Accounting for around 16.2% of Australia’s workforce, the health care and social assistance sector is the nation’s largest employer. Shortage in the health workforce, however, remains a persistent problem.

As demand increases and health needs grow more complex while supply stays limited, health workforce continues to place pressure across Australia, especially in rural and remote communities.

The Scope of Practice Review examined the barriers and opportunities health practitioners face working to their full scope of practice in primary care. Image: Department of Health, Disability and Ageing

To better understand how primary care professionals can be supported to work to the full scope of their skills, and how multidisciplinary team-based care can be strengthened, the Minister for Health and Aged Care, The Hon Mark Butler MP, commissioned Professor Mark Cormack from the National Centre for Health Workforce Studies (NCHWS) to lead an independent Scope of Practice (SOP) Review in 2023.

After over 12 months of consultation and research, the final report, Unleashing the Potential of our Health Workforce–Scope of Practice Review, was published in October 2024.

The review is already driving change.

Last week, Australian Treasurers agreed to update the National Competition Policy Federation Funding Agreement Schedule, introducing four new reform areas, including one that enables health practitioners to work to their full scope of practice. This is a step expected to boost productivity and reduce costs across the health sector.

States and territories that adopt National Competition Policy reforms covered by the Federation Funding Agreement will be eligible for payments from the $900 million National Productivity Fund. The Treasurers also discussed ongoing negotiations under the National Health Reform Agreement, according to an announcement by Hon Dr Jim Chalmers MP.

“I applaud the decisive action taken by Treasurers to elevate the status of these important reforms to the National Competition Policy Federation Funding Agreement,” says Professor Cormack.

The Scope of Practice Review found that virtually all health professionals in the primary care sector faced restrictions or barriers to working at the full scope of practice that are unrelated to their education (skills and knowledge) and competence.

Eighteen evidence-based recommendations were developed to respond to these unnecessary restraints on the productivity of the health workforce and the suboptimal health outcomes and service experiences that are borne by consumers as a result.

Given the size of the health and care workforce—the largest in the economy—the ongoing adverse health impacts of the status quo are matched only by their similarly dire productivity impacts on the economy as a whole.”

“I am confident that the newly announced investment of effort by the Treasurers through the Agreement will deliver solid and tangible benefits for consumers, health workers and the nation，” says Professor Cormack. 

“Scope-of-practice reform has the potential to significantly improve access to primary care, reduce bottlenecks, and make much better use of the skills we already have in the system,” says NCHWS Director Associate Professor Tomoko Sugiura, “By enabling all health professionals to contribute fully, we can lift capacity quickly, strengthen multidisciplinary care, and deliver better outcomes for communities across Australia.”

Importantly, she notes, these reforms also support the wellbeing of the health workforce.

“When people are able to use the full breadth of their skills and training, their work becomes more satisfying and sustainable—and consumers benefit from more timely, coordinated and high-quality care. Productivity and efficiency gains go hand-in-hand with building a healthier, more supported workforce and improving the care experience for the community.”