JOHN GREGG Chief Executive AHHA
Looking ahead to 2022
Welcome to the final issue of The Health Advocate
great examples of initiatives our industry has
for 2021. I think we can all attest to just how
implemented during the pandemic to support our
challenging 2021 has been for our industry, our
workforce. I hope it inspires you to implement
colleagues, communities, and families as we
new and innovative ways to support the emotional
continued to experience the impacts of the
wellbeing of your team.
COVID-19 pandemic. Over the past 18+ months, our health workforce
As we farewell 2021, it is time to look forward to a brighter new year with increased confidence
has been keeping our community safe and healthy
that our public healthcare system has continued
under difficult and stressful circumstances, while
to provide ongoing care and support throughout
also experiencing the uncertainty and distress of
the pandemic.
lockdowns and restrictions and the impacts it has on life and work. A recent survey of healthcare workers from
Stepping in to 2022, we need to reflect on what we missed while we were fully focused on combatting the pandemic. The immediate urgency
Mental Health Australia found that 70% of
of responding to the COVID-19 pandemic and the
healthcare workers said COVID-19 restrictions
pressing need to respond operationally has moved
had a negative impact on their mental health
attention away from health system reform. As we
and wellbeing while 86% said working in healthcare
step into 2022 and into a post-pandemic reality,
during the COVID-19 pandemic increased the
we must consider an effective and proportionate
amount of stress and pressure they experienced
value-based response to Long COVID and non-
in the workplace. Over the last few months,
COVID related health conditions that may have
there has also been increased reports of burnout
been missed or delayed, which considers patient
in our industry, which highlights the need to
health outcomes, resourcing and costs. You can
address this rising problem.
read more about how we can manage the long
Sustaining the emotional wellbeing of our healthcare workforce must be a continued priority for the sector as we emerge from the pandemic. This issue of The Health Advocate showcases 4
The Health Advocate • NOVEMBER 2021
term health consequences of COVID-19 in Australia in this Deeble Issues Brief. Addressing the long term health consequences of the pandemic is not the only challenge our
