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Health Workforce Competency Principles

The healthcare landscape is changing. The ageing population and the increasing prevalence of chronic disease present new challenges for the healthcare industry and require responses built on modern, evidence-based practice and innovation in workforce design. It is well recognised that a flexible and responsive workforce will be necessary to meet changing client needs into the future and to ensure that the highest quality healthcare continues to be delivered to all Victorians.

Shared health workforce competencies have been nationally identified as a mechanism through which the responsiveness and efficiency of Australia's health workforce can continue to improve. Shared competencies are skill sets that are common across health professions and may include, for example, philosophy of care, client/patient communication, occupational health and safety, ethics and legal obligations. It is anticipated that a shared competency framework will be a positive step towards improving the flexibility of the health workforce and ensuring a high standard of safety and quality in health service delivery.

In its December 2008 interim report, A Healthier Future for All Australians, the National Health and Hospitals Reform Commission noted that:

Particularly important is the introduction of a competency-based framework. Competencies are what a person needs to do and to know to carry out a particular job role or function. A competency framework would allow for a variety of entry points into health care careers, recognise prior learning, and foster more flexible, multidisciplinary training across undergraduate programs.

In 2009, the National Health Workforce Taskforce (NHWT) will progress work to determine the suitability and applicability of a national competency framework.

Given the high level of interest in a competency framework at a national level, Victoria is keen to participate in the national debate. The Department of Human Services has published a discussion paper, Health Workforce Competency Principles (below), which broadly explores ideas around shared competencies and invites stakeholders to consider the issues and opportunities associated with a competency framework for health professionals.

In early 2009, stakeholders were invited to submit written responses in relation to the issues raised in the discussion paper. These submissions have been collated and the feedback received will be used to present the views of Victorian stakeholders as part of the national process.

PDF File Workforce Competency Principles_A Victorian Discussion Paper (PDF File - 241.2kb)

Stakeholder Consultation Workshop: Shared Competencies for the Health Workforce

On Monday 6 April 2009, the Victorian Department of Human Services hosted a stakeholder consultation workshop, Shared Competencies for the Health Workforce, in conjunction with the South Australian Department of Health. The workshop was attended by a range delegates from health services, education providers, health unions, registration and accreditation bodies and other peak organisations. Attendees discussed the potential application of a competency framework in Victoria and explored the benefits, risks and practicalities associated with such a framework. A full report of the workshop proceedings is available below, along with copies of the day's formal presentations.

PDF File Final Report - Shared Competencies for the Health Workforce Workshop (PDF File - 341.4kb)

PDF File Kim Sykes - Shared Competencies for the Health Workforce (PDF File - 155kb)

PDF File Brendan Murphy - Shared Competencies from an Employer's Perspective (PDF File - 15.5kb)

PDF File Karen Dodd - Implications of Shared Competencies for the Higher Education Sector (PDF File - 205kb)

PDF File Karen Dodd - Graduate Attributes Matrix (PDF File - 69.3kb)

PDF File Peter Carver National Health Workforce Reform Competencies (PDF File - 116kb)