1
00:00:00,040 --> 00:00:05,600
Speaker 1: The Northern Territory Primary Health Network incorporating Rural Workforce Agency

2
00:00:05,720 --> 00:00:10,120
Speaker 1: Northern Territory, they've launched the Health Workforce Needs Assessment twenty

3
00:00:10,160 --> 00:00:14,560
Speaker 1: twenty five GP Workforce Now. It's a report which outlines

4
00:00:14,600 --> 00:00:19,320
Speaker 1: the critical challenges and opportunities facing primary healthcare workforce development

5
00:00:19,720 --> 00:00:23,680
Speaker 1: here in the Northern Territory. The report provides an in

6
00:00:23,720 --> 00:00:28,360
Speaker 1: depth analysis of the GP workforce across the NT, highlighting

7
00:00:28,560 --> 00:00:33,520
Speaker 1: high vacancy rates, recruitment and retention challenges, and the need

8
00:00:33,680 --> 00:00:38,800
Speaker 1: for place based, culturally safe workforce solutions. Now joining us

9
00:00:39,000 --> 00:00:44,960
Speaker 1: on the line is NT Primary Health Network CEO Paul Connolly.

10
00:00:45,040 --> 00:00:45,760
Speaker 1: Good morning to you.

11
00:00:45,840 --> 00:00:46,120
Speaker 2: Paul.

12
00:00:46,960 --> 00:00:48,400
Speaker 3: Good morning Katie. How are you?

13
00:00:48,520 --> 00:00:52,360
Speaker 1: Yeah, really good, Thanks so much for your time this morning. Now,

14
00:00:52,400 --> 00:00:55,880
Speaker 1: Paul tell us what was the aim of the report?

15
00:00:56,840 --> 00:01:00,000
Speaker 3: Yeah, okaty. So this is part of our ongoing commitment

16
00:01:00,280 --> 00:01:04,520
Speaker 3: to support appropriate access to primary healthcare across the Northern

17
00:01:04,600 --> 00:01:07,920
Speaker 3: Territory and to do that we really need to delve

18
00:01:07,959 --> 00:01:11,399
Speaker 3: in and understand what the various needs are and any

19
00:01:11,440 --> 00:01:16,240
Speaker 3: emerging opportunities, risks and challenges. So it's a regular activity

20
00:01:16,280 --> 00:01:19,760
Speaker 3: for us, and this year we decided to focus on

21
00:01:20,000 --> 00:01:23,240
Speaker 3: and quantify as best we could some of the issues

22
00:01:23,240 --> 00:01:25,560
Speaker 3: with the GP workforce specifically.

23
00:01:25,760 --> 00:01:28,160
Speaker 1: So talk us through what some of those issues are

24
00:01:28,240 --> 00:01:30,759
Speaker 1: with our GP workforce, because I guess for a lot

25
00:01:30,760 --> 00:01:32,880
Speaker 1: of people listening, they might think, oh, I find it

26
00:01:32,920 --> 00:01:35,840
Speaker 1: really difficult to get in to see a GP. But

27
00:01:35,920 --> 00:01:38,959
Speaker 1: what are some of the issues from your side of things?

28
00:01:39,640 --> 00:01:42,520
Speaker 3: Yeah, yeah, thanks, Katie. So I think you know, it's

29
00:01:42,560 --> 00:01:45,679
Speaker 3: important first and foremost to acknowledge that you know, this

30
00:01:45,920 --> 00:01:49,440
Speaker 3: is you know, a global and international issue. You know,

31
00:01:49,480 --> 00:01:53,240
Speaker 3: we have to help the World Health organizations modeling telling

32
00:01:53,320 --> 00:01:55,960
Speaker 3: us that you know, there's a prediction for a deficit

33
00:01:56,000 --> 00:02:00,360
Speaker 3: of eleven million health professionals globally by twenty thirty. Horse

34
00:02:00,640 --> 00:02:04,080
Speaker 3: that global and international space has a direct impact on

35
00:02:04,120 --> 00:02:07,200
Speaker 3: Australia and of course for us here in the Northern Territory.

