The South Australian Allied Health Workforce survey: helping to fill the evidence gap in primary health workforce planning
Deirdre Whitford A D , Tony Smith B and Jonathan Newbury CA School of Population Health and Clinical Practice, The University of Adelaide, North Terrace, Adelaide, SA 5005, Australia.
B University Department of Rural Health and Rural Clinical School – Northern New South Wales, The University of Newcastle, Tamworth, NSW 2340, Australia.
C Spencer Gulf Rural Health School, The University of Adelaide and The University of South Australia, University of South Australia, PO Box 3200, Port Lincoln, SA 5606, Australia.
D Corresponding author. Email: dwhitford01@bigpond.com
Australian Journal of Primary Health 18(3) 234-241 https://doi.org/10.1071/PY11027
Submitted: 4 March 2011 Accepted: 5 October 2011 Published: 7 December 2011
Abstract
There is a lack of detailed evidence about the allied health workforce to inform proposed health care reforms. The South Australian Allied Health Workforce (SAAHW) survey collected data about the demographic characteristics, employment, education and recruitment and retention of allied health professionals in South Australia. The SAAHW questionnaire was widely distributed and 1539 responses were received. The average age of the sample was 40 years; males were significantly older than females, the latter making up 82% of respondents. Three-quarters of the sample worked in the city; 60% worked full time and the remainder in part-time, casual or locum positions. ‘Work–life balance’ was the most common attraction to respondents’ current jobs and ‘Better career prospects’ the most common reason for intending to leave. Practice in a rural location was influenced by rural background and rural experience during training. A greater proportion of Generation Y (1982–2000) respondents intended to leave within 2 years than Generation X (1961–81) or Baby Boomers (1943–60). Most respondents were satisfied with their job, although some reported lack of recognition of their knowledge and skills. Systematic, robust allied health workforce data are required for integrated and sustainable primary health care delivery.
Additional keywords: health reform, models of care, recruitment, retention.
References
Allied Health Professions Australia (2008) ‘Allied health in Australia: priorities for health care reform and key professions and organisations.’ (Allied Health Professions Australia: Melbourne) Available at http://www.ahpa.com.au/pdfs/Ministerial_02.08.pdf [Verified 20 February 2011]Australian Government Department of Health and Ageing (2008) ‘Report on the audit of health workforce in rural and regional Australia.’ (Commonwealth of Australia: Canberra) Available at http://www.health.gov.au/internet/main/publishing.nsf/Content/work-res-ruraud [Verified 20 February 2011]
Australian Government Department of Health and Ageing (2010a) ‘GP super clinics: about the GP super clinics program.’ (Commonwealth of Australia: Canberra) Available at http://www.health.gov.au/internet/main/publishing.nsf/Content/pacd-gpsuperclinic-about [Verified 20 February 2011]
Australian Government Department of Health and Ageing (2010b) ‘GP superclinic, national program guide.’ Available at http://www.health.gov.au/internet/main/publishing.nsf/Content/pacd-gpsuperclinics-ProgramGuide2010 [Verified 8 September 2011]
Australian Government Department of Health and Ageing (2010c) ‘Medicare locals: discussion paper on governance and functions.’ (Commonwealth of Australia: Canberra) Available at http://www.yourhealth.gov.au/internet/yourhealth/publishing.nsf/Content/MedicareLocalsDiscussionPaper [Verified 20 February 2011]
Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (2011) ‘National Registration and Accreditation Scheme.’ (Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency: Canberra) Available at http://www.ahpra.gov.au/ [Verified 20 February 2011]
Australian Health Workforce Advisory Committee (2006) ‘The Australian allied health workforce – an overview of workforce planning issues.’ Report 2006-1. (Australian Health Workforce Advisory Committee: Sydney) Available at http://www.nhwt.gov.au/publications.asp [Verified 20 February 2011]
Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (2008a) ‘Medical labour force 2007.’ Cat. no. HWL 42. (Australian Institute of Health and Welfare: Canberra) Available at http://www.aihw.gov.au/publications/index.cfm/title/10620 [Verified 20 February 2011]
Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (2008b) ‘Nursing and midwifery labour force 2007.’ Cat. no. HWL 40. (Australian Institute of Health and Welfare: Canberra) Available at http://www.aihw.gov.au/publications/index.cfm/title/10475 [Verified 20 February 2011]
Chan BC, Perkins D, Wan Q, Zwar N, Daniel C, Crookes P, Harris MF (2010) International Journal for Quality in Health Care 22, 519–524.
| Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 20956284PubMed |
Collins K, Jones ML, McDonnell A, Read S, Jones R, Cameron A (2000) Do new roles contribute to job satisfaction and retention of staff in nursing and professions allied to medicine? Journal of Nursing Management 8, 3–12.
