Health, wellbeing, and care workers are the backbone of the health system. The Victorian health workforce is among the best in the world. The pandemic only highlighted their expertise, passion, and fierce dedication to their patients.
The people who deliver care to Victorians deserve a first-rate employee experience. To do this, we are focusing on future roles, capabilities, and professional development. This includes considering what the jobs of tomorrow will look like, what skills our people will need, and how we will support them to learn, stretch and grow.
Our healthcare system is evolving rapidly, and it requires our workers to have greater autonomy and agility. They also need to be able to operate in multidisciplinary teams.
We will make sure there are enough skilled and talented people across Victoria. This includes building the workforce that supports our rural and regional communities.
Attracting and retaining the right type of workforce is critical for Victorians to get the best-quality care. This includes addressing critical workforce gaps in areas such as Aboriginal health, mental health and wellbeing, addiction services, specialist medical roles, allied health, nursing, lived experience and public health. We also need to support our workforce for new responsibilities under the Mental Health and Wellbeing Act 2022.
Building modern health and care precincts that enhance worker wellbeing and reduce occupational violence will be a key focus. We will prioritise sector resilience and preparedness for disease outbreaks, natural disasters, and other emergencies. This includes providing sector capability uplift and flexible and adaptable surge response capacity.
We know that health sector workplaces can be high pressure environments. We will accept nothing less than a culture of respect that is free from violence and other threats to employee wellbeing.
Priority initiatives
- Investing in health workforces.
Outcomes
Healthcare workforce
- Healthcare worker wellbeing
- Healthcare workers feel safe, engaged and valued in the workplace
- Workforce capability and capacity
- Workers are well trained and supported to do their jobs effectively.
Reviewed 29 August 2024