1 00:00:00,080 --> 00:00:03,600 Speaker 1: Our twenty new nurses from the Indian state of Kerala 2 00:00:03,720 --> 00:00:07,200 Speaker 1: are set to join our local workforce. The government's offering 3 00:00:07,280 --> 00:00:10,280 Speaker 1: up to ten thousand dollars to eligible nurses to help 4 00:00:10,320 --> 00:00:14,440 Speaker 1: them gain post graduate qualifications in areas of demand in 5 00:00:14,480 --> 00:00:17,440 Speaker 1: the territory's health system. It is all part of a 6 00:00:17,440 --> 00:00:20,680 Speaker 1: pilot program aiming to address the skills shortage and also 7 00:00:20,720 --> 00:00:23,680 Speaker 1: strengthen ties with the country. Now joining me on the 8 00:00:23,720 --> 00:00:27,720 Speaker 1: line to explain more is Charles Dalen University's pro Vice 9 00:00:27,840 --> 00:00:31,600 Speaker 1: Chancellor for Health, Dominic Upton. Good morning to you. 10 00:00:32,560 --> 00:00:34,560 Speaker 2: Good morning, Katie. Good to speak to you this morning. 11 00:00:34,720 --> 00:00:37,279 Speaker 1: Thanks so much for your time. Now what kind of 12 00:00:37,320 --> 00:00:40,560 Speaker 1: studies will the Kerala nurses be undertaking? 13 00:00:42,040 --> 00:00:43,680 Speaker 2: Yeah, so Lo, look, I think I should point out, 14 00:00:43,720 --> 00:00:48,559 Speaker 2: of course, if this is a MTG initiative, hopefully we 15 00:00:48,560 --> 00:00:50,720 Speaker 2: can support them and we want to support our health 16 00:00:50,760 --> 00:00:55,480 Speaker 2: workforce wherever they come from to get postgraduate expertise and upskilling. 17 00:00:56,080 --> 00:00:58,840 Speaker 2: But we're talking about during a graduate certificate or a 18 00:00:58,840 --> 00:01:01,560 Speaker 2: graduate diploma in one of the key areas that the 19 00:01:01,640 --> 00:01:05,640 Speaker 2: territory really need. So we need more specialist nurses in 20 00:01:05,760 --> 00:01:09,120 Speaker 2: renal care, in mental health care and imperioperative to name 21 00:01:09,160 --> 00:01:10,840 Speaker 2: but a few. I mean, there are plenty of other 22 00:01:11,200 --> 00:01:13,720 Speaker 2: specialities we need, but those are the three priority areas. 23 00:01:13,840 --> 00:01:17,600 Speaker 2: So CB has got those courses on offer. We can 24 00:01:17,640 --> 00:01:21,760 Speaker 2: deliver them to nurses from Kerala or nurses from across 25 00:01:21,760 --> 00:01:23,960 Speaker 2: the territory, whether the domestic or international. 26 00:01:24,040 --> 00:01:26,640 Speaker 1: So we're here to help and Professor, are they the 27 00:01:26,720 --> 00:01:29,680 Speaker 1: areas that we have the most demand at this point 28 00:01:29,720 --> 00:01:32,000 Speaker 1: in time? Is that sort of the aim with Charles 29 00:01:32,080 --> 00:01:34,920 Speaker 1: Dalwin Union and with the Northern Territory government, what they're 30 00:01:34,959 --> 00:01:37,840 Speaker 1: doing trying to fill the voids that we've currently got. 31 00:01:38,680 --> 00:01:42,840 Speaker 2: That's spot on. So we work closely with empty Health 32 00:01:42,880 --> 00:01:46,120 Speaker 2: and they've identified those three areas as their priority areas. 33 00:01:46,480 --> 00:01:49,280 Speaker 2: So we're looking at what we need to do in 34 00:01:49,320 --> 00:01:52,320 Speaker 2: our course and our core structures to make sure that 35 00:01:52,360 --> 00:01:54,720 Speaker 2: we can respond to those needs. So, as I said, 36 00:01:54,720 --> 00:01:57,640 Speaker 2: we do have a gradualtificate to mental health and in 37 00:01:57,800 --> 00:02:01,040 Speaker 2: renal care and we're going to develop and perioperative care 38 00:02:01,080 --> 00:02:03,080 Speaker 2: as well, just to make sure that we cover all bases, 39 00:02:03,720 --> 00:02:06,680 Speaker 2: working closely with clinicians as you'd imagine, to make sure 40 00:02:06,720 --> 00:02:10,280 Speaker 2: that we deliver what's needed hear in the territory, what's 41 00:02:10,360 --> 00:02:12,440 Speaker 2: needed by the clinical workforce. So we can make sure 42 00:02:12,480 --> 00:02:16,720 Speaker 2: that those nurses when they graduate from those programs have 43 00:02:16,800 --> 00:02:18,200 Speaker 2: got all the skills are necessary. 