Cardiovascular Workforce Sustainability Sector Consultation: Recommendations From an Australian Stakeholder Summit

In 2023, a joint National Cardiovascular Workforce Sustainability Summit was convened by the Australian Cardiovascular Alliance (ACvA), the Cardiac Society of Australia and New Zealand, and the National Heart Foundation of Australia, to facilitate a national conversation towards developing a workforce sustainability strategy within the cardiovascular research sector. This initiative stemmed from a previous study conducted by the ACvA which revealed that almost 70% of early and mid-career cardiovascular researchers surveyed had contemplated leaving the sector. Summit attendees reported sector-wide challenges to career progression and retention across three key themes: 1) well-being and career satisfaction, 2) learning and development, and 3) resource allocation. The summit also identified a need for greater collaboration and multidisciplinary approaches to research to foster growth towards a more sustainable sector. Key recommendations from the Summit included: 1) establish metrics to monitor progress towards a more sustainable sector and signpost improvement in workforce sustainability; 2) establish a collective partnership between central bodies for unified advocacy and monitoring of metrics; and 3) develop a collaborative, strategic and targeted approach to guide and facilitate training programs that have been developed by shared sector-wide philosophy.