Review of Australian government health workforce programs [Mason review]

This review of the health workforce programs funded by the Australian Government was commenced in October [2012], with terms of reference to: (1) analyse existing programs to ensure these are aligned with workforce priorities; (2) analyse existing rural health programs to ensure optimal service delivery; (3) analyse existing information and key stakeholder experiences to evaluate whether the objectives of current measures are being met and whether these programs could be improved; (4) provide opportunities for stakeholder consultation; (5) identify opportunities to better align measures with workforce priorities, including through modifications and amendments to existing measures, or development of new measures; and (6) provide advice to government about how to support the delivery of a high quality, well distributed optimally utilised and responsive health workforce. The remit of this review has been tightly focused and time limited, concentrating on appropriate evaluation of those programs currently funded and administered through the Health Workforce Division of the Department of Health and Ageing (DoHA). The aim has been, so far as possible, to make concrete recommendations for practical reforms which are administratively achievable in the short to medium term.

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