Health First Nations - Leadership/Engagement Award
Allied Health Research – Impact Award
These awards provide a fantastic opportunity to showcase the exceptional work being done within our allied health community.
Nomination Deadline Extended to midnight Sunday 8th September 2024!
For more details on the nomination process, including eligibility criteria and submission guidelines, please visit https://lnkd.in/ggF3Mh8W.
Be the first to know and let us send you an email when Australian Council of Deans of Health Sciences - ACDHS posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.
As educators of allied health professionals, ACDHS sits at the nexus between health and education. As such, members are well placed to provide insights on the demands our future health workforce will face, and opportunities to improve the efficacy of their practice and the sustainability of the systems they will work in.
ACDHS is a forum for representation, coordination, and information sharing, and aims to strengthen the education and training of allied health practitioners in Australia to meet the needs of their communities.
ACDHS is a collective of the Australian universities that provide pre-professional education in the allied health sciences. Membership requires that a minimum of three of the following disciplines are taught and accredited:
· Audiology
· Clinical exercise physiology / sport and exercise science
· Medical laboratory science
· Nutrition and dietetics
· Occupational therapy
· Optometry
· Orthoptics
· Paramedicine
· Pharmacy
· Physiotherapy
· Podiatry
· Prosthetics and orthotics
· Psychology
· Medical radiation science
· Social work
· Speech pathology
Member Institutions are represented by 1-2 person(s) who hold a position of senior leadership in health science faculties/colleges and have the strategic responsibility for allied health professionals (AHPs) within the institution (e.g. Pro Vice-Chancellor, Dean or Associate Dean or other similar title), or hold a senior executive/director role in health science faculties/colleges.
