Review led by ANU Professor highlights potential to ‘unleash’ Australia’s health workforce

Australia’s health professions face restrictions and barriers that are impacting the level of care they’re able to provide, according to an independent review led by Professor Mark Cormack from The Australian National University (ANU).

The year-long review, Unleashing the Potential of our Health Workforce, found that these barriers are contributing to health workforce shortages and inefficiencies across the health care system.

Professor Cormack, from the National Centre for Health Workforce Studies, who was commissioned by the Minister for Health and Aged Care, The Hon Mark Butler, to lead the review, said virtually all professions face unnecessary restrictions on their ability to do the essential work that they are otherwise qualified, trained and able to perform.

He worked with colleagues from the University of Queensland to analyse the barriers facing our highly skilled health workforce and review the evidence underpinning potential policy solutions. Professor Cormack consulted widely with industry bodies, governments, regulators, higher education and consumers to chart a path towards long overdue reform.

The review identified barriers to workforce design, education and planning, regulation of the health workforce and payment and funding models.

Associate Professor Tomoko Sugiura, Director of the ANU National Centre for Health Workforce Studies, said removing these barriers would make it easier for Australians to access the quality care they need, particularly in regional and remote areas. It would also help attract and retention more skilled health professionals in the primary care sector.

“The review outlines 18 recommendations across a number of areas to reduce these barriers. These include workforce design, development, education and planning, legislation and regulation and funding and payment policy,” Associate Professor Sugiura said.

“The review encompassed a range of health professionals including general practitioners, nurses, midwives, pharmacists, paramedics and allied health professionals, as well as Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health practitioners and workers.”

According to Associate Professor Sugiura, a well-planned and resourced implementation of the recommendations outlined in the review should be a priority for governments, universities, industry and professional bodies and could unleash the potential of Australia’s healthcare workforce and lead to better outcomes for patients.