The National Centre for Health Workforce Studies (NCHWS) continues to develop a national research, education and data leadership program to support government policy makers, industry, professions, regulators and the education/training sector that contributes to workforce planning and addresses priorities for the health and care sectors.

The NCHWS aims to be a leading academic centre dedicated to understanding and addressing Australia's health workforce issues. Our research leverages data and partnerships to inform policy and practice, including Australia’s role in regional health security and our reliance on internationally trained health professionals to respond to current and future population health needs. The Centre is led by Associate Professor Tomoko Sugiura and Professor Mark Cormack and is supported by a highly experienced team of academic researchers, data analysts, educators, and policy experts.

Associate Professor Tomoko Sugiura and Dr Paul Kowal established the Health Data Analytics Team in 2022, which is now the analytics engine for NCHWS. 

The Centre’s activities include:

• Research –focused on understanding Australia’s demand for and supply of current and future health and care workforce; gaining insights into the root causes of workforce challenges; designing evidence-based, actionable public policy and industry responses; and, evaluating policy interventions;
• Data and intelligence – building relationships to access and assemble the comprehensive health and care workforce data needed for next generation, needs-based workforce modelling and planning frameworks;
• Education – providing education and training programs to equip governments, industry and practitioners to plan, attract, retain and develop the health workforce;
• Government and industry partnerships – investing in partnerships and co-designed research to support policy and program design via tailored research and workforce planning and projection models; and,
• Regional engagements through AIHW, WHO and other organisations – developing trusted capabilities in data analytics and policy analysis as a mechanism to support Australia’s contribution to the health of our region.
   

By establishing NCHWS and HDAT, ANU has created a national research, education and policy leadership program to support government policymakers, industry, professions, regulators and the higher education sector to address current and future workforce priorities.