Australian Frontline Health Workers study

The Australian Frontline Health Workers Study is the largest, multi-professional, global survey, and the
only Australian research conducted during Stage-4 restrictions, examining the psychosocial impacts of
COVID-19 across the primary and secondary care. Due to the urgency of gaining a robust evidence base,
this study was conducted with minimal funding ($50 000) and substantial in-kind contributions.
Preliminary results reveal many frontline health workers report anxiety (61%), burnout (58%) and
depression (28%), with 30% reporting pre-existing mental illness. 75% did not seek help for psychological
issues during the pandemic. In addition to prevalence and risk factor data, our study contains the solutions
identified by health workers for preparedness for pandemics and other crises.
We are seeking funding support for rapid quantitative and qualitative data analyses to translate this timecritical data into policy recommendations that support mental health of the health workforce and focus on
retaining workers.
Our findings will be translatable to community resilience in other settings as socially disruptive events such
as pandemics natural disasters and climate change increase.