HSH211 Lecture Notes - Lecture 6: Bulk Billing, Workforce Productivity, Health Human Resources
Australias health workforce
Health workforce
• A country's health workforce is a central building block for its health system- Indeed this is one
of the six building blocks in the WHO framework. Health systems cannot function effectively
without a workforce that embodies a high level of knowledge, skill and attributes
• The vast majority of health care expenditure in Australia is invested in workforce, with
additional considerable investment through the education system, to train, educate, and
sustain the health workforce
Who are the health workforce
The Australian bureau of statistics publishes at list of over 1 million people as working in the health
and social assistance sector of Australia's economy. Although this category combines health and
welfare services, less than half of all health workers are what we think of as health professionals
(nurses, doctors, allied health etc.)
Much of the workforce supported by Australia's health care expenditure comprises the mix of trades
and professions that together support the operations of our health care organisations (hospitals,
community health centres, practice offices etc.). This part of the workforce tends to get combined in
tables of statistics under management and administration or other. This is a large number of people,
including cooks, cleaners, health information specialists and practice managers.
Health professionals
The Australian Institute of Health and Welfare produces more detailed data on the numbers of
registered health professionals for the range of health related professions that require registration.
Data for 2014 shows 610,148 registered practitioners, with nurses and midwives making up more
than half of this number.
Doctors and other medical professionals were the next largest group of registered health
professionals (98,807 registered in 2014, plus 15,764 registered dentists)
Allied health is the groups term for the combination of remaining health professionals, including
ambulance officers and paramedics, physiotherapists, pharmacists, specch therapists, occupational
therapists, Aboriginal and Torres strait islander health workers, podiatrists, psychologists etc. Not all
of these professions are registered
Regulation and professional organisations
Each group of health professionals has their own professional organisation. Most of these
organisations are involved in the regulation of workforce, by setting the rules on who can be a
member of the organisation. These rules can apply to the level and type of education required prior
to joining the profession, ongoing education required and amount and type of practice require to
attain and maintain membership.. The main reason to do his is to ensure that all members of the
professional organisation have the skills and knowledge necessary to deliver health care safely and
effectively. Individuals not in the organisation can still call themselves a nurse, doctor, or any other
title, but most health employers require evidence of registration and organisation membership
before employing anyone in a health professional role.
find more resources at oneclass.com
find more resources at oneclass.com
Document Summary
Health workforce: a country"s health workforce is a central building block for its health system- indeed this is one of the six building blocks in the who framework. The australian bureau of statistics publishes at list of over 1 million people as working in the health and social assistance sector of australia"s economy. Although this category combines health and welfare services, less than half of all health workers are what we think of as health professionals (nurses, doctors, allied health etc. ) Much of the workforce supported by australia"s health care expenditure comprises the mix of trades and professions that together support the operations of our health care organisations (hospitals, community health centres, practice offices etc. ). This part of the workforce tends to get combined in tables of statistics under management and administration or other. This is a large number of people, including cooks, cleaners, health information specialists and practice managers.
