6 Informed
Workforce Planning
“HAVING THE SUPPORT OF RWAV MEANT
I COULD RELOCATE INTERSTATE AND
COMMENCE WORK WITHIN A SHORT PERIOD
OF TIME WITHOUT THE FINANCIAL STRESS.
I WAS ABLE TO ORGANISE A SPACE OF MY
OWN TO LIVE IN WHICH MADE SETTLING
INTO A NEW WORKPLACE A BREEZE.”
Megan Raine, Physiotherapist,
Central Gippsland Health Service
We use community profiles and strategic engagement
to inform workforce planning and contribute to
evidence-based workforce solutions.
health professionals, as well as contributing to
a national Minimum Data Set on the regional and
rural general practice workforce in Australia.
6.1 Consulting for better recruitment
The 2015 snapshot reinforced the diversity of rural and
regional healthcare professionals, and the environments
in which they work. We were glad to see that 57%
of Victoria’s rural and regional GPs plan to remain
in their profession for more than 10 years.
On an ongoing basis, RWAV has analysed the needs
of individual towns and collated data and local
information. Through these consultations, we developed
targeted marketing campaigns to attract the right
people with the right skills and promote rural and
regional primary healthcare careers. This information
helped us to develop specific advertising for individual
vacancies, and consultation will continue to be
a key step in our recruitment processes.
6.2 Planning outreach programs
RWAV conducted an outreach survey in 2015-16 to guide
activities for 2016-17 and to ensure all programs achieve
the best outcomes. We had a high level of engagement
with this survey and, based on the great response rate,
will be sending these surveys out annually.
6.3 Gaining a workforce snapshot
Each year we undertake an Annual GP Workforce Skills
and Medical Practice Survey. The information assists
RWAV to identify the critical recruitment, retention,
professional development and support needs of rural
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Annual report 2015—16
Rural Workforce Agency Victoria
Rural Workforce Agency Victoria
A key finding was that the proportion of female
healthcare professionals beginning work in Victoria
is increasing. We have a young and growing cohort of
females working in healthcare in rural Victoria. This has
major implications for the workforce, and is a change
we will work to support through our workforce solutions.
6.4 Aligning workforce to services
RWAV has continued to work with the Primary Health
Networks (PHNs) this year, using information from their
needs assessments throughout rural Victoria. With an
open avenue of communication between RWAV and
Victoria’s six PHNs, we are able to better align our
rural and regional health workforce with health
service delivery models.
Annual report 2015—16
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