Publications
Please let us know of any other information you would like included - workforce@dhs.vic.gov.au
Department of Human Services - Workforce related publications
The human services workforce in Victoria Data from the 2006 Census (PDF file 639KB)
This information sheet uses data from the 2006 Census of Population and Housing to better understand the characteristics of the human services workforce in Victorian. Data on over 100 human service occupations and 23 human services industries is available for use in the Department. For many human services occupations, the Census is the only source of data at the sub-state level. Profiles have been developed for individual occupations using 2006 Census data, and are available on the Allied Health page.
Mental health workforce planning has previously been hampered by the absence of adequate data on the composition of the workforce, and lack of information about future workforce supply and demand trends.
The public mental health workforce study aimed to provide:
- A workforce profile identifying key characteristics of the current workforce
- Analysis of future workforce requirements, including forecast workforce demand and staff turnover, and
- Proposed strategies and actions to address current and anticipated workforce challenges.
- The results provide an important picture of Victoria’s public mental health workforce.
Palliative Care Workforce - A Supply and Demand Study - October 2006 (PDF File 2.3MB)
Palliative care workforce A supply and demand study The workforce involved in the delivery of palliative care services funded by the department's Programs Branch is the subject of this supply and demand study. The study also investigates the dimensions, demographics and distribution of the palliative care volunteer force.
Rural Workforce Strategy: 32 pilot projects (PDF file 634KB) - June 2006
The Rural Workforce Strategy is a four-year initiative that aims to improve the recruitment and retention of the rural health workforce. A total of 32 projects have been piloted across the state, this compendium of Rural Workforce Strategy projects has been developed to document and highlight the progress and impacts of these projects to date.
Department of Human Services - Better Skills Best Care publications
Literature Review Emergency Department and Radiology Workforce (PDF File 1.3MB)
Intensive Care Workforce and Workflow: Literature Review (PDF File 414KB)
Literature reviews have been undertaken to examine the international, interstate and local trends in ICU, ED and radiology workflow and work practices. They include comprehensive reviews of both published and unpublished literature such as research papers, published literature, and reports produced through State and Commonwealth departments and other relevant bodies.
A report on the Work Analysis Project in emergency departments (ED), intensive care units (ICU) and radiology departments in Victoria.
Australian Health Workforce Officials Committee (AHWOC) publications
The Australian Health Workforce Officials Committee (AHWOC) was established in 2001 to provide advice to Australian Health Ministers’ Advisory Council (AHMAC) on key health workforce and workforce policy issues. AHWOC identified several priority issues for national collaboration, including the need to identify jurisdictional investment in the health workforce. AHWOC developed a project to conduct this stocktake as part of its 2002–03 work program.
This report presents the results of a survey of all Australian jurisdictions’ investment in the health workforce, and incorporates completed and ongoing work by AHWOC. It describes the structure of health workforce policy and planning in each jurisdiction, educational liaison mechanisms and gives an overview of health workforce projects and initiatives across jurisdictions.
Council of Australian Governments (COAG) related publications
The Council of Australian Governments (COAG) commissioned the Productivity Commission to undertake a research study into health workforce issues to help it improve its understanding of the workforce-related pressures facing the health system.
Victorian Government Submission to the Productivity Commission (July 2005) (PDF, 1.34mb)
The Australian health workforce operates within an environment characterised by a wide range of funding, governance and regulatory structures that impact upon its composition, supply and distribution. Despite a range of interventions at both the state and commonwealth levels over recent years, current shortages in the health workforce are forecast to worsen. Thus, failure to effectively address health workforce issues will impact on the health system's ability to deliver to the Victorian community.
Victoria's submission proposed a number of far-reaching, major reforms to funding, governance and regulatory structures to address:
- The increasing under supply and maldistribution of the workforce.
- Workforce productivity issues including approaches to break down the traditional profession-based approaches to regulation, assessment and accreditation.
Australia's Health Workforce Productivity Commission Position Paper (September 2005) (PDF, 1.41mb)
The Productivity Commission's Position Paper presented 19 Draft Proposals for reform aimed at producing more sustainable and responsive health workforce arrangements.
The Draft Proposals focus on:
- Promoting responsive education and training arrangements
- Providing a basis for nationally uniform qualification and registration standards
- Facilitating health workforce innovations
- Improving funding-related incentives for workforce change
- The Commission's Position Paper has adopted a number of the Victorian reform proposals.
Victorian Government's response to the Commission's Position Paper (November 2005) (PDF, 789kb)
The Victorian Government's response details its position on each of the Commission's draft proposals and proposes some key areas that the Commission may wish to consider further in finalising its recommendations. These are:
- Increasing supply through the use of overseas trained health practitioners.
- Influencing the distribution of the health workforce.
- Private sector contribution to the education and training of health professionals.
- Trainee contribution to education and training
Publications Online
The Medical Journal of Australia (Australia)
www.mja.com.au
British Medical Journal
http://bmj.com/
Canadian Medical Association Journal
www.cmaj.ca/
Canadian Health Services Research Foundation
www.chsrf.ca
The Workplace Survey
In March 1999, the ASMR commissioned a "Workplace Survey" to all members of the society. The survey was designed to collect hard data on how Australian biomedical researchers regard their workplace conditions.
www.asmr.org.au/wshp.pdf
Mental Health Employment Issues
A Review Of Mental Health Employment Issues was undertaken for the Mental Health Co-ordinating Council (MHCC) Employment Sub-committee.
www.mhcc.org.au/documents/emp_issu.pdf
National Health and Medical Research Council
List of publications on health workforce issues available through the Council
www.nhmrc.gov.au
APHSA Workforce Data Collection Field Guide
American Public Human Services Association APHSA releases Workforce Data Collection Field Guide with practical tools on exit interviews, focus groups, and surveys to help human service agencies improve workforce recruitment, retention, development, and satisfaction.
www.aphsa.org/
Age Can Work - The Case for Older Australians Staying in the Workforce
A report to the BCA and ACTU.
The issue of labour force participation by mature-age workers is attracting increasing attention throughout the advanced industrial countries, as shown by a stream of academic studies and official reports, both national and international.
www.bca.com.au/Content.aspx?ContentID=91720