Staying Well in a Demanding System: Australian Allied Health Professional’s Experiences of Wellbeing

Stress and burnout are critical issues for Australian Allied Health Professionals (AHP), these pose significant risks to both patient care and staff retention. This research aimed to explore sources of AHPs stress and what contributes to improved wellbeing. Online semi-structured interviews were conducted with 26 AHPs from a major Hospital in Queensland. Preliminary findings corroborated prior literature concerning sources of stress for AHPs, such as under-staffing, long hours, management issues, and the need for more professional development. A vital theme of employee voice emerged, as the AH professionals discussed how to improve their stress and wellbeing. These preliminary findings offer insight into how to improve wellbeing for AH professionals when there is a lack of resources.