The Australian health workforce: Disproportionate shortfalls in small rural towns

Introduction

The distribution of health care workers differs greatly across Australia, which is likely to impact health delivery.

Objective

To examine demographic and workplace setting factors of doctors, nurses and midwives, and allied health professionals across Modified Monash Model (MMM) regions and identify factors associated with shortfalls in the health care workforce.

Design

Descriptive cross-sectional analysis. The study included all health professionals who were registered with the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency in 2021, and who were working in Australia in their registered profession. The study examined number of registrations and full-timed equivalent (FTE) registrations per MMM region classification, adjusted for population. Associated variables included age, gender, origin of qualification, Indigenous status and participation in the private or public (including government, non-government organisation and not-for-profit organisations) sectors.

Findings

Data were available for 31 221 general practitioners, 77 277 other doctors, 366 696 nurses and midwives, and 195 218 allied health professionals. The lowest FTE per 1000 people was seen in MM5 regions for general practitioners, other doctors, nurses and midwives, and allied health professionals. Demographic factors were mostly consistent across MM regions, although MM5 regions had a higher percentage of nurses and midwives and allied health professionals aged 55 and over. In the private sector, FTE per 1000 people was lowest in MM5-7 regions. In the public sector, FTE per 1000 people was lowest in MM5 regions.

Discussion

A disproportionate shortfall of health workers was seen in MM5 regions. This shortfall appears to be primarily due to low FTE per capita of private sector workers compared with MM1-4 regions and a low FTE per capita of public sector workers compared with MM6-7 regions.

Conclusion

In Australia, small rural towns have the lowest number of health care workers per capita which is likely to lead to poor health outcomes for those regions.