L-R: RDN CEO, Richard Colbran; National Rural Health Commissioner, Prof Paul Worley; RDN Board member, Dr Ros Bullock; RDN Director – Governance and Health Service Development, Dr Rose Ellis; and Walgett Aboriginal Medical Service CEO, Christine Corby OAM, at the Western NSW Primary Health Workforce Forum.
Planning the Western NSW primary health workforce The Western NSW 2017–18 Primary Health Workforce Planning Framework Project has been a significant undertaking and there is much to celebrate. The project was conducted to develop a regional, integrated, long-term workforce framework. This will guide the development and implementation of policies, strategies, actions and services to address primary health workforce issues in the region and break the cycle of short-term reactive workforce measures. The critical highlights of this 12-month project include: • successful engagement of more than 40 organisations involved in primary healthcare delivery across the vast western region • development of an evidence-based Primary Health Workforce Planning Framework (the Framework) tailored for the region
• the coming together of more than 60 people at the Dubbo forum in July, with a presentation from Australia’s inaugural Rural Health Commissioner, Emeritus Professor Paul Worley
undertaken across all jurisdictions with policy makers, universities, the Aboriginal health sector, and a wide range of other rural stakeholder groups and practitioners to inform development of the Framework.
• identification of immediate priority actions
The Western NSW Primary Health Workforce Planning Framework and 2030 Western NSW Primary Health Workforce Priority Actions acknowledge the unique challenges of providing primary healthcare in Western NSW and the importance of providing timely access to quality and safe healthcare services, regardless of where people live. Equipped with a robust understanding of the challenges and potential solutions, the necessary tools and resources, and a willingness to work together to enable positive action, the collaboration is well-placed to facilitate future action.
• resourcing commitment, including the creation of a dedicated position for a Partnership Coordinator, to bring to life the Framework and Priority Actions. RDN was engaged by Western NSW Primary Health Network (PHN) to lead the project, and a collaborative methodology was established involving RDN, Western NSW PHN, Western NSW Local Health District (WNSW LHD), Far West NSW LHD and the Bila Muuji Aboriginal Corporation Health Service. Substantial consultation was
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