36
00:02:07,800 --> 00:02:10,160
Speaker 3: And I think a lot of these challenges, you know,

37
00:02:10,440 --> 00:02:12,239
Speaker 3: a lot of them have existed for a long time,

38
00:02:12,320 --> 00:02:16,239
Speaker 3: particularly in our context. But what we've seen was the

39
00:02:17,240 --> 00:02:20,040
Speaker 3: pandemic and I guess you know that really stretched our

40
00:02:20,080 --> 00:02:24,920
Speaker 3: systems and highlighted the fragility in certain areas, and you know,

41
00:02:25,240 --> 00:02:27,359
Speaker 3: it pushed our system to the limit. And we're still

42
00:02:27,400 --> 00:02:29,960
Speaker 3: in the process now of recovering from that, and I

43
00:02:30,000 --> 00:02:32,560
Speaker 3: think that's something that's been felt across the world. Still

44
00:02:33,919 --> 00:02:37,800
Speaker 3: for us, the issues are in relation to competing now

45
00:02:37,960 --> 00:02:41,720
Speaker 3: in well a big issue competing in that really competitive

46
00:02:41,919 --> 00:02:45,919
Speaker 3: international and national market to attract GPS and retain them

47
00:02:45,919 --> 00:02:48,280
Speaker 3: in the Northern Territory when there are so many options.

48
00:02:48,880 --> 00:02:51,600
Speaker 3: So that's a really really key element of what we've

49
00:02:51,639 --> 00:02:55,440
Speaker 3: discovered and what we're trying to work to address.

50
00:02:55,840 --> 00:02:59,480
Speaker 1: Well, what can we do to attract and retain more

51
00:02:59,560 --> 00:03:03,120
Speaker 1: GP to the workforce here in the Northern Territory. I mean,

52
00:03:03,480 --> 00:03:06,200
Speaker 1: I know at different times we've even spoken about whether

53
00:03:06,240 --> 00:03:09,639
Speaker 1: there could be you know, some kind of taxation bonus

54
00:03:09,760 --> 00:03:12,360
Speaker 1: or something when you've got people moving to the end

55
00:03:12,880 --> 00:03:16,160
Speaker 1: and working in some of these roles. But from you know,

56
00:03:16,200 --> 00:03:18,240
Speaker 1: from the work that you guys have done, what could

57
00:03:18,240 --> 00:03:19,560
Speaker 1: we be doing in this space?

58
00:03:20,720 --> 00:03:24,359
Speaker 3: Yeah, and what you've mentioned there, Katie is actually very relevant.

59
00:03:24,400 --> 00:03:27,920
Speaker 3: So I think some of this does relate to acknowledging

60
00:03:28,160 --> 00:03:31,400
Speaker 3: the level of need here in the Northern Territory and

61
00:03:31,639 --> 00:03:35,800
Speaker 3: making sure that there are appropriate incentives and supported pathways

62
00:03:35,840 --> 00:03:40,280
Speaker 3: for people to relocate and establish a career here. And

63
00:03:40,360 --> 00:03:42,440
Speaker 3: you know, we do you know, whether that be tax

64
00:03:42,520 --> 00:03:48,200
Speaker 3: incentives or you know, additional investment in incentivizing people to come.

65
00:03:48,240 --> 00:03:52,120
Speaker 3: What we find is when when GPS and other health

66
00:03:52,120 --> 00:03:55,040
Speaker 3: professionals do come here, there's a really rewarding and enriching

67
00:03:55,120 --> 00:03:59,760
Speaker 3: experience and career prospect for them. It's just to compete

68
00:03:59,800 --> 00:04:02,800
Speaker 3: in initial stage to get people to consider the Northern

69
00:04:02,880 --> 00:04:07,760
Speaker 3: territory is really really important. So those additional incentives and.

70
00:04:07,480 --> 00:04:10,680
Speaker 2: That hook is really really important when you talk about

71
00:04:10,720 --> 00:04:15,520
Speaker 2: primary health Why is it so important that we do

72
00:04:15,760 --> 00:04:18,400
Speaker 2: actually make sure that our primary you know, like that

73
00:04:19,880 --> 00:04:23,000
Speaker 2: primary health care is operating efficiently and we've got the

74
00:04:23,040 --> 00:04:24,000
Speaker 2: GPS that we need.

75
00:04:24,080 --> 00:04:27,640
Speaker 1: I mean, if people are regularly seeing seeing a GP

76
00:04:27,800 --> 00:04:31,280
Speaker 1: and they feel comfortable doing that, and it is affordable

77
00:04:31,320 --> 00:04:33,920
Speaker 1: and you're seeing the same person, surely it means then

78
00:04:33,920 --> 00:04:36,960
Speaker 1: that we're managing some of those chronic illnesses as well

79
00:04:36,960 --> 00:04:40,240
Speaker 1: in a much more productive way. Yeah.

