In the lead up to the Australian Federal Budget in May 2023, Australian Health Journal reached out to peak health industry bodies to hear about their priorities, either noted in pre-budget submissions lodged with Federal Government in January 2023 or in recent forums such as the Strengthening Medicare Taskforce.
Others have stated their priorities directly with Federal Government. Through these interviews, AHJ gives a final opportunity to communicate to all health stakeholders, the funding needs for a range of priorities. These range from new models of care to pilots and wholesale, system improvements to building more sustainable workforces to help grow certain sectors of the health system
The CEO of Allied Health Professions Australia (AHPA), Bronwyn Morris-Donovan spoke with Australian Health Journal about the following:
- The structure and priorities for AHPA
- The setting and disciplines in Allied Health
- Allied Health representation in the Strengthening Medicare Task Force
- Importance of a data strategy and interoperability in delivery of allied health services
Lastly Bronwyn talks about the allied health priorities she hopes are included in the Federal Budget.
The first is the funding to support the delivery and implementation of the allied workforce strategy across the various settings where allied health is delivered. This includes health, disability, aged care and education settings. This should “genuinely look at issues of supply and distribution across multiple setting.”, says Bronwyn.
The second key priority is further work and investment with the Australian Digital Health Agency to build the interoperability needed for allied health to be able to upload to My Health Record. This access is an enabler to multidisciplinary team care and is a core recommendation of the Strengthening Medicare Task Force report; to enhance, build and foster multidisciplinary team care. Bronwyn states this is only possible by bringing allied health into the digital ecosystem through better digital interoperability.
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Report: Youth pathways to health services
The 2020 Youth Health Forum (YHF) was created to make young people’s ideas and experiences part of our national discussions about services for young Australians.
Healthcare professionals across Australia have long recognised the problem of young people falling through the gaps of a health system that wasn’t designed for them.
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Most Valuable Women in Leadership 2020
ANDHealth Co-Founder and Managing Director Bronwyn Le Grice pioneered the unique non-profit industry-led model supporting Australian digital health companies navigate the commercialisation path to institutional investment and international market entry.
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Primary care remodelled
Tracey Johnson is the CEO of Inala Primary Care, a not-for-profit general practice located in Inala serving approximately 7000 patients; 4400 of whom attend clinic regularly. Inala is a suburb of Brisbane, Queensland and has a population of great cultural and linguistic diversity, with just under 40% of residents speaking English at home. It is also one of Queensland’s most socioeconomically marginalised urban areas.
Australian Health Journal spoke with Tracey on the role of Inala Primary care in reducing hospital admissions.
