Australia’s health system is founded on a quality workforce of skilled, capable health professionals.
The majority of these are educated in Australian universities. Universities Australia supports the sector in developing a strong health workforce as the foundation of our health services in Australia.
ADVOCACY AND POLICY DEVELOPMENT
Universities Australia’s health policy and advocacy work involves working closely with many stakeholders across different portfolios, tiers of government, professional bodies and a range of other agencies across the Education, Health, Aged Care and Disability sectors.
Universities Australia consults with the sector in health policy advocacy through regular and frequent meetings with the Health Professions’ Education Standing Group (HPESG). The group comprises senior leaders across all university health professional disciplines as well as all jurisdictions.
HPESG is chaired by Universities Australia’s Lead Vice-Chancellor, Health. Since August 2023, this has been Professor S. Bruce Dowton.
Critical and ongoing policy and advocacy areas include: clinical education and training — especially clinical placements; health workforce planning; and professional accreditation.
More detail can be found in our Health Professions Education Statement of Intent.
The sector’s interests in health professions education are also represented through Universities Australia/HPESG representation on key committees. These currently include the:
- AHPRA’s independently chaired Accreditation Committee;
- Expert Advisory Group for development of the Commonwealth Department of Health’s Intellectual Disability Capability Framework; and
- Independent Hospital Pricing Authority’s Teaching, Training and Research Working Group.
For further information contact Rachel Yates.
