On 10 March 2010, a Health Workforce Round table was held in Kerang. The workshop was initiated by the
Murray Plains Division of General Practice Workforce Shortage Committee who were concerned about the recruitment and retention
issues of general practitioners and other health professionals for the areas of Kerang, Cohuna, Barham and Koondrook.
The workshop was hosted by the Rural Workforce Agency Victoria (RWAV), as part of its Sustainable Practices Project, using funding
from Regional Development Victoria (RDV) and Victorian Department of Health. The support of RDV and Victorian Department of Health
is gratefully acknowledged. As part of the workshop planning RWAV conducted a
health needs analysis and community
consultations with key community, health and government stakeholders in the region. The consultations identified the key workforce
issues and helped frame the workshop program.
Over one hundred people were invited to the workforce roundtable - key local organisations including hospitals, community health
organisations, local government, state government and individual community members from the townships of Kerang, Cohuna, Barham and
Koondrook. Community members were also informed about the event in local newspapers and given the opportunity to provide comments if
they were unable to attend via feedback forms placed in the Bridge newspaper (Barham/Koondrook) and through local businesses.
Sixty-six participants attended the workshop held at the Kerang Valley Resort on Wednesday 10th March from 6.00pm to 9.30pm. The
discussions were structured into four main sections:
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Introduction and overview of workforce issues, including presentations by Kerry Parry from Murray Plains Division of General Practice on
“Why we are here?” and Claire Austin from RWAV on “Putting people’s needs in the centre”
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Shared service coordination and approaches to after hours care, with presentation by Dr Paul Duff on the after hours model used in
Bright, Myrtleford and Mt. Beauty. This presentation was made via videoconference
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Role of nurses and how they might be used in emergency services and recruiting including role of nurse practitioners, with a presentation
by Antje Badger from Greater Southern Area Health Service, NSW Health
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Welcoming and ongoing support for newcomers, with a presentation by Michelle Scott from Bendigo Newcomers group
The Victorian Department of Health also provided comment on how they can support the process.
Workshop Outcomes
The towns of Kerang, Cohuna, Barham and Koondrook agreed that health workforce solutions would emerge from everyone working together and
in an interdisciplinary manner. The workshop recognised the interdependent relationship between the health services and between health
practitioners to meet the needs of their communities. Engaging communities in the process was recognised as a high priority.
Three main areas for collaboration that were agreed to, included:
Interdisciplinary teams approach across the three towns
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After hours hospital emergency roster between the GPs in Kerang, Cohuna and Barham along the lines of the Bright model of after
hours care
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The communities to work together to recruit future GPs
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Exploration of an expanded nurse practitioner role
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Examination of innovative solutions to their workforce shortages
Community engagement strategy across the towns
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Informing communities on change in health services
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Educating communities regarding what services exist across the towns
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Considering the establishment of Newcomers welcoming group along the Bendigo Model
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Promoting the region including the use of a DVD on the area which is currently being made
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Supporting the community in understanding integrated Chronic Disease Management
Infrastructure issues for future health professional attraction
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Quality housing for professionals
The workshop involved a community feedback process. 70 responses were received, with the key findings being:
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88% said they would be happy to see a nurse prior to a GP as long as the nurse was suitably qualified.
The community saw this option of care a valuable way to save GP resources and prevent burnout
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Strong support for exploration of incorporating nurse practitioner role in emergency services to relieve the workload of GPs
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The community recognised that models of health care need to change in the future in order to recruit doctors,
prevent burnout and sustain existing services
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That the four town region be called “Golden Rivers”
A meeting was held on 5th May to develop an agreed action plan.
Click here to access the full report.
Presentations