Thank you for the further opportunity for Universities Australia (UA) to contribute to the Scope of Practice Review. This independent review is focused on health professionals, especially those in primary care, working to their full scope of practice. Full scope refers to those professional activities that a health practitioner has the skills, knowledge competencies and authority to perform and for which they are accountable. The aim of the review is to ascertain how we can maximise our health workforce by enabling practitioners to work more frequently at full scope.
The 2024-25 federal budget is the Albanese Government’s first opportunity to respond in full to the Australian Universities Accord final report. The government must embrace it with both hands. In a fast-changing strategic and economic environment, Australia needs more of what universities do – more skilled workers, more research and development and stronger regional ties.
Thank you for the opportunity to respond to the Department of Health and Aged Care’s (DOHAC’s) development of the National Nursing Workforce Strategy. Nurses comprise the largest sector of the health professional workforce in Australia. They are highly skilled practitioners who play major roles in all parts of the health, aged care and disability system. There is currently a significant predicted shortfall of nurses in Australia – and globally – across all service settings and locations.