Wavelength interview over 200 healthcare employers for their 2012 Health Workforce Report

Wavelength is one of the leading medical recruitment and migration companies in Australia. In September and October 2012, we surveyed over 200 healthcare employers across Australia. We have drawn upon our unique depth of experience and knowledge to draw out current employment trends impacting on healthcare organisations.

Click here to read the Wavelength 2012 Health Workforce Report

 “Despite the disparities between metropolitan, regional and rural areas of Australia where workforce supply in non-metropolitan areas remains well below levels in major cities, overall hiring intentions remain very strong for the next six months. The recent influx of junior doctors and medical graduates has eased demand at this level; however demand for permanent mid to senior level doctors remains critical, with current workforce shortages continuing to place limitations on the delivery of healthcare, particularly in regional and rural areas. As a result, in the short term the number of overseas hires will remain high but static as they continue to provide an essential resource.

We hope you find this report useful and we welcome any feedback you may have.”

Claire Ponsford

Director and Founder, Wavelength International

A few of the key themes covered in the report are:

- Reducing the current reliance on locums. While the majority of employers indicated increased budget constraints meant they intended to reduce the reliance on locums, this was going to be far more difficult in practice.

 - Increase permanent staffing numbers (a sure fire way to reduce the reliance on locums), resignation that this was not as easy as it sounded and they faced a multitude of challenges in achieving their aim.

 - Reliance on overseas-trained doctors (OTDs). Want to hire more local doctors but there just aren’t enough of them

 - Challenges of 2025 are not as far away as we might think, many already suffering from a mal-distribution of the medical workforce, a shortage of locally trained doctors and an over-reliance on overseas-trained doctors.

"While the report paints a picture of where we are today we have also tried to provide some practical advice and tips on how organisations might begin to address some of these issues. Read my recent blog post on the Wavelength blog, Off the Script and find out what we think about the results. ”

Richard Taylor

Client Relationship Manager, Wavelength International

Want to know more?

If you would like to discuss any aspects of the report or would like to know more about the topics covered, please contact Richard Taylor, Client Relationship Manager at rtaylor@wave.com.au or tel: + 2 8353 9021.