New body to guide workforce strategy

Scope of practice and workforce distribution are top of the to-do list. But will they find consensus?

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The federal government has established a new body to guide strategy to bolster Australia’s healthcare workforce, amid ever-mounting concerns over the workforce.

Yesterday, the federal health minister Mark Butler announced the inauguration of the Medical Workforce Advisory Collaboration (MWAC), referencing, in particular, the “parlous state” of general practice.

“For too long our health workforce was left with no direction or recognition of their hard work,” he said.

“Having the right workforce with the right skills in the right place is critical to the success of the government’s agenda to strengthen Medicare.”

The group is co-chaired by psychiatrist Associate Professor Mathew Coleman and DoHAC deputy secretary Penny Shakespeare, to advise all levels of government on all things health workforce.

In particular, the group will support the government’s responses to two concurrent independent reviews: the Scope of Practice Review and the Working Better for Medicare Review.

After the scathing reaction to the government’s most recent response to the Disability Royal Commission report, it appears they may need the guidance…

The contentious Scope of Practice Review, one of 14 government reviews launched in response to the 2023 Strengthening Medicare Taskforce report, promises tips to revitalise the health system by ensuring all health professions are working to their “full scope”.

Defining what constitutes “full scope” is a reoccurring sticking point. 

The AMA and the RACGP – both members of the new advisory group – have raised serious concerns over scope creep and substitution in the name of access and efficiency.

Speaking to The Medical Republic, RACGP president Dr Nicole Higgins said she was “stressing on repeat” that there was no substitution for quality general practice.

“There’s never been a more important time to invest in growing Australia’s GP workforce,” she said.

“We have a rapidly ageing population, and epidemic of chronic disease and mental health issues, which require high-quality general practice care.

“And new government data predicts significant shortfalls if we don’t act – up to 5,560 full time equivalent GPs by 2033 nationally.”

With representatives from across the health professions joining the body – including groups that don’t necessarily see eye-to-eye with GPs on scope-expanding initiatives – agreement may pose a challenge.

The group will also advise the government response to the Working Better for Medicare Review, which promises to tackle the arguably more pressing workforce issue of distribution.

The review will assess the Distribution Priority Area, District of Workforce Shortage and the Monash Modified Model classifications and section 19AA and 19AB of the Health Insurance Act 1973.

The AMA has previously called – in its pre-budget submission – for a $1 billion commitment to an independent workforce planning agency to “collate, analyse, and utilise health workforce data to inform evidence-based policies and strategies”, as a “proactive” response to healthcare demands.

With members from all levels of government among its rankings, MWAC is not exactly independent – but it does possess significant expertise and will advise on the structure of the workforce, as requested by the association.

“A national health workforce planning agency would ensure Australia has a health workforce with the right skills, in the right locations, to meet future community needs and demand.

“If governments want to get serious about prioritising the health of all Australians – no matter where they live – then a workforce planning agency makes absolute sense.

“We need evidence-based policy that will minimise wasted expenditure while enabling us to proactively and efficiently adapt to changing healthcare demands, ensuring all Australians have access to high-quality healthcare.”

CEO of the Consumers Health Forum of Australia Elizabeth Deveny, took to LinkedIn to comment on yesterday’s meeting of the group in Canberra.

“The collaborative spirit in the room today gave me hope,” she said.

“By bringing together diverse perspectives and expertise, we can unpack these challenges.

“Using both the wisdom and good will in the sector shared solutions can be developed and put in place.”