Record numbers of doctors, nurses, and health professionals moving to Australia

Many dental occupations sit on the Skills Priority List and are deemed in shortage in Australia’s labour market. While Jobs and Skills Australia identifies four main types of skills shortages - Long Training Gap, Short Training Gap, Suitability Gap, and Retention Gap - this article delves into additional factors affecting dental workforce supply in Australia, offering insights from current statistics and demographic data.

La Trobe University's Rural Health School has mid-year intakes for Bachelor of Nursing degrees, in response to a national workforce shortage, especially in rural areas. Up to 130 new students can begin nursing undergraduate degrees across all four of La Trobe’s regional campuses located in Bendigo, Mildura, Shepparton and Albury-Wodonga. New students can benefit from a government placement stipend starting mid-2025. Applications open this month. Read the full article here.

Sponsored by Victoria University, this Insider Guide provides essential information for becoming an internationally qualified nurse in Australia. Applicants must apply through the Nursing and Midwifery Board, undergo an assessment against the Australian Qualifications Framework, and, depending on the stream (A, B, or C), complete the required steps including orientation, additional documentation, passing exams, or further qualification upgrades. More detailed steps are available here.

Facing skills shortages and an aging, expanding population, Australia’s growing health sector requires high-quality resources and innovative initiatives to improve workforce recruitment, training, retention, and future supply. This article examines the current Australian Skills Classification model and explores how the proposed new National Skills Taxonomy, and a more integrated skills system, could benefit the health sector.