Council of Australian Governments (2011) ‘Heads of agreement – national health reform.’ (Commonwealth of Australia: Canberra) Available at http://www.yourhealth.gov.au/internet/yourhealth/publishing.nsf/content/home [Verified 20 February 2011]
Gainsford L (2006) ‘Generation gap: who’s afraid of compliance?’ (Human Resource Leader, Reed Business Information: Melbourne) Available at http://www.humanresourcesmagazine.com.au/articles/9D/0C04109D.asp?Type=60&Category=1223 [Verified 20 February 2011]
Harris MF, Zwar NA (2007) Care of patients with chronic disease: the challenge for general practice. The Medical Journal of Australia 187, 104–107.
Health Professions Council of Australia (2005) ‘Submission to the Productivity Commission health workforce study: the allied health professional workforce in Australia – challenges and opportunities.’ (Health Professions Council of Australia: Melbourne) Available at http://www.ahpa.com.au/pdfs/submission_08.05.pdf [Verified 20 February 2011]
Jones M, Humphreys J, Prideaux D (2009) ‘Predicting medical students’ rural practice intentions using data from the Medical Schools’ Outcome Database.’ 10th National Rural Health Conference, Cairns, 17–20 May 2009. Available at http://10thnrhc.ruralhealth.org.au/papers/docs/Jones_Michael_B7.pdf [Verified 20 February 2011]
Keane S, Smith TN, Lincoln M, Wagner SR, Lowe SE (2008) The rural allied health workforce study (RAHWS): background, rationale and questionnaire development. Rural and Remote Health 8, 1132
Keane S, Smith T, Lincoln M, Fisher K (2011) Survey of the rural allied health workforce in New South Wales to inform recruitment and retention. The Australian Journal of Rural Health 19, 38–44.
| Survey of the rural allied health workforce in New South Wales to inform recruitment and retention.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 21265924PubMed |
Kidd MR (2009) What impact will the Australian Government’s proposed national health care reforms have on Australian general practice? The Medical Journal of Australia 191, 55–57.
Lowe S, O’Kane A (2004) ‘National allied health workforce report.’ (National Rural and Remote Allied Health Advisory Service: Canberra) Available at http://www.sarrah.org.au/site/index.cfm?display=65820 [Verified 20 February 2011]
Lowe S, Adams R, O’Kane A (2007) ‘A framework for the categorization of the Australian health professional workforce.’ (Services for Australian Rural and Remote Allied Health: Canberra) Available at http://www.sarrah.org.au/site/index.cfm?display=65820 [Verified 20 February 2011]
McGee P (Ed.) (2009) ‘Advanced practice in nursing and the allied health professions.’ 3rd edn. (Wiley-Blackwell: Oxford)
Naccarella L, Brooks P, Newton B, Butler D (2011) Evidence-based primary health care workforce reforms: priority areas for research. The Medical Journal of Australia 194, 109–110.
National Allied Health Casemix Committee (2001) ‘Health activity hierarchy, version 1.1.’ (Commonwealth Department of Health and Aged Care: Canberra) Available at http://www.nahcc.org.au/pdfs/hah.pdf [Verified 20 February 2011]
National Rural Health Alliance (2004) ‘Under pressure and undervalued: allied health professionals in rural and remote areas.’ (National Rural Health Alliance: West Deakin, Victoria) Available at http://nrha.ruralhealth.org.au/cms/uploads/publications/allied%20health%20final%20november%202004.pdf [Verified 20 February 2011]
Parker R, Walker L, Hegarty K (2010) Primary nursing workforce in Australia: A vision for the future. Australian Family Physician 39, 159–160.
Schoo AM, Stagnitti KE, Mercer C, Dunbar J (2005) A conceptual model for recruitment and retention: allied health workforce enhancement in Western Victoria, Australia. Rural and Remote Health 5, 477
Services for Australian Rural and Remote Allied Health (2007) ‘Allied health workforce data.’ Issues paper. (Services for Australian Rural and Remote Allied Health: Canberra) Available at http://www.sarrah.org.au/site/index.cfm?display=65820 [Verified 20 February 2011]
Services for Australian Rural and Remote Allied Health (2011) ‘About us.’ (Services for Australian Rural and Remote Allied Health: Canberra) Available at http://www.sarrah.org.au/site/index.cfm?display=65130 [Verified 20 February 2011]
Smith T, Brown L, Cooper R (2009) A multidisciplinary model of rural allied health clinical-academic practice: a case study. Journal of Allied Health 38, 236–241.
Strauss W, Howe N (1991) ‘Generations: the history of America’s future: 1584 to 2069.’ (William Morrow and Company: New York)
World Health Organization (2008) ‘The world health report 2008: primary health care (now more than ever).’ (World Health Organization: Geneva) Available at http://www.who.int/whr/2008/ [Verified 20 February 2011]
