The Albanese Government is committing to making sure that our hard-working health workforce can work to the full scope of their profession.
The Unleashing the Potential of our Health Workforce Review, a recommendation of the Strengthening Medicare Taskforce, will look at how we can better help health practitioners work to the full extent of their skills and training.
Making sure Australia optimises its health workforce across a stretched primary care sector will improve health access and equity across all communities - including regional, rural and remote areas.
Professor Mark Cormack has been appointed to lead the independent review.
The review will be underpinned by extensive stakeholder engagement and collaboration with the states and territories - with the review to be completed in the second half of 2024 and interim findings to be released as the review progresses.
Professor Cormack is a highly accomplished health system and public policy executive. He was appointed Honorary Professor at the Australian National University (ANU) College of Health and Medicine in 2020 and has recently established the National Centre for Health Workforce Studies at ANU. This follows a long public service career including as the CEO of Health Workforce Australia.
His professional background also covers early work as an allied health professional, and health services manager. Professor Cormack has served as Chief Executive (ACT Health) and Deputy Secretary (Commonwealth Departments of Health, Veterans' Affairs and Home Affairs).
The review will be underpinned by extensive stakeholder engagement and collaboration with the states and territories - with findings expected to be provided to the Government in the second half of 2024.
Quotes attributable to Minister Butler:
"For too long, too many of our health workforce haven't been able to work to their full potential.
"Whether it is nurses, pharmacists or allied health professionals in a global health workforce shortage we need everyone working as close as possible to the top of their scope.
"Professor Cormack comes with a wealth of experience, particularly as CEO of Health Workforce Australia.
"I'm pleased Professor Cormack has agreed to lead this independent review so we can better understand the limitations our health professionals are working under and remove the barriers preventing them from getting on with the job - and the opportunities as we build Australia's health workforce and strengthen Medicare.
"The review will focus on the immediate benefits of supporting more quality service delivery in, and greater accessibility to primary care which will benefit all Australians."
