Australia's Health Workforce

The Productivity Commission's research report into 'Australia's Health Workforce', was released on 19 January 2006. The Commission was asked to undertake a research study to examine issues impacting on the health workforce over the next 10 years. The main finding of the commissioned study's report is that changes are needed if Australia's health workforce is to become more efficient and effective. The Commission recommended an integrated set of national actions which will result in a more sustainable and responsive health workforce. The proposed workforce arrangements are designed to: drive reform to scopes of practice, and job design more broadly, while maintaining safety and quality; deliver a more coordinated and responsive education and training regime for health workers; accredit the courses and institutions and register health professionals in nationally consolidated and coherent frameworks; and; provide the financial incentives to support access to safe and high quality care in a manner that promotes innovation in health workplaces. The proposals would benefit all Australians, including those in rural and remote areas and Indigenous communities where workforce shortages are particularly evident.