44 00:02:18,760 --> 00:02:21,680 Speaker 1: And so I guess from a real operational perspective, what 45 00:02:21,680 --> 00:02:24,320 Speaker 1: we're looking at doing is having the nurses come across. 46 00:02:24,320 --> 00:02:26,560 Speaker 1: This is part of the Northern Territory Government's an issue, 47 00:02:26,600 --> 00:02:29,360 Speaker 1: but having them come across and then while they're working 48 00:02:29,639 --> 00:02:32,800 Speaker 1: also do that additional study and that is where they'd 49 00:02:32,800 --> 00:02:36,480 Speaker 1: get that additional funding offered up to be able to upscale. 50 00:02:37,440 --> 00:02:41,120 Speaker 2: Yep, I believe so. As I said, it's an MTG initiative, 51 00:02:41,200 --> 00:02:44,679 Speaker 2: but that's my understanding of that program and that we'll 52 00:02:44,720 --> 00:02:47,280 Speaker 2: be there to offer that support and that train for 53 00:02:47,320 --> 00:02:51,080 Speaker 2: that workforce, so they'll be working clinically and spend some 54 00:02:51,120 --> 00:02:52,840 Speaker 2: time doing additional study as well. 55 00:02:53,320 --> 00:02:55,640 Speaker 1: And I mean, is it manageable. I'm assuming that it is, 56 00:02:55,680 --> 00:02:58,000 Speaker 1: and that's the whole reason why it's planned that it 57 00:02:58,040 --> 00:02:58,560 Speaker 1: can happen. 58 00:02:59,639 --> 00:03:04,920 Speaker 2: Ye. I mean, look, this is a common way of 59 00:03:05,360 --> 00:03:08,680 Speaker 2: upskilling across the whole of the health workforce. I know 60 00:03:08,720 --> 00:03:11,280 Speaker 2: from my own personal experience. My daughter's a nurse and 61 00:03:11,320 --> 00:03:13,360 Speaker 2: she's doing further study at the moment, just to make 62 00:03:13,360 --> 00:03:16,880 Speaker 2: sure that she can progress their career. Become a specialist, 63 00:03:17,720 --> 00:03:19,560 Speaker 2: and I think that goes across you know, whether it's 64 00:03:19,760 --> 00:03:23,960 Speaker 2: a nurse, a midwide ot speech pathologist. Your work clinically, 65 00:03:24,000 --> 00:03:25,640 Speaker 2: and you'll do a bit of additional study just to 66 00:03:25,639 --> 00:03:29,840 Speaker 2: make sure that you're clinical current, so keep up to 67 00:03:29,880 --> 00:03:32,440 Speaker 2: date with everything, but also progress into an area of 68 00:03:32,440 --> 00:03:33,760 Speaker 2: specialism that since you're. 69 00:03:33,639 --> 00:03:37,080 Speaker 1: Bear, professor, how much does how much of a difference 70 00:03:37,360 --> 00:03:40,240 Speaker 1: is that ten thousand dollars going to make in terms 71 00:03:40,240 --> 00:03:41,000 Speaker 1: of the upskilling? 72 00:03:42,280 --> 00:03:44,880 Speaker 2: Yeah, I mean it's going to make considerable different I mean, 73 00:03:46,840 --> 00:03:50,880 Speaker 2: you know, healthcare workers, students, they need that additional support 74 00:03:50,920 --> 00:03:53,720 Speaker 2: in order to make sure that they can focus clearly 75 00:03:53,720 --> 00:03:56,000 Speaker 2: on their studies and their work, and this will help that. 76 00:03:56,200 --> 00:04:02,000 Speaker 2: I mean, we have some really disappointing cases where people 77 00:04:02,080 --> 00:04:05,400 Speaker 2: can't find that additional funding and they're trying to pay 78 00:04:05,400 --> 00:04:09,400 Speaker 2: for their family, pay for themselves work, plus also do 79 00:04:09,560 --> 00:04:13,840 Speaker 2: additional study, so it can be quite a difficult time. 80 00:04:13,880 --> 00:04:16,160 Speaker 2: So this will be a considerable benefits to them. 81 00:04:16,560 --> 00:04:18,880 Speaker 1: Professor. It sounds like a good initiative, and I think 82 