The Australian nurse and midwifery workforce: issues, developments and the future

Area of Science:

• Health Workforce Planning
• Nursing Workforce Analysis
• Policy Development

Background:

• Analysis of the Australian nurse and midwifery workforces at a macro-level.
• Examination of workforce size, composition, and age profile.
• Understanding of professional 'attachment' and 'separation' dynamics.

Purpose of the Study:

• To provide data and analysis for understanding and planning the future nurse and midwifery workforces.
• To inform policies ensuring the quality and sufficiency of these workforces.
• To explore the impact of historical trends and potential future challenges.

Main Methods:

• Macro-level analysis of workforce size, composition, and age profile.
• Examination of historical data (since the 1960s) on workforce size, labour market, and education.
• Analysis of 'attachment' and 'separation' patterns using qualification data.

Main Results:

• Historical trends, including the 1990s nurse 'oversupply', are detailed.
• Workforce redesign and role extension may not resolve macro-level shortages and could worsen them.
• Significant increases in pre-registration intakes and completions are necessary for 8-12 years.

Conclusions:

• There are no simple solutions for macro-level nurse workforce shortages.
• Future workforce planning must account for specific factors and potential challenges.
• Sustained increases in nurse education and training are critical for future workforce sufficiency.