Regional Allied Health Degrees

Together, we will build a strong local allied health workforce.

Study Occupational Therapy, Physiotherapy or Speech Pathology from your regional community through Flinders' new allied health suite.

Building on the strong success of Flinders’ established regional allied health degrees, this suite continues to evolve how we deliver high-quality, locally accessible health education.

Explore Allied Health Degrees

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Our life changing vision

At Flinders University, our vision is to empower communities in regional South Australia and the Northern Territory by delivering locally based allied health education that develops skilled professionals where they are needed most.

Through our interprofessional approach, students learn alongside future allied health professionals while building expertise in their chosen discipline, helping strengthen a sustainable local workforce and improve access to healthcare across regional communities.

Why are we pursuing this initiative?

Regional communities continue to experience significant shortages of allied health professionals. Flinders is addressing this challenge by creating accessible, high quality education pathways that allow students to study closer to home without compromising on educational experience.

As part of our Regional, Rural and Remote University-wide agenda, these degrees have been developed to support local workforce needs while expanding opportunities for students from regional, remote, First Nations and diverse backgrounds.

Explore our Allied Health Degrees

Study is available in key regional locations including Mount Gambier, Port Pirie and the Riverland.

Our redesigned degrees combine the benefits of direct entry into your chosen profession with a shared first semester that builds collaboration, practical capability and an understanding of how multidisciplinary healthcare teams work together. Students can complete their degree in 3.5 years full-time, with eligible students able to undertake an optional Honours pathway and graduate with a four-year honours degree. You can study closer to home while preparing for a career that makes a lasting difference in regional, rural and remote communities.

Visit our regional areas

Allied Health Degrees

3.5 years full-time, with optional Honours. Study Occupational Therapy, Physiotherapy or Speech Pathology in your regional community, with the option to apply for Honours and complete a four-year pathway.

Bachelor of
Occupational Therapy

Prepare for a rewarding career supporting people to participate fully in everyday life through evidence based occupational therapy practice.

Direct entry into Occupational Therapy from day one.
Shared first semester with allied health students to build collaboration and clinical foundations.
Strong focus on rural and regional practice, placements and community engagement.
Graduate ready to support individuals, families and communities across diverse settings.
Option to apply for Honours and complete a four-year pathway, subject to eligibility.

Learn more

Bachelor of Physiotherapy

Help people improve movement, recover from injury and optimise physical function through evidence-based physiotherapy.

Direct entry into Physiotherapy from day one.
Shared first semester designed to develop teamwork, communication and professional skills.
Practical learning and clinical experiences prepare you for contemporary healthcare practice.
Strong emphasis on serving regional and rural communities.
Option to apply for Honours and complete a four-year pathway, subject to eligibility.

Learn more

Bachelor of
Speech Pathology

Develop the knowledge and skills to assess and support communication and swallowing across the lifespan.

Direct entry into Speech Pathology from day one.
Shared first semester with future allied health professionals reflecting real healthcare environments.
Learn through practical experiences and industry-connected education.
Graduate prepared to work with children and adults in health, education and community settings.
Option to apply for Honours and complete a four-year pathway, subject to eligibility.

Learn more

Why study allied health at Flinders regionally?

Learn in a collaborative model

Your first semester brings together students from across allied health disciplines, helping you develop communication, teamwork and professional capabilities that reflect modern healthcare practice.

Study close to home

Complete your degree in your regional community while building connections with local health services, employers and placement providers.

Learn from the experts

Be taught by experienced academics and practising clinicians with extensive knowledge of allied health and regional healthcare delivery.

Connected to industry

Benefit from placements and partnerships across hospitals, community organisations, disability services, education settings and regional health providers.

Designed for regional impact

These degrees have been developed in consultation with industry, government and local communities to strengthen the regional allied health workforce and improve health outcomes where they are needed most.

⬆︎
28.7%
Employment Growth, Physiotherapists.

(National Skills Commission, 2021 Employment projections for the five years to 2026).

⬆︎
7.4%
Employment Growth, Occupational Therapists.

(National Skills Commission, 2021 Employment projections for the five years to 2026).

⬆︎
34.7%
Employment Growth, Audiologists & Speech Pathologists.

(National Skills Commission, 2021 Employment projections for the five years to 2026).

Hear from our students

“I was originally studying a bachelor of clinical exercise physiology online with another university as living in the Riverland and having a young family it was my only option. When I heard that Flinders were opening this degree right here in my own backyard, I couldn’t pass up the opportunity to apply. The best decision I made was transferring to Flinders.”

Sam Stevens

Physiotherapy student (Riverland)

“I chose occupational therapy because it offers a rewarding career, centred around helping people regain independence and improve their quality of life after injury, illness, or disability. I choose Flinders because they offer a bachelors regionally which is a first. This meant I could stay rural and continue giving back to my community without having to move to Adelaide.”

Montana Briggs

Occupational Therapy student (Port Pirie)

Frequently asked questions

Can I transfer my studies to Adelaide if I change my mind?

Yes. If your circumstances change, we will work with you to explore options to transfer your studies to Adelaide or another Flinders location where possible, subject to course structure, timing and availability.

Why are the degrees changing?

Flinders University is evolving its allied health degrees to respond to community need and better reflect how healthcare is delivered today through collaborative, team-based practice.

The updated structure strengthens interprofessional learning, creates clearer discipline pathways, and aligns the regional and metropolitan offerings within the broader Allied Health Bachelor Suite.

What stays the same?

Students can expect continuity in the most important parts of their experience, including:

Enrolment and graduation in a chosen profession
Strong focus on regional workforce development
Practical learning and clinical placements
Professional accreditation requirements
Ongoing student support throughout their studies

What is changing?

The key updates include:

A shared first-semester foundation across all allied health disciplines
Earlier discipline alignment, with students commencing in their chosen profession from Semester 2
More integrated learning across allied health throughout the degrees
Embedded honours pathways, with flexible exit options after 3.5 years for students not undertaking Honours
Greater connection between regional, Bedford Park and City Campus learning environments

What is shared first-semester learning?

In your first semester, you will study alongside other allied health students to build foundational skills across:

Core health knowledge
Communication and teamwork
Understanding of allied health professions and how they work together

You then continue into your chosen discipline for the remainder of your degree.

Will my degree still include placements?

Yes. Clinical placements and practical learning remain central to all allied health degrees.

What if I am already studying?

If you are already enrolled, your current study plan will not change. Where relevant, students will receive clear guidance and support regarding any transition or teach-out arrangements.

Is there an Honours option?

Yes. Students can complete the degree in 3.5 years full-time, with an optional Honours pathway available for eligible students. Honours extends the degree to four years and is designed for students interested in developing research skills or pursuing further study pathways.