Health and aged care workforces big winners in federal budget

Aged care wasn’t the only winner in the budget. There were also plenty of initiatives to improve the public health system.

There was a strong commitment in the federal budget to support health and aged care workers, with a significant aged care pay rise and nurse practitioner reform among the highlights.

The Albanese government’s review of the scope of practice of healthcare professionals, including nurses and midwives, will offer a pathway for better access to health care across the community, according to the Australian Nursing and Midwifery Federation (ANMF).

The review is part of a $6.1 billion funding package to strengthen Medicare.

ANMF Federal Secretary, Annie Butler, said the removal of red tape that prevents highly skilled nurse practitioners (NPs) and eligible midwives from providing patients with timely access to needed health services, and the 30 per cent increase in Medicare rebates for NP care, will empower them to do what they’re qualified and trained to do, without the need for ‘collaborative arrangements’ with doctors.

There is also a new scholarship program to support registered nurses to train to become NPs.

“The ANMF and our members believe this is a positive first step in putting nurses and midwives at the centre of genuine Medicare reforms and playing a key role in multidisciplinary models of care across the community,” Annie said.

The budget also contained $445 million in funding for a Workforce Incentive Payment, which would encourage eligible general practices to employ more nurses, NPs and midwives,

The ANMF also welcomed:

• $4.2 million for an additional 6000 practice nursing placements

• $1 million to attract 500 previously enrolled and registered nurses to return to the workforce

• changes to scholarships to focus on nursing, midwifery and First Nations health workers.

Strategic Plan To Bolster Nurse Practitioners

After the budget the federal government announced a Nurse Practitioner Workforce Plan, which aims to expand the services of highly trained nurse practitioners (NPs), as a way of addressing increasing demands for health and aged care, and chronic workforce shortages across the country.

Annie Butler said the plan outlined a series of strategic actions that would bolster the NP workforce and underpin the community’s access to quality, primary healthcare services. “The plan recognises the true value of NPs and how they can provide tangible solutions to the many challenges across the health and aged care sectors, which are impacting the delivery of timely, safe health care, particularly in rural and remote communities where there is limited access to a GP, or no GP at all,” she said. n