OUR SYSTEM
Increasing workforce capacity and wellbeing
Our workforce is the backbone of an effective healthcare system, and resources and support can help them deliver better patient care.
Opportunities
Regional communities can benefit from innovative recruitment, retention and training strategies that will enable local services to increase their capacity and better respond to changes in local demand and complexity of needs (Mickan et al. 2019, Health Workforce Queensland 2022).
Potential focus areas include:
- formal rotation training programs to improve skills and relationships between hospitals and rural facilities
- incentives to encourage uptake of rural positions and of the rural generalist program
- supporting the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health workforce
- peer networks to support health practitioners
- education to increase digital literacy of both consumers and healthcare providers
- online education courses and workshops.
Collaborative partners
- Hospital and Health Services
- Local Governments
- Peak bodies and service partners
- Accreditation and training agencies
- Aboriginal Medical Services
- Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisations
- Health Workforce Queensland.
The outcomes of these actions will be seen in:
- improved recruitment and retention of staff
- increased ratio of health staff to population.
Our progress
Increased numbers of healthcare personnel are still needed in the region, with some regional areas particularly affected by workforce shortages. Since the 2019–21 HNA, the situation has been exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic, which has placed high pressure on the healthcare system across Australia. Increased training and incentives for placement and retention, particularly in rural areas, will continue to be needed in the region.
Related priorities
Promoting health and preventing disease - read more ›
Increasing access and coordination of care - read more ›