00:04:18,920 --> 00:04:20,960 Speaker 1: anything that we can do to fill that gap in 83 00:04:21,080 --> 00:04:23,320 Speaker 1: terms of the skill shortage that we've got in the 84 00:04:23,440 --> 00:04:26,520 Speaker 1: territory right now, in our health workforce. Sounds like it's 85 00:04:26,520 --> 00:04:29,640 Speaker 1: a good thing to do. I just got a message 86 00:04:29,640 --> 00:04:32,679 Speaker 1: though from Brett, one of our listeners, and he said 87 00:04:32,720 --> 00:04:35,320 Speaker 1: that his daughter's currently in her final year of nursing 88 00:04:35,400 --> 00:04:39,320 Speaker 1: at Charles Dalen University, but she and he's assuming others 89 00:04:39,320 --> 00:04:41,880 Speaker 1: are unable to graduate this year until they complete their 90 00:04:41,920 --> 00:04:45,440 Speaker 1: final placements in hospital slash healthcare. But the problem is 91 00:04:45,480 --> 00:04:49,560 Speaker 1: that there's not opportunities for them locally to do their placements. 92 00:04:50,200 --> 00:04:53,240 Speaker 1: Is that the case at the moment, It. 93 00:04:53,200 --> 00:04:56,800 Speaker 2: Shouldn't be the case in the Northern Territory. We have 94 00:04:56,880 --> 00:05:00,680 Speaker 2: plenty of placements available in the NT. If that particular 95 00:05:00,720 --> 00:05:02,560 Speaker 2: individual want to get in contact with me, I can 96 00:05:02,600 --> 00:05:06,480 Speaker 2: direct him. There are certain placements which are more difficult 97 00:05:07,560 --> 00:05:11,200 Speaker 2: to locate, you know, if you want to something specialist 98 00:05:11,200 --> 00:05:14,520 Speaker 2: and that's tricky, but generally we can offer placements in 99 00:05:14,560 --> 00:05:17,400 Speaker 2: the NT. We've got a good working relationship with MTG 100 00:05:17,680 --> 00:05:19,680 Speaker 2: and they provide those placements. 101 00:05:19,760 --> 00:05:22,240 Speaker 1: It may well be the case that it is more 102 00:05:22,520 --> 00:05:24,240 Speaker 1: It might it may well be the case that it 103 00:05:24,320 --> 00:05:26,960 Speaker 1: is more of a specialty. Because he said that if 104 00:05:26,960 --> 00:05:28,880 Speaker 1: she was to try and go into state to complete 105 00:05:28,880 --> 00:05:33,600 Speaker 1: that placement, she's up for obviously, traveling accommodation. Yeah, at 106 00:05:33,600 --> 00:05:36,680 Speaker 1: this stage, most likely not being able to graduate until 107 00:05:36,720 --> 00:05:37,840 Speaker 1: the middle of next year. 108 00:05:40,240 --> 00:05:43,320 Speaker 2: Look, obviously I don't know the individual circumstances, but we 109 00:05:43,400 --> 00:05:47,960 Speaker 2: can you know, I was actually having this discussion last week, 110 00:05:48,120 --> 00:05:53,240 Speaker 2: and with MPTY placements, we can address most of the 111 00:05:53,279 --> 00:05:57,120 Speaker 2: student needs this side of Christmas and so they will 112 00:05:57,160 --> 00:05:59,320 Speaker 2: then be able to graduate in the new year. 113 00:06:00,000 --> 00:06:02,520 Speaker 1: Well, we might pass on those details for you just 114 00:06:02,600 --> 00:06:05,400 Speaker 1: so that we can try and help vis young territory now, 115 00:06:05,400 --> 00:06:07,480 Speaker 1: because I think you know it's all about you and 116 00:06:07,560 --> 00:06:10,479 Speaker 1: I have spoken about it before. There's obviously gaps that 117 00:06:10,520 --> 00:06:12,560 Speaker 1: we need to fill within our health system, and I 118 00:06:12,560 --> 00:06:15,239 Speaker 1: think it's wonderful if we are growing our own as well. 119 00:06:16,440 --> 00:06:18,760 Speaker 2: That's right. I mean, Look, in an idea world, we 120 00:06:18,800 --> 00:06:23,960 Speaker 2: wouldn't need to have students from Keral or clinicians from Kerala. 121 00:06:24,279 --> 00:06:26,200 Speaker 2: What we'd like to do is grow around in the territory. 122 00:06:26,200 --> 00:06:28,520 Speaker 2: But the territory is too small. It doesn't have enough nurses. 