Improving Allied Health Connections and Care in Fairfield LGA

Improving Allied Health Connections and Care in Fairfield LGA

04 May 2026

A Fairfield GP shared that it can be difficult to know which allied health providers are accepting referrals, their wait times, or whether they can meet patients’ language needs.

To address these issues, the SWSPHN allied health team has been engaging with local providers across Fairfield Local Government Area, including speech pathologists, exercise physiologists, physiotherapists, chiropractors, occupational therapists, and psychologists.

Why Fairfield was selected

Fairfield LGA was chosen due to:

  • An ageing population and workforce, increasing demand for chronic disease support
  • Socioeconomic challenges that can limit access to allied health services
  • The need for better coordinated and faster referral pathways between GPs and allied health providers
  • A wide range of service delivery models across allied health

Key issues identified

Feedback from consultations highlighted three main concerns:

  • Inconsistent referral pathways between GPs and allied health, leading to missed care opportunities
  • Limited awareness of allied health roles, especially in culturally and linguistically diverse communities
  • Fragmented communication systems, resulting in delays, higher workload, and reduced collaboration

Actions being taken

Several initiatives are underway to improve integration and communication, including:

  • A small grants program to support multidisciplinary care and strengthen GP–allied health collaboration in Fairfield
  • Joint education and networking sessions for GPs and allied health professionals, aimed at improving understanding and teamwork
  • Inclusion of allied health representation on SWSPHN’s Clinical Council to support shared decision-making

Next steps

Future work will focus on:

  • Improving visibility and easier navigation of allied health services
  • Enhancing digital systems for better referrals and secure information sharing between providers

SWSPHN is encouraging ongoing feedback from health professionals to help shape future improvements in multidisciplinary care across the region.

https://swsphn.com.au/

Source: Practice Pulse, South Western Sydney Primary Health Network (04 May 2026)

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