Measuring for a healthy nation Building the evidence base for national health workforce reform

1. Measuring for a healthy nation Building the evidence base for national health workforce reform NatStats 2010 Mark Cormack Chief Executive Officer Health Workforce Australia 17 September 2010

2. National health workforce reform agenda • COAG and health workforce reform ( National Partnership Agreement 2008) • Acknowledgment that large scale workforce reform is necessary with a particular focus on linking efforts of health and higher education sectors • NPA, $1.1Bn new funding over 4 years to • Develop a sound evidence base to inform national reform • Devise policy and program solutions that facilitate training and workforce reform • Work across jurisdictions, sectors, organisations and professions • Health Workforce Australia (HWA) established to lead implementation of the NPA

3. Health Workforce Australia • Legislation enacted July 2009 • HWA established as a Commonwealth statutory authority • Board – nominees from jurisdictions (nine), independent Chair and three other directors • Reports to Australian Health Ministers Conference (AHMC) • Headquarters in Adelaide • Establishment phase

4. Core functions of HWA • Progress the NPA agenda focussed on five key areas • Research and workforce planning • Clinical education and training • Clinical training subsidies • Clinical supervision • Simulated Learning • Governance and co-ordination • Innovation and reform • International recruitment • Advice to AHMC, industry & higher education

5. National health workforce reform agenda • Building the evidence base • Planning to date less than optimal • Key data sets (e.g. vacancies / shortage) - inconsistent, out of date and incomplete • Workforce interventions are complex, have long lead times, and expensive. • Inadequate evidence base to inform policy, investment decisions and interventions.

6. HWA - planning and research • $24M allocated over four years to HWA to lead, encourage and support a health workforce research, planning and policy agenda • Continually improve national health workforce information • National health workforce statistical dataset • National workforce projections and research • National supply and demand model • macro and by specialty • Workforce demand and workload measures • National health workforce research collaboration

7. HWA - planning and research • National Health Workforce Data Set (NHWDS) • Nationally agreed data set collected from National Registration and Accreditation Scheme from July 2010 • Longitudinal data set on ten nationally regulated professions • Future additions to the national registration arrangements, and via alternative means for the non regulated professions

8. HWA - planning and research • National Health Workforce Planning Tool • Complete picture of the health workforce and the drivers behind both workforce supply and demand • Links workforce data from the NHWDS with national activity (demand) data sets • Data will be linked at the unit record level so de-identified individuals can be tracked over time • Freely available for use by health industry and higher education sectors

9. HWA - planning and research • Interim work program (2010-11) whilst the longer term planning and research program is developed • Macro Supply and Demand • Postgraduate Medical Training Study • National Workforce Study of the NGO Mental Health Sector • Alternative Options for Workforce Planning • Workload Measure for Allied Health Professionals • Supply and Demand Projections for • Nursing Professionals (Acute Sector) • Nursing Professionals (Aged Care Sector) • Anaesthetic Medical Workforce • Emergency Medical Specialist Workforce • Intensive Care Medical Workforce

10. HWA - planning and research • Macro Supply & Demand Study 2009 & 2010 • First Study 2009, and repeat in 2010 • 30 Health professions in scope • Stock and flow model, • Baseline workforce and shortages • Entrants – training, immigration • Exits – retirements, departures • Demand drivers • Projections to 2025 • Refine, evaluate and continually improve over time to be an authoritative, reliable information base for decision makers • Training requirements • Immigration • Workforce reform

11. Opportunities and priorities • Refinement of health demand measures • National health identifiers • Providers – individual &organisation • National health reforms • Activity based funding • E-health • National health professional registration • Targeted workforce reform which links quality national information on • Burden of disease • Uniquely identifiable health professionals • Measurable health service delivery requirements

12. Conclusion • An unprecedented opportunity to accurately record, track and monitor Australia’s health workforce • Supply and demand can be more accurately planned • Policy and decision making will be better informed by evidence • Debates will be over policy, program and other interventions rather than data and methodologies • National workforce reform initiatives can be better targeted to support and enable broader health system reforms.

13. www.hwa.gov.au