Workforce shortages to impact voting

POLITICAL leaders are being urged to publicly state how they will address ongoing workforce shortages across the health sector if they are to form the next Federal Government, before Australians go to the polls on Sat.

A survey conducted on behalf of the Australian Private Hospitals Association (APHA) found that 90% of respondents reported that they were concerned about workforce shortages, with more than half saying it was an issue that would affect how they cast their ballot this weekend.

APHA CEO, Michael Roff, expressed his frustration that neither Labor nor the Liberal Party have addressed the issue as part of their campaign manifestos.

“While Australians understand a shortage of nurses will constrain efforts to clear the backlog of essential elective surgery or improve the quality of aged care, it is disappointing that neither major party seems to get it,” he said.

“With all the major ‘set-piece’ announcements of the campaign now done, neither of the parties seeking to form government has put forward a plan to address this critical health workforce shortage.

“We are calling on both parties to announce a plan to guarantee a pathway to permanent residency for skilled health care migrants coming to Australia, while we also build capacity at home.

“It is not just a matter of opening the borders and inviting people to come, we are competing for nurses, doctors and allied health professionals with the rest of the world.

“The UK, France and Canada have all made steps to make residency easier for migrant health professionals... Australia needs to step up or lose out.”

Roff added that health workers were reluctant to come to Australia at the moment, due to regulatory issues.

“As pressure to deliver delayed elective surgeries is at its height, Australia is struggling to fill its workforce needs,” he said.

That could mean further delays for people who have already waited years for help and result in an even more exhausted workforce.

“In the short term, there’s a solution... it’s reducing the red-tape around bringing people into the country for employers and making Australia the most attractive option for those looking for a new place to call home.”