Union Welcomes Health Professional Staffing Report

The Tasmanian branch of the union has welcomed the release of a report conducted by the Department of Health and Human Services into its health professional workforce.

The report, which took two years to complete, confirms the concerns of the branch (Health and Community Services Union) regarding the capacity of the Department of Health and Human Services to attract and retain health professionals in Tasmania.

The scope of the report covered nineteen professions including Physiotherapists, Occupational Therapists, Dental Therapists, Radiation Therapists and Podiatrists employed by the Department Health and Human Services. Only four of these professions have undergraduate training programs in Tasmania.

HACSU Assistant Secretary Tim Jacobson said today "This report highlights a number of problems the Department has in attracting health professionals into Tasmania and provides a unique opportunity for the Government to address these issues to ensure adequate levels of services to the Tasmanian community."

The report foreshadows critical shortages of health professionals in a number of occupational areas if attraction and retention issues are not addressed.

Tim Jacobson said "These issues are not unique to Tasmania as staffing shortages are being experienced across Australia. Tasmania is at a further disadvantage as other States are offering more attractive salary and incentive packages to address the problem than is Tasmania."

At membership meetings across the state over the past two days HACSU health professional members passed a resolution calling on the Department of Health and Human Services to enter into negotiations with HACSU to work toward addressing the issues raised in the report and also called on the Government to improve the conditions of it's 1000 strong health professional employees.

Contact Details
Hobart Office
Phone: 03 6231 2253
FAX: 03 6231 4142
Email: admin@hacsutas.net.au

Launceston Office
Phone: 03 6331 2237
FAX: 03 6331 4309
Email: admin@hacsutas.net.au

Devonport Office
Phone: 03 6424 6885
FAX: 03 6424 6808
Email: admin@hacsutas.net.au

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© 2003 Health Services Union (HSU)
This page: http://www.hsua.org.au/news/1062382570_19769.html
Last Modified: Wednesday, 16-Nov-2005 17:18:59 EST