Australian health practitioners turns to AI to stay relevant
Health professionals in Australia are facing growing competition from artificial intelligence-powered applications delivering services directly to clients as demand for health care continues to increase nationwide.
More than 10 million Australians regularly access a variety of health services, a figure that is expected to keep rising. With this increase, AI-powered tools have started to appear more frequently within health and coaching sectors, catching the attention of practitioners who are expressing apprehension about the potential impact of such technology on their roles.
AI-driven applications are now available for exercise programming, psychology-based life coaching, and music education, adding to the service-based marketplace and providing clients with options that combine phone-based convenience with affordability.
Digitisation of expertise
In response to these developments, some health practitioners are turning to emerging app technologies as a means to digitise and disseminate their expert insights. This approach is considered a way to maintain relevance and expand their reach in a changing marketplace.
AI is proving useful for tech-savvy practitioners seeking to streamline operations and minimise administrative workloads. However, when home-practice forms a key revenue stream between sessions, the rise of AI can pose a threat to traditional service models if it replaces, rather than complements, human-supported activities.
A recently launched application, Taskey, is being promoted as a tool for practitioners to extend their expert support to clients via mobile platforms, aiming to transform human insight into personalised client guidance. The app is described as supporting, rather than substituting, practitioner-client relationships.
Diverse practitioner use
Taskey can be utilised by a wide range of professionals, including speech therapists, occupational therapists, rehabilitation experts, life and business coaches, physiotherapists, psychologists, carers, and those involved in support for independent living.
The platform enables practitioners to preserve teachable moments as multimedia tasks while working with clients, allowing them to construct a digital library that reflects their unique approach and methodology. This digital asset can then serve to extend their reach, support remote and group-based clients, and become a scalable resource for their practice.
Tasks within the app may include video clips, photos, audio recordings, PDFs, links, and instructions. Clients have the ability to set reminders and access resources after each session, helping them to continue progressing towards their goals outside the clinic setting.
Support for diverse needs
The app is particularly suited to those working with children and adults with disability, and those who use Video Self-Modelling (VSM) in their practice. VSM, developed from Albert Bandura's social learning theory, involves individuals watching themselves successfully complete tasks via video, a technique shown to build confidence and reinforce learning pathways.
The practitioner's perspective
"Allied health professionals may feel concerned by this growing reliance on technology, but there is an opportunity to utilise it effectively. No technology can replicate the human connection practitioners develop with their clients, so engaging with platforms to amplify progress can benefit all parties," says Carly Dober, Principal Psychologist at Enriching Lives Psychology.
Taskey is available to practitioners of all business sizes with subscription options, and the company offers support and guidance on leveraging the platform for client benefit.
