Many of Australia’s healthcare workforce are on the frontline of its health response to COVID-19. Indeed, the response has shown the essential role of the healthcare workforce and providers in caring for Australians, including the most vulnerable people (Australian Healthcare and Hospitals Association [AHHA]).
At the time of writing, the worldwide pandemic continues, and its full impact of the country’s health workforce is ongoing . However, it is evident the healthcare workforce was impacted in different ways. Social distancing restrictions has, at times, required the closure of some industries, particularly those related to Complementary Health, while other health-related and allied health services continued to operate.
COVID-19 has required healthcare workers to adapt; to help, the Australian Government’s Department of Health has published Coronavirus (COVID-19) advice for the health and disability sector and the Communicable Diseases Network Australia has released Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) Outbreaks in Residential Care Facilities. The Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA) has also published a comprehensive suite of information Responding to COVID-19 in support of health practitioners providing safe care to their communities.
As such, the response to the pandemic has highlighted opportunities, particularly around telehealth. The rapid rise in telehealth services in 2020 (Telehealth in Australia During COVID-19 and Beyond: Insights) and its ongoing use indicates Australians are open to using telehealth services, presenting new opportunities and challenges. For example, KPMG, argues telehealth services can broaden the accessibility, availability and awareness of mental health services and support available to the community.
Tele-dentistry is also emerging with uses in online screening, treatment planning and referral. In Australia, tele-dentistry could be used for coaching in oral health.
The ongoing use, and possible expansion, of telehealth is not without its challenges. Maximising the effectiveness of remote consultations requires strong communication skills (as summarised in Telehealth Communication Skills) and empathy, known as ‘webside’ or ‘screenside manners’ (What Skills Do you Need to Work in the Flourishing Telehealth Industry). Likewise, patients’ require a skill set to maximise the benefits of telehealth, to effectively comprehend, navigate and troubleshoot digital interfaces, according to a journal article in Seminars in Oncology Nursing.
Cybersecurity is also an important issue; from July to December 2019, Australia’s health sector accounted for 22% of all data breaches, making it the highest reporting sector in Australia according to an article published by the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners (RACGP). The RAGCP has developed resources around information security, including the Guide to information backup in general practice and Responding to a cybersecurity incident. More broadly, digital transformation is expected across the healthcare sector and the Australian Government has released the National Digital Health Workforce and Education Roadmap, stating the digital transformation of health services can only occur with a skilled, digitally capable workforce.
For further information about COVID-19 in a specific healthcare industry, please see industry sector pages. Links are available at the top of this page.
