Today, the ACT Government released its 10-year ACT Health Workforce Strategy. The strategy takes a comprehensive approach to recognising the areas to be strengthened and identifies early actions to continue building a sustainable workforce.
The ACT Health Workforce Strategy 2023-2032 outlines the vision, principles, priorities and early actions to build and retain a sustainable health workforce as the ACT’s population continues to grow.
The strategy was designed with significant input from health professionals, public and private healthcare providers, education providers, unions, consumers, carers and across Government.
The ACT Health Workforce Strategy 2023-2032 looks across the entire health system including public health services, primary care, private health and non-government organisations to take a holistic approach to building a sustaining and supporting our health workforce as our community grows.
Minister for Health Rachel Stephen-Smith said the ACT Government is committed to supporting ACT health workers now and into the future.
“This strategy is underpinned by lot of planning and consultation, and will provide a foundation for the ACT health system over the next decade,” said Minister Stephen‑Smith.
“Our vision for the ACT is to build and sustain a highly skilled and valued health workforce supported by a learning health system delivering quality health outcomes for the community.
“The ACT Health Workforce Strategy 2023-2032 aims to attract and retain our talented students to remain in the ACT and to recruit and retain new and experienced health care workers, supporting them to realise their ambitions and ensuring their wellbeing is always front of mind.
“The strategy has identified eight priority areas to target specific workforce needs, with 23 actions we are ready to commence right now – or that are already underway.
“From creating exciting career paths and investing in data intelligence, to ensuring we provide a culturally safe environment for our Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander workforce, these priorities will help us deliver on our collective ambition to be the most capable health workforce in Australia.
“The ACT Government is making record investments in services and health infrastructure, including nurse-to-patient ratios, the Canberra Hospital Expansion and a new northside hospital, and we need to continue to grow our workforce to meet the increasing healthcare needs of our city and region.
“ACT Labor committed to delivering an additional 400 health professionals in this term of government. We’ve already delivered on this and the strategy builds on the ACT Government’s investments to grow and support our health workforce into the future.
“I thank all those who have helped us get to this point and look forward to delivering the early actions and subsequent action plans in partnership with the health workforce and stakeholders.
“The ACT Health Workforce Strategy 2023-2032 will support a safe and innovative work environment where every worker feels valued and has opportunity to work to their full potential.”
Quotes attributable to Prof Michelle Lincoln – Executive Dean Faculty of Health University of Canberra
“The ACT Health Workforce Strategy clearly demonstrates that Canberra is an excellent place to study health degrees, commence a career as a health professional and to be supported to grow and learn and to develop a fulfilling and exciting career.
“The ACT Health Workforce Strategy embeds continuous learning and development throughout the whole health system. Health students, new graduates and expert health professionals will be supported to engage in continuous learning that ultimately leads to excellence in care.
“The ACT Health Workforce Strategy supports the recruitment and retention of a valued, respectful, diverse and inclusive workforce. This in turn will create a safe and supported learning environment for health students in the territory.
“The University of Canberra contributed to the development of the ACT Health Workforce Strategy by highlighting the importance of supporting student placements and internships in our health system, to ensure a steady pipeline of well-prepared graduates entering the health workforce.”
Quotes attributable to Megan Cahill – CEO Capital Health Network
“As the ACT’s Primary Health Network, we contributed to and welcome the ACT Health Workforce Strategy 2023-2032 which will support improved flexibility and mobility across the ACT health system to promote retention of valued health care workers and drive better integration. Ultimately, this will improve the health and wellbeing of Canberrans.”
