Abstract
Objectives: Regional centres and their rural hinterlands support significant populations of non-metropolitan Australians. Despite their importance in the settlement hierarchy and the key medical services provided from these centres, little research has focused on their issues of workforce supply and long-term service requirements. In addition, they are a critical component of the recent growth of 'regional' hub-and-spoke specialist models of service delivery. Methods: The present study interviewed 62 resident specialists in four regional centres, seeking to explore recruitment and retention factors important to their location decision making. The findings were used to develop a framework of possible evidence-informed policies. Results: This article identifies key professional, social and locational factors, several of which are modifiable and amenable to policy redesign, including work variety, workplace culture, sense of community and spousal employment; these factors that can be targeted through initiatives in selection, training and incentives. Conclusions: Commonwealth, state and local governments in collaboration with communities and specialist colleges can work synergistically, with a multiplicity of interdigitating strategies, to ensure a positive approach to the maintenance of a critical mass of long-term rural specialists.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Article number | AH16159 |
| Pages (from-to) | 698-706 |
| Number of pages | 9 |
| Journal | Australian Health Review |
| Volume | 41 |
| Issue number | 6 |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Published - 1 Jan 2017 |
Cite this
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It's more than money : Policy options to secure medical specialist workforce for regional centres. / May, Jennifer; Walker, Judi; McGrail, Mathew; Rolley, Fran.
In: Australian Health Review, Vol. 41, No. 6, AH16159, 01.01.2017, p. 698-706.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › Research › peer-review
TY - JOUR
T1 - It's more than money
T2 - Policy options to secure medical specialist workforce for regional centres
AU - May, Jennifer
AU - Walker, Judi
AU - McGrail, Mathew
AU - Rolley, Fran
PY - 2017/1/1
Y1 - 2017/1/1
N2 - Objectives: Regional centres and their rural hinterlands support significant populations of non-metropolitan Australians. Despite their importance in the settlement hierarchy and the key medical services provided from these centres, little research has focused on their issues of workforce supply and long-term service requirements. In addition, they are a critical component of the recent growth of 'regional' hub-and-spoke specialist models of service delivery. Methods: The present study interviewed 62 resident specialists in four regional centres, seeking to explore recruitment and retention factors important to their location decision making. The findings were used to develop a framework of possible evidence-informed policies. Results: This article identifies key professional, social and locational factors, several of which are modifiable and amenable to policy redesign, including work variety, workplace culture, sense of community and spousal employment; these factors that can be targeted through initiatives in selection, training and incentives. Conclusions: Commonwealth, state and local governments in collaboration with communities and specialist colleges can work synergistically, with a multiplicity of interdigitating strategies, to ensure a positive approach to the maintenance of a critical mass of long-term rural specialists.
AB - Objectives: Regional centres and their rural hinterlands support significant populations of non-metropolitan Australians. Despite their importance in the settlement hierarchy and the key medical services provided from these centres, little research has focused on their issues of workforce supply and long-term service requirements. In addition, they are a critical component of the recent growth of 'regional' hub-and-spoke specialist models of service delivery. Methods: The present study interviewed 62 resident specialists in four regional centres, seeking to explore recruitment and retention factors important to their location decision making. The findings were used to develop a framework of possible evidence-informed policies. Results: This article identifies key professional, social and locational factors, several of which are modifiable and amenable to policy redesign, including work variety, workplace culture, sense of community and spousal employment; these factors that can be targeted through initiatives in selection, training and incentives. Conclusions: Commonwealth, state and local governments in collaboration with communities and specialist colleges can work synergistically, with a multiplicity of interdigitating strategies, to ensure a positive approach to the maintenance of a critical mass of long-term rural specialists.
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85037049711&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1071/AH16159
DO - 10.1071/AH16159
M3 - Article
VL - 41
SP - 698
EP - 706
JO - Australian Health Review
JF - Australian Health Review
SN - 0156-5788
IS - 6
M1 - AH16159
ER -