Research from UQ’s Centre for the Business and Economics of Health, together with input from national stakeholder engagement, has culminated in a major federal government report looking at the barriers health professionals face working to their full scope of practice.
The report, Unleashing the Potential of our Health Workforce – Scope of Practice Review Final Report, outlines a range of recommendations focused on the consumer and community, multidisciplinary teams and the broader health care system.
From October 2023 to October 2024, independent reviewer Professor Mark Cormack partnered with CBEH researchers and KPMG to consult with more than 700 stakeholders to understand the restrictions health professionals face in working to their fullest.
CBEH Director and Taylor Chair Professor Lisa Nissen said the Centre was able to provide long-standing expertise in health workforce research and planning to the national review.
“We’re excited to see the release of the Unleashing the Potential of our Health Workforce – Scope of Practice Review Final Report,” Professor Nissen said.
“It highlights many of the opportunities available to enhance the utilisation of our highly trained and capable health workforce – placing safe, effective care where patients live is central to the outcomes.
“Our contribution to major reviews like this continues to position CBEH as an epicentre for health system reform and innovation to improve patient care.”
The year-long review received almost 1200 submissions, held 31 public consultation sessions attended by over 700 people, and conducted a further 100 targeted consultation sessions with over 200 organisations or stakeholder groups.
Stakeholders included diverse group of health consumers, health professionals, First Nations organisations and communities, governments, regulators, education and training providers, accreditation authorities, funders, insurers, professional associations and unions.
The CBEH team involved researchers Professor Nissen, Dr Lynda Cardiff, Dr Belinda Gavaghan, Hannah Beilby, Dr Jean Spinks and Johnny Van Savage, supported by project managers Aimee Johnston and Amanda Griffiths.
The Unleashing the Potential of our Health Workforce Review was commissioned by the Australian Government Department of Health and Aged Care.
