Allied Health Degree Alternatives

[fires]

what’s the best allied health in your opinion?

 

[Mana]

It's difficult to objectively answer this.

One metric would be to look at the relative supply and demand in the healthcare professions in Australia. The government report at https://docs.jobs.gov.au/system/files/doc/other/healthprofessionsaus.pdf suggests that the most in demand healthcare professionals at the moment are audiologists, followed by sonographers.

I don't think you are going to get an objective overall answer, but this is a start.

 

[chinaski]

what’s the best allied health in your opinion?

Are we talking about cage fights, or what...?

 

[Mana]

Are we talking about cage fights, or what...?

I think cage fight wise the physios have an advantage, especially those that do sports and exercise physio.

 

[Kiwiology]

I'd say Nurse or Paramedic.

 

[chinaski]

I'd say Nurse or Paramedic.

Nursing is not an allied health profession.

 

[applecider]

Next instalment - What is the best* medical specialisation in your opinion?

*Best being defined here as having the most desirable qualities for a cage fight

 

[chinaski]

*Best being defined here as having the most desirable qualities for a cage fight

Unfair fighting context. Orthopods would always win in a cage fight.

 

[sss324]

I'd say optom is a pretty good career choice. In terms of work it's quite flexible and the starting pay is not too bad as well. There's also a lot of optom work especially in rural areas.

 

[Yamster]

I'd say optom is a pretty good career choice. In terms of work it's quite flexible and the starting pay is not too bad as well. There's also a lot of optom work especially in rural areas.

Hey sss, I heard optometrists are paid per client they see an hour. Is that true?

 

[sss324]

Not necessarily. It depends. Some practices pay optom a commission like in dent but other practices pay a salary. In rural practices graduate salaries can be above $100K but they seem to plateau at $160K.

 

[liha]

Which allied health degree at which UNI:

• Has the greatest number of HDs/Ds?
• Is relatively easier to excel in?
• Has good employment prospects?
• Highest salary?
• Can be accelerated or done within preferably less than or equal to 4 years.
  
  So far Optometry at Deakin satisfies the last two (becoming overarurated and difficult to find a job unless you go rural which I don’t mind but apparently they limit new graduates from going rural due to lacking skills). Optom also needs physics but I haven’t done it for HSC/high school but apparently it’s only assumed knowledge not a pre-req and is manageable to learn. Physio is pretty difficult so nah but I could get a job after grad (guardian owns med clinic). Psychology would rather not.
  Speech path seems interesting but I’d rather not go USYD (harsh marking in comparison to other unis, better to be top at a low tier uni, than middle at a high tier uni for transferring and maintaining WAM/GPA). Pharmacy has practically no prospects unless your family has a pre-existing business, also pretty difficult. Podiatry more niche, don’t know about the difficulty but I could get a job (guardian owns med clinic). Radiography too much physics and I didn’t do physics in high school. Sonography is even more niche but not to sure on the difficulty of the content includes like ultrasounds and cardiographs also in demand. Occupational therapy nah. Nursing is degrading (treated poorly) but good on those who do it.
  
  The shortage usually refers to rural:
  https://docs.employment.gov.au/system/files/doc/other/aushealthprofessions_2.pdf

 

[Crow]

• Has the greatest number of HDs/Ds?
• Is relatively easier to excel in?

These would be impossible to determine and vary depending on a large variety of factors.

I’m not sure how you’ve decided that “Physio is pretty difficult” but the other allied health degrees aren’t?

You really should be focusing on studying something that you actually have an interest in and can see yourself doing long term rather than what is “easiest” to score highly in.

 

[pi]

Radiology too much physics and I didn’t do physics in high school.

Radiology is a medical specialty. Radiologists are doctors with medical degrees.

Do you mean radiography?

 

[leez]

what's the difference between the roles of a psychologist and the roles of a doctor?
i'm just wondering if i said psychology was my back up, why i would prefer a doctor and say it in such a way that doesn't discriminate against either profession (similarities that i can think of right now include flexibility - you can go into research, specialise eg. clinical psych / forensic psych, both involve learning over your life bc there's always new psych research coming out, you still help others in psych)

any help would be greatly appreciated!!! my interview's tomorrow ahah

 

[Crow]

what's the difference between the roles of a psychologist and the roles of a doctor?
i'm just wondering if i said psychology was my back up, why i would prefer a doctor and say it in such a way that doesn't discriminate against either profession (similarities that i can think of right now include flexibility - you can go into research, specialise eg. clinical psych / forensic psych, both involve learning over your life bc there's always new psych research coming out, you still help others in psych)

any help would be greatly appreciated!!! my interview's tomorrow ahah

Psychology

There appear to be three broad reasons why someone visiting MedStudentsOnline might want some information about an alternative undergraduate enrolment option to Medicine. The following is an attempt to address these with specific reference to Psychology. 1. Is Psychology a good option for...

medstudentsonline.com.au

If you have the time, LMG! has written this detailed thread on psychology - you should find some answers in there!