Northern Territory PHN primary health care workforce needs assessment: Year 2: allied primary health workforce

The Health Workforce Needs Assessment (HWNA) commenced in 2017/18 with a focus on general practitioners, remote area nurses and Aboriginal health practitioners. Data shows that [Northern Territory] NT allied health professionals are predominantly younger, less experienced, work in clinical roles and are located in Darwin with small numbers in regional centres. Distribution per 1000 population show similar supply levels in Alice Springs and Darwin. Supply in all other regions is significantly lower. For positions receiving support from Rural Workforce Agency NT (RWA NT), the most vacancies have been recorded for physiotherapists, followed by psychologists, occupational therapists, podiatrists and pharmacists. Diabetes educators, pharmacists and psychologists have taken the longest to recruit.

The literature review identified a range of challenges faced by allied health practitioners in rural and remote locations and associated challenges in recruiting to these roles. Recruitment challenges are characterised by adequate national supply with significant difficulties attracting these health professionals to the NT, particularly the more remote locations. Growing our own health professionals and exposing health students to rural and remote curriculum and practice, innovative workforce models, improving professional resilience, improving leadership and management, incentives, development and recognition of rural skills and job security were all identified as contributors to improved recruitment and retention to these roles. Providers recognise the potential to improve recruitment through commercially demonstrated and evidence-based approaches. Opportunities to increase retention through improved human resource management, increased community integration and access to training and support were also noted.

A continuing increase in demand for allied health professionals in primary health care is expected as a result of expanding roles and scope of practice and the rollout of initiatives such as the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS). Support for emerging roles such as the Allied Health Rural Generalist and Allied Health Assistant provide potential solutions. Tertiary pathways to a number of allied health professions are not available in the NT and there are impediments to the viability of offering these courses. Creative approaches to delivery of these courses have undergone early trials to support growing our own health professionals. Further, the availability of student placement and graduate programs to support health professionals moving into rural and remote practice is limited.

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