Northern Mallee Primary Care Partnership WORKFORCE PARTNERSHIP “The road to partnership”

1. Northern Mallee Primary Care PartnershipWORKFORCE PARTNERSHIP“The road to partnership” Rob McGlashan Coordinator Northern Mallee Primary Care Partnership

3. The Northern Mallee • Mildura region is known as the food bowl of Vic • The Northern Mallee region population is 61,004 with 53,877 directly in Mildura area. • 22090km2 • Mildura has one of the fastest growing ageing populations in Australia • An average of 79.1 days per year when the temperature exceeds 30`C

4. Barriers for Region • Remote Isolation (550km from Melb) • Main towns Robinvale, Ouyen, Mildura are 100km’s apart • Cross Border issues (VIC/NSW) • Down turn in horticulture and drought (hard to attract professionals to area with bad image)

5. Recruitment & Retention Issues • Lack of critical mass of professional support • Inability of spouse to adjust, find employment and absence of support networks including social • Very low uptake of health professions in local schools • The need for time to attend (travel) to professional development • A perceived lack of privacy and anonymity in smaller rural communities • Lack of adequate relief, locum and peer support • A sense of professional and personal isolation • Finding suitable accommodation, schooling and networks

6. Workforce Project Phases • 2002 – The NMPCP produced a Community Health Plan - identified a range of strategies involving cross-agency collaboration to improve recruitment and retention of health and community services workers in the Northern Mallee • 2002 – Creation of Northern Mallee Workforce Project (NMWP). Aim to develop an area-based strategy

7. Workforce Project Phases • 2004-2005 – Northern Mallee Workforce Project – Phase 1 Report Completed – Analysis of recruitment and retention needs in Northern Mallee Region • 2006-2007 – Northern Mallee Workforce Project – Phase 2 Report Completed – Strategies developed, Local Advisory Group and Working Groups established • 2008 – Northern Mallee Workforce Project – Phase 3 Report Completed – established smaller Working Groups and further defined strategies

8. Turning Point • The Northern Mallee Primary Care Partnership (NMPCP) - consortium of representatives from health, social services, Mildura Rural City Council and businesses. • The NMPCP Executive (who had all been involved in the research, working groups and strategies) decided to change the focus from research to action

9. Turning Point • Members identified that individual agencies were having little impact on recruitment and little was being done for long term retention • Positions competitive with agencies competing for local professionals • Recognition to market the region together and recruit from National/International markets • Recognition to work together on retention strategies

10. From Research to Action • The NMPCP facilitated the formation of a consortium to facilitate action for the Northern Mallee Workforce Project • Engaged a consultant to investigate model options • NMPCP Recruitment and Retention Plan completed 2009 • Decision: Employ a “Project Coordinator” to work in collaboration with organisations, and to facilitate the recruitment and retention plan

11. NMPCP Executive • NMPCP Executive could see the bigger picture. • Personal agendas & Egos put aside • Workforce issues affecting the future of the community • Improvements made will be positive for all organisations and community as a whole • Worth the investment with potential savings

12. Around the table • Bonus of an effective Primary Care Partnership in the area meant that all agencies were already “Around the table”. • NMPCP seen as “Switzerland” • Each partner organisation involved at Senior level (Steering Committee) of project and now also at operational level (Operational Network)

13. NMPCP Workforce Partnership • Workforce Partnership Coordinator commenced February 2010 • Positives so far: • Steering Committee – monthly – around the table • Operational Network (HR, Marketing, Skilled Migration, University representatives) – monthly – around the table • United Front shown to the community and recruits • Design of a website and brand to promote the region, joint advertising and to allow for better networking amongst local health professionals

14. NMPCP Workforce Partnership • Creation of a shared recruitment register - lists all employment vacancies amongst member organisations – allows for collaboration, job share opportunities and general awareness • Creating a partnership agreement, to look at the long term sustainability of the project (Investment = commitment) • Creating relationships with all local schools, tertiary institutions and other relevant organisations and will reach out with branding once finalised. • Working closely with the Skilled Migration team at Mildura Rural City Council

15. Recruitment Register Snapshot An example of a positive effect. The Recruitment Register currently lists 28 Employment Vacancies including: Podiatry