123 00:06:28,920 --> 00:06:31,039 Speaker 2: And that's why I keep saying that we do have 124 00:06:31,080 --> 00:06:33,440 Speaker 2: the placements available and we can put them through. We 125 00:06:33,480 --> 00:06:35,800 Speaker 2: want to get them through as quickly as possible, but 126 00:06:35,880 --> 00:06:38,359 Speaker 2: we need people to sign up to the courses, whether 127 00:06:38,400 --> 00:06:44,080 Speaker 2: it be nursing, our tea, speech or whatever. But because 128 00:06:44,120 --> 00:06:47,080 Speaker 2: there are because of the just the level of population, 129 00:06:47,160 --> 00:06:50,839 Speaker 2: then too, that's the difficult situation to you. 130 00:06:51,120 --> 00:06:55,160 Speaker 1: To support and professor, How are things going in terms 131 00:06:55,200 --> 00:06:57,119 Speaker 1: of some of those other courses that you've got running 132 00:06:57,160 --> 00:07:01,120 Speaker 1: with growing our own nurses and doctors working along pretty well? 133 00:07:02,000 --> 00:07:06,240 Speaker 2: Yeah, brilliantly. Look, we had our first ots graduate this year, 134 00:07:06,320 --> 00:07:08,920 Speaker 2: We'll have our first speech pthologists graduate at the end 135 00:07:08,920 --> 00:07:12,239 Speaker 2: of this year, our first ordeologists graduates in the start 136 00:07:12,280 --> 00:07:15,560 Speaker 2: of next year, paramedics at the end of this year. 137 00:07:17,080 --> 00:07:21,120 Speaker 2: We're starting a new physio program in February of next year. 138 00:07:21,680 --> 00:07:25,440 Speaker 2: So you know, we're really kicking gold and really sort 139 00:07:25,480 --> 00:07:28,560 Speaker 2: of producers some good quality graduates for the workforce or 140 00:07:28,600 --> 00:07:29,120 Speaker 2: the territory. 141 00:07:29,440 --> 00:07:32,040 Speaker 1: It is good to hear. Are you finding lot Are 142 00:07:32,080 --> 00:07:35,600 Speaker 1: you finding most of the students' territorians? Are we getting 143 00:07:35,600 --> 00:07:39,160 Speaker 1: many people coming from other locations to study those courses 144 00:07:39,160 --> 00:07:39,800 Speaker 1: at CDU. 145 00:07:41,360 --> 00:07:46,520 Speaker 2: Yeah, so we've got a fair number of territorians on 146 00:07:46,560 --> 00:07:49,120 Speaker 2: those programs. But I can give you one example for 147 00:07:49,560 --> 00:07:54,520 Speaker 2: a klinical psychology program, We've got eleven graduates, nine of 148 00:07:54,560 --> 00:07:57,760 Speaker 2: whom have decided to Stone the territory, five of whom 149 00:07:58,040 --> 00:08:01,840 Speaker 2: were actually in they came up to study with us. 150 00:08:01,880 --> 00:08:04,600 Speaker 2: They've just started that they like the territory. They want 151 00:08:04,600 --> 00:08:08,320 Speaker 2: to build a career in the territory. They've got jobs here. 152 00:08:09,080 --> 00:08:12,320 Speaker 2: So that's one way that we're actually reversing that brain 153 00:08:12,400 --> 00:08:16,240 Speaker 2: drain and we're bringing people outside of the territory to 154 00:08:16,280 --> 00:08:19,920 Speaker 2: the territory. They're realizing what the opportunities are and they're staying. 155 00:08:20,640 --> 00:08:22,760 Speaker 2: But by the same token, we've also got people in 156 00:08:22,800 --> 00:08:25,200 Speaker 2: the territory who are born and bred territory. It's going 157 00:08:25,240 --> 00:08:26,440 Speaker 2: on these programs as well. 158 00:08:26,680 --> 00:08:29,520 Speaker 1: That is good to hear. Yeah, that is really good 159 00:08:29,520 --> 00:08:33,439 Speaker 1: to hear. We'll see to you, pro Vice Chancellor, Professor 160 00:08:33,640 --> 00:08:36,720 Speaker 1: for Health Dominic Gupton. I really appreciate your time this morning. 161 00:08:36,720 --> 00:08:40,560 Speaker 1: Good to speak with you as always, like wik thanks, 162 00:08:40,800 --> 00:08:42,040 Speaker 1: thank you, thanks so much.