In the lead up to the Australian Federal Budget in May 2023, Australian Health Journal reached out to peak health industry bodies to hear about their priorities, either noted in pre-budget submissions lodged with Federal Government in January 2023 or in recent forums such as the Strengthening Medicare Taskforce.
Others have stated their priorities directly with Federal Government. Through these interviews, AHJ gives a final opportunity to communicate to all health stakeholders, the funding needs for a range of priorities. These range from new models of care to pilots and wholesale, system improvements to building more sustainable workforces to help grow certain sectors of the health system
The CEO of Australian Primary Health Care Nurses Association (APNA), Ken Griffin spoke with Australian Health Journal about the following:
- APNA President Karen Booth representing Primary Care Nursing in the Australian Government led Strengthening Medicare Task Force
- The current key challenges in primary care nursing
- Programs on diversity and student placement proposed in APNA’s pre-budget submission to Federal Government
- A proposed initiative called Nurse-Supported Self-Care, with broadening role primary care nursing would play in the community
And lastly Ken talks about primary care nursing able to make an impact in aged care through Government funding, to support a residential aged care workforce that will only come into existence from 1st July 2023. He also talks about nurses needing accommodation assistance when moving to regional and remote locations in Australia.
In closing Ken talks about Government needing to “catchup the care for chronic disease” with support for multiple workforces including allied health and multidisciplinary teams. To alleviate the pressure on hospitals, workforce policies need to be assessed to be able to deliver the necessary assessment and management of chronic disease.
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New Generative AI and machine learning frontier on unused patient care data
Drawing from GE’s 125-year legacy in healthcare, Amit Yadav, CEO GE HealthCare ANZ is leading efforts to integrate AI into medical imaging devices and optimise workflow efficiencies. He stresses the importance of leveraging the vast amount of untapped healthcare data, with an emphasis on automating manual processes to enhance productivity. Additionally, his focus extends to utilising AI for workflow optimisation and ensuring compliance with local regulations and standards to prioritise safety.
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New research papers show productivity gains and gaps
Commissioner Catherine De Fontenay talks about the Productivity Commission’s new approach to analysing health productivity, shifting the perspective from the unit measurement of individuals using the health system to the actual improvement of health. This has shown Australia’s health treatment productivity is improving, but identifies gaps in preventative health measures and duplication, where digital technology needs to be more effectively used.
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Significant funding announced for NSW biomedical researchers
The Snow Medical Research Foundation (Snow Medical) has announced a new $24 million investment in three outstanding Australian biomedical researchers through its prestigious Snow Fellowships.
These Fellows will tackle major global health challenges spanning autoimmune disease, neurological disorders, and genetic disease. Their work addresses conditions that disproportionately affect vulnerable and underserved populations, including First Nations communities, while advancing precision medicine and translational care. Collectively, their research aims to deliver safer vaccines, better diagnostics, and more equitable genomic and neurological healthcare.
