For too long, nurses and other health professionals haven’t been able to work to their full scope of practice.

Now, the federal government wants to unlock their potential, with a new workforce review, launched last week, set to examine how to enable health practitioners to work to the full-extent of their skills and training, thus improving health access and outcomes.

Recommended by the government’s Strengthening Medicare Taskforce earlier this year, Health Minister Mark Butler said the Unleashing the Potential of our Health Workforce Review would ensure Australia “optimises its health workforce across a stretched primary care sector” and boosts health access and equity across all communities, particularly regional, rural and remote.

Last week, ANMF Federal Secretary Annie Butler, who sits on the Strengthening Medicare Taskforce, said it was crucial the review achieved its ultimate aim – to ensure all health professionals are fully utilised.

“The Review will determine how health practitioners can be supported to work to the full extent of their skills and training, which will lead to greater satisfaction for those practitioners and, most importantly, better health outcomes for our communities,” Ms Butler said.

“Nurses and midwives, who comprise the majority of the healthcare workforce, have the capacity, expertise, and education to vastly improve health equity and access for people living in all areas of Australia.

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