80
00:04:40,279 --> 00:04:43,640
Speaker 3: Absolutely, I mean GP and primary health care, it's about

81
00:04:43,640 --> 00:04:46,960
Speaker 3: community based care and keeping people well and keeping them

82
00:04:46,960 --> 00:04:50,080
Speaker 3: out of hospitals. So you know, and I did hear

83
00:04:50,120 --> 00:04:53,160
Speaker 3: a little bit of your previous comments and relation to

84
00:04:53,240 --> 00:04:57,080
Speaker 3: the hospital and this health workforce issue is universal, you know,

85
00:04:57,160 --> 00:04:59,839
Speaker 3: and it's important that our hospitals are adequately staffed too.

86
00:05:00,640 --> 00:05:03,640
Speaker 3: Our perspective and from primary health care, it's about keeping

87
00:05:03,640 --> 00:05:06,279
Speaker 3: people out of there and keeping that system free to

88
00:05:06,360 --> 00:05:10,719
Speaker 3: respond to those acute and critical needs. Whereas, if you

89
00:05:10,760 --> 00:05:13,360
Speaker 3: know all of the modeling, all of the evidence, you

90
00:05:13,440 --> 00:05:16,480
Speaker 3: know proves without any shadow of a doubt that have

91
00:05:16,560 --> 00:05:19,120
Speaker 3: an access to a GP and regular access to a

92
00:05:19,160 --> 00:05:22,240
Speaker 3: GP keeps people well, keeps them on top of any

93
00:05:22,320 --> 00:05:25,680
Speaker 3: chronic conditions or any other health needs that they have,

94
00:05:25,800 --> 00:05:27,400
Speaker 3: and keeps them away from the hospitals.

95
00:05:27,920 --> 00:05:30,600
Speaker 1: So is there anything that we could be trying to

96
00:05:30,680 --> 00:05:33,599
Speaker 1: do you know right now? I know it's a big

97
00:05:33,640 --> 00:05:36,080
Speaker 1: ask sometimes trying to get the Northern Territory or the

98
00:05:36,080 --> 00:05:39,200
Speaker 1: federal government to sort of, you know, to lock into

99
00:05:39,240 --> 00:05:41,680
Speaker 1: doing something to really try and boost the workforce and

100
00:05:41,760 --> 00:05:44,320
Speaker 1: to retain it. But is there anything we could sort

101
00:05:44,320 --> 00:05:46,960
Speaker 1: of be doing right now or certainly advocating for.

102
00:05:47,960 --> 00:05:51,279
Speaker 3: Yeah. Absolutely, So there's a number of things underway, and

103
00:05:51,320 --> 00:05:54,800
Speaker 3: I think in launching our Needs Assessment, the message for

104
00:05:54,920 --> 00:05:57,200
Speaker 3: us is clear, it's a call to action, but I

105
00:05:57,240 --> 00:05:59,880
Speaker 3: do want to acknowledge that there are several actions and

106
00:06:00,120 --> 00:06:03,720
Speaker 3: things already underway. So it's about, you know, we can't

107
00:06:03,760 --> 00:06:06,240
Speaker 3: lose sight of what the critical issues are, but we

108
00:06:06,279 --> 00:06:08,560
Speaker 3: do have to acknowledge that we are we feel we're

109
00:06:08,600 --> 00:06:12,560
Speaker 3: moving in the right direction. So we have a group

110
00:06:12,600 --> 00:06:16,880
Speaker 3: here that comprises membership of ourselves, the Northern Territory, Department

111
00:06:16,920 --> 00:06:20,080
Speaker 3: of Health and Commonwealth Health as well as the Aboriginal

112
00:06:20,120 --> 00:06:24,160
Speaker 3: Medical Services Alliance Northern Territory and it's a workforce expert

113
00:06:24,240 --> 00:06:27,320
Speaker 3: advisory group, and we're in the process of finalizing an

114
00:06:27,400 --> 00:06:31,120
Speaker 3: updated plan to address some of these critical issues with

115
00:06:31,240 --> 00:06:35,720
Speaker 3: collective and collaborative support from all agencies, because one agency

116
00:06:35,760 --> 00:06:37,080
Speaker 3: on their own is not going to be able to

117
00:06:37,080 --> 00:06:39,640
Speaker 3: fix this or turn it around. It's going to require

118
00:06:39,680 --> 00:06:43,640
Speaker 3: that collective effort. And I think two really important focus areas.

