Access to therapy services for people with disability in rural Australia: a carers' perspective.

In Australia and around the world, people with disability and their carers living in rural areas face additional challenges compared to their urban-dwelling counterparts. This cross-sectional study explored current access to therapy services for people with disability living in western New South Wales as reported by their primary carers. Data were collected using an online and paper survey distributed to carers, from December 2012 until June 2013.

Who are they and what do they do? Profile of allied health professionals working with people with disabilities in rural and remote New South Wales.

Objective: To explore the characteristics of allied health professionals (AHPs) working with people with disabilities in western New South Wales (NSW).

Design: A cross-sectional survey was conducted using an online questionnaire.

Setting: Rural western NSW.

Should I stay or should I go? Exploring the job preferences of allied health professionals working with people with disability in rural Australia.

Introduction: The uneven distribution of allied health professionals (AHPs) in rural and remote Australia and other countries is well documented. In Australia, like elsewhere, service delivery to rural and remote communities is complicated because relatively small numbers of clients are dispersed over large geographic areas. This uneven distribution of AHPs impacts significantly on the provision of services particularly in areas of special need such as mental health, aged care and disability services.

Barriers to the use of Information and Communication Technology by occupational therapists working in a rural area of New South Wales, Australia.

Background/aim: This qualitative study formed part of a large-scale, multi-phase study into the delivery of therapy services to people with a disability, living in one rural area of New South Wales, Australia. The study's purpose was to identify the impact of Information and Communication Technology on the workforce practices of occupational therapists' working in a rural area of New South Wales.

Methods: Individual semi-structured telephone interviews were conducted with 13 occupational therapists working in disability, health and private practice in a rural area of New South Wales.