Recruiting blitz plans

Government bid to attract health staff

FOREIGN doctors and nurses will be targeted by the Queensland government in a desperate global recruitment campaign to plug critical staff shortages plaguing the state’s health sector.

In the face of a crippling domestic health worker shortfall the Palaszczuk government has launched an international campaign that Health Minister Yvette D’ath said would “complement local efforts” to fill key roles across the battered sector.

Ms D’ath would not reveal the cost of the government’s campaign or where it would run, but said international recruitment was a normal part of Queensland Health’s strategy.

“Our recruitment campaigns involve a number of approaches, depending on the type of health worker we are seeking,” she said.

“We are currently running an international campaign to attract nurses and are in the early stages of another campaign to entice medical professionals to Queensland.”

Ms D’ath said Queensland’s hospital and health services had identified the most critical vacancies which need filling and acknowledged a clinical workforce shortage had been exacerbated by Covid-19.

“Throughout the pandemic restrictions on international travel limited the ability of international healthcare workers to seek employment in Australia,” she said.

“We were also aware that health workers in general were also less likely to leave their home countries because of the risks associated with Covid-19.”

She declared the state remained committed to hiring an extra 9475 health workers before the end of 2024.

Auditor-general Brendan Worrall in December warned the growth in unused leave balances of frontline health workers during the pandemic should be a significant concern for the government.

“The wellbeing of the workforce is a significant issue that could impact on the sustainability of the health sector,” his report, released prior to Queensland’s January Omicron wave, said.

“It is important to have enough hospital beds to manage demand … it is even more important that we have a highly energised health workforce.”

Australian Medical Association Queensland international medical graduate representative Emilia Dauway said the state relied on foreign workers

“Pressures on our health system have increased as more people have migrated interstate to Queensland, not to mention the delays in regular check-ups and screening during the pandemic,” she said.

“Although we need to increase recruitment, more often there is a lack of focus on retention of health care workers.

“We have to find ways to support them and their families as they navigate a new health system.”