119
00:06:43,760 --> 00:06:45,839
Speaker 3: So we do need to look at how we attract

120
00:06:45,880 --> 00:06:48,440
Speaker 3: and retain better and there's several actions that relate to

121
00:06:48,480 --> 00:06:52,039
Speaker 3: that for GPS and our broader primary health care workforce.

122
00:06:52,360 --> 00:06:54,599
Speaker 3: But the other really really important part of it is

123
00:06:55,120 --> 00:06:58,159
Speaker 3: investment in growing our own as much as we can.

124
00:06:58,680 --> 00:07:02,360
Speaker 3: You know, we need to have support and comprehensive career

125
00:07:02,400 --> 00:07:04,799
Speaker 3: pathways and training pathways available here.

126
00:07:05,440 --> 00:07:07,760
Speaker 1: Why do you reckon we? I mean, are we saying

127
00:07:07,880 --> 00:07:10,720
Speaker 1: lis young people wanting to go down this path and

128
00:07:11,080 --> 00:07:14,040
Speaker 1: if we are saying list, why do you reckon that is?

129
00:07:15,240 --> 00:07:19,120
Speaker 3: So I think that, yeah, there's many it's multifaceted. I

130
00:07:19,160 --> 00:07:22,960
Speaker 3: think so we have the you know again, I think

131
00:07:23,040 --> 00:07:27,520
Speaker 3: there's there's direct implications or impacts from the times of

132
00:07:27,600 --> 00:07:30,920
Speaker 3: COVID and and what the health workforce experienced there that

133
00:07:31,040 --> 00:07:33,480
Speaker 3: have had an impact on the numbers of people choosing

134
00:07:33,520 --> 00:07:37,440
Speaker 3: careers in that space. However, you know, there's several you know, many,

135
00:07:37,480 --> 00:07:42,240
Speaker 3: many people still elect a career pathway in health. But

136
00:07:42,880 --> 00:07:46,320
Speaker 3: in our context, there's a there's an additional challenge in

137
00:07:46,360 --> 00:07:49,760
Speaker 3: that we want those who study health, and particularly those

138
00:07:49,760 --> 00:07:53,080
Speaker 3: who study medicine to consider primary healthcare in general practice.

139
00:07:53,520 --> 00:07:56,400
Speaker 3: And in a world where we have, you know, quite

140
00:07:56,400 --> 00:07:59,800
Speaker 3: a lot of focus on specialist medicine, you know that

141
00:08:00,200 --> 00:08:02,880
Speaker 3: the ability and the attractiveness of general practice is something

142
00:08:02,920 --> 00:08:05,840
Speaker 3: that needs to be elevated. So I can say that,

143
00:08:06,120 --> 00:08:09,440
Speaker 3: and I think it's referenced in our report of those

144
00:08:09,440 --> 00:08:12,360
Speaker 3: who have elected to become GPS and commence the GP

145
00:08:12,520 --> 00:08:16,440
Speaker 3: Registrar training, the Northern Territory was the lowest choice or

146
00:08:16,480 --> 00:08:20,840
Speaker 3: preference for those in electing a location to undertake the placements.

147
00:08:21,120 --> 00:08:24,000
Speaker 3: So you know, there's there's clear evidence there on the

148
00:08:24,000 --> 00:08:26,680
Speaker 3: fact that we need to further promote and incentivize those

149
00:08:26,720 --> 00:08:28,800
Speaker 3: people to come here, and some of that work is

150
00:08:28,880 --> 00:08:31,640
Speaker 3: under way Katie as well. You know, we've seen some

151
00:08:31,680 --> 00:08:36,640
Speaker 3: really positive results through the GP colleges offering additional incentives

152
00:08:36,679 --> 00:08:38,959
Speaker 3: to just to get people here and experience it, and

153
00:08:39,040 --> 00:08:42,439
Speaker 3: that's opening up you know, longer term options and opportunities

154
00:08:42,440 --> 00:08:42,760
Speaker 3: for them.

