Australia's health workforce

This research report is the final report of a study commissioned by COAG to examines issues impacting on the health workforce including the supply of, and demand for, health workforce professionals, and to propose solutions to ensure the continued delivery of quality health care over the next 10 years. It reviews a range of workforce issues which include: factors affecting the future supply of, and demand for, health workers; the efficiency and effectiveness with which the available workforce is deployed; and what reforms to health workforce arrangements might be undertaken to improve access across the community to quality and safe health care. It considers the specific health workforce needs of rural, remote and outer metropolitan areas and issues of special needs in Indigenous health, mental health, aged care and disability. Other issues discusssed include medical technology, data and evaluation needs, education and training, accreditation and registration, payment mechanisms, workforce planning. Recommendations are made.