Government Invests in Medical Workforce to Improve Healthcare Services

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In response to the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic and chronic skills shortages, the Government showed its commitment to prioritise quality healthcare services now and in the future by rolling out the following initiatives:
 
  • adequately staffing of hospitals and medical facilities by including critical medical occupations in Priority Migration Skilled Occupation List (PMSOL),
  • upgrading of medical skills competencies using new technologies with Digital Health Skills and Training Roadmap,
  • and implementing of Aged Care Workforce Strategy, so older people will receive quality patient care

 

Here are the details of the government efforts to improve the current healthcare staffing:

 

PMSOL (Priority Migration Skilled Occupation List) 

 
The Federal Government launched the Priority Migration Skilled Occupation List (PMSOL) to help rebuild the economy and generate jobs. The occupations listed will enable skilled workers with sponsorships to return to Australia and work on urgent appointments in the medical sector:
 
  • General Practitioner (253111)
  • Resident Medical Officer (253112)
  • Psychiatrist (253411)
  • Medical Practitioner nec (253999)
  • Midwife (254111)
  • Registered Nurse (Aged Care) (254412)
  • Registered Nurse (Critical Care and Emergency) (254415)
  • Registered Nurse (Medical) (254418)
  • Registered Nurse (Mental Health) (254422)
  • Registered Nurse (Perioperative) (254423)
  • Registered Nurses nec (254499)
 
Minister Alan Tudge said the people with roles listed on PMSOL will be prioritised  first, and they will be automatically exempted at the borders. Healthcare workers are essential in fighting the virus and skilled migrants, who are job multipliers, will help in the economic recovery.  
 

 

Digital Health Skills & Training Roadmap to Improve Tech Skills of Medical Workforce

 
The Australian Digital Health Agency of the Australian Government developed the Digital Health Skills and Training Roadmap to help the medical workforce learn and apply technology in delivering health services.
 

The current and emerging technologies present healthcare professionals with opportunities and challenges, so having the right digital skills is critical in performing tasks and functions.

 

The Roadmap is divided into three horizons, which explore the staffing and education changes required to support digital health adoption. It covers the whole of the health workforce, including all clinical and non-clinical roles.

 
 

Source: Australian Digital Health Agency 

 

The Roadmap is divided into three horizons, which explore the staffing and education changes required to support the adoption of digital health. It covers the whole of the health workforce, including all clinical and non-clinical roles.

 

Horizon 1: Embedding safe, ethical and effective use of health record systems and consumer data

electronic medical records, electronic medical management, electronic health records, telehealth, secure messaging 

 

Horizon 2: Integrating new technologies and ways of working 

AI, advanced robotics, 3D printing, next-generation genomics, IoT, interoperability 

 

Horizon 3: Digital Health Transformation 

personalised medicine, smart wearables, IoT & Big Data integration

 

The horizons will be progressing in different stages of digital health maturity across the health system. 

 

 

$10.3 million Additional Funds to Boost Aged Care Workforce Strategy Implementation

 
 
In the Department of Health’s website, the Australian Government provides an additional $10.3 million to implement the 2018 Aged Care Workforce Strategy.
 

Eligible aged care service providers will be able to get assistance via the Business Improvement Fund ($35.6 million).

 

Minister Colbeck said strong aged care sector, with high quality and skilled workforce, will provide older Australians with the care they rightly deserve and give all Australians confidence that our elderly are cared for with kindness, respect, and dignity.

 

The strategy enumerates the following action plans for the industry to shift in attitudes to attracting a skilled aged workforce:

 

• Creation of a social change campaign to reframe caring and promote the workforce

A workforce and industry positioning campaign to change the negative perception of ageing while promoting job opportunities in the aged care industry

 

• Voluntary industry code of practice

Enable the industry to define standards and workforce practices that emphasise on consumer needs and on attracting and retaining high-quality and committed staff

 

• Reframing the qualification and skills framework – addressing current and future competencies and skills requirements 

Review job architecture (job design, job roles, progression and related competencies) and updating and realigning vocational training

 

• Defining new career pathways including accreditation

Re-evaluate and opening job pathways and career choices to support an agile workforce. Tracks are designed based on the reframed qualifications and skills, determining competencies, building new and moving to more long-term career paths and industry standard for worker and volunteer accreditation.

The emergence of new roles will be considered, according to integrated and living well models of care.

 

• Implementing new attraction and retention strategies for the workforce

Improve current employee engagement and enablement to ensure finding and retaining the right people with the right fit. Constant reinforcement of this strategy is needed, scaling up successful industry models, well-organised student work placement, and targeted groups’ plans.

 

• Improved training and recruitment practices for the Australian Government aged care workforce

Develop the government workforce capacity to collaborate with consumers, organisations and the industry. The workforce involved must know the aged cared, and the sector has the competencies and skills to influence patient care delivery and the timing of access to care. They will be in direct and regular contact with consumers and aged care organisations.

 

 
Other strategies to address a change in attitude in caring and retaining a skilled aged care workforce include: 
 
 
1. Creation of a social change campaign to reframe caring and promote the workforce
2. Defining new career pathways including accreditation
3. Developing cultures of feedback and continuous improvement
4. Establishing a new standard approach to workforce planning and skills mix modelling
5. Developing a revised workforce relations framework to reflect the changing nature of work better
6. Strengthening the interface between aged care and primary/acute care
7. Establishing a remote accord
8. Establishing an Aged Care Centre for Growth and Translational Research
9. Current and future funding considerations, including staff remuneration
10. Transitioning the existing workforce to new standards
 
 
Now more than ever, the government needs to assure its people that it’s at the forefront of tackling the pandemic and other pressing health issues. 
 
 
With the first steps in place, let’s all hope that we’ll see the completion of these projects to live up to Australia’s ‘world-class health system’ reputation. 
 
 
Need help with medical staffing? Send us a message 
 

 

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Published on: 14/10/2020

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