155
00:08:42,840 --> 00:08:45,000
Speaker 1: Well, and you would think as well, once they get here,

156
00:08:45,160 --> 00:08:47,600
Speaker 1: like you know that they would say that there's all

157
00:08:47,720 --> 00:08:49,880
Speaker 1: sorts you know, like they're going to experience all sorts

158
00:08:49,880 --> 00:08:53,440
Speaker 1: of stuff that they might not experience living in suburbia,

159
00:08:53,559 --> 00:08:55,240
Speaker 1: in a capital city somewhere else.

160
00:08:55,960 --> 00:08:58,800
Speaker 3: Yeah, yeah, exactly right. And they do, they do. I mean,

161
00:08:58,800 --> 00:09:00,640
Speaker 3: it's not going to be for everyone all the time,

162
00:09:01,120 --> 00:09:04,920
Speaker 3: but nobody leaves the Northern Territory not feeling enriched for

163
00:09:04,960 --> 00:09:09,400
Speaker 3: the experience, and several of them will stay stay long term.

164
00:09:09,520 --> 00:09:11,600
Speaker 3: And I guess that's the goal that we're trying to

165
00:09:11,640 --> 00:09:15,840
Speaker 3: achieve here, you know. And I think an important comment

166
00:09:15,920 --> 00:09:18,760
Speaker 3: here is in relation to and it's an opportunity for

167
00:09:18,800 --> 00:09:22,200
Speaker 3: the Northern Territory, it's in relation to the variety of

168
00:09:23,600 --> 00:09:26,480
Speaker 3: the variety that people can experience in their job. So

169
00:09:27,600 --> 00:09:30,319
Speaker 3: if we implement or continue to implement some of these

170
00:09:30,360 --> 00:09:34,079
Speaker 3: innovative workforce models where you know, somebody could be based

171
00:09:34,160 --> 00:09:37,960
Speaker 3: in Darwin or Alice but still provide services regularly to

172
00:09:38,040 --> 00:09:41,760
Speaker 3: remote communities, that's a really rich experience and rewarding career

173
00:09:41,760 --> 00:09:44,800
Speaker 3: for people. We just need to get people into experience it.

174
00:09:45,080 --> 00:09:48,000
Speaker 1: Yes, but on well, Paul, I'd be really interested to

175
00:09:48,040 --> 00:09:50,840
Speaker 1: talk to you as well once you have that, you know,

176
00:09:50,880 --> 00:09:53,720
Speaker 1: once you sort of put together that further strategic document

177
00:09:54,200 --> 00:09:56,280
Speaker 1: and to find out a little bit more. So I

178
00:09:56,320 --> 00:09:58,880
Speaker 1: really appreciate your time this morning, no.

179
00:09:58,960 --> 00:10:00,760
Speaker 3: Problem at all. And Katie, if I could say one

180
00:10:00,760 --> 00:10:03,839
Speaker 3: more thing, I want to acknowledge the existing workforce. So

181
00:10:03,920 --> 00:10:07,320
Speaker 3: you know, we've got challenges and there's a lot of

182
00:10:07,360 --> 00:10:10,680
Speaker 3: work to do, but we do have a really really strong,

183
00:10:10,880 --> 00:10:14,120
Speaker 3: talented workforce that are working hard every day to maintain

184
00:10:14,160 --> 00:10:17,120
Speaker 3: that access and I just want to acknowledge them if

185
00:10:17,160 --> 00:10:20,959
Speaker 3: I can. And we have an awards ceremony, the Health

186
00:10:21,000 --> 00:10:23,400
Speaker 3: Professional of the Year Awards coming up in a couple

187
00:10:23,480 --> 00:10:27,440
Speaker 3: of months, and if your listeners would like to vote

188
00:10:27,440 --> 00:10:31,079
Speaker 3: for a practitioner that is supporting them or doing great work,

189
00:10:31,240 --> 00:10:33,960
Speaker 3: please visit our website NTPHN dot org dot au and

190
00:10:34,000 --> 00:10:35,760
Speaker 3: put a nomination through.

191
00:10:35,800 --> 00:10:38,240
Speaker 1: Good Stuff for Paul Connolly. Great to speak to you

192
00:10:38,280 --> 00:10:40,000
Speaker 1: this morning. I really appreciate your time.

193
00:10:40,800 --> 00:10:42,080
Speaker 3: Thank you, Katie, thank you,