The AMC Guidance Matrix for Medical School Standards

The federal government has announced a “Commonwealth Prac Payment,” to help students doing mandatory work placements, including those studying to be a teacher, nurse, midwife or social worker. Details are still being finalised, but the payment will be means-tested and available from July 2025, giving eligible students A$319.50 per week while on placement. Other support payments received by a student will not be affected.

Croaky Health Media looks into the new Aged Care Act; Australia’s use of Urgent Care Clinics; the RACGP’s new definition of general practice for accreditation purposes; the AAPi’s call for HECS debt relief for rural psychology graduates; the ACRRM’s call to fund a secondary school awareness program and a scholarship scheme to attract regional and remote students to a career in medicine; and new WHO guidance on ethical health worker migration.

Our analysis examines health sector employment numbers and job vacancy rates by Australian states and territories. We analyse employment distribution and 5-year trends for each state/territory compared to the national average. Additionally, we compare growth rates in job vacancies for each state and territory across occupation groups.

The latest the Internet Vacancy Index showed monthly decreases in job listings for Health and Medical ‘Professional’ categories. Yearly growth in job ad vacancies is starting to stabilise, however current volumes, across all occupation categories, remain much higher than the 10-year average, demonstrating continued workforce demand alongside the expanding population and consumer demand for health services.