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

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

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

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

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out of date and incomplete Workforce interventions are complex, have long lead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.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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.

www.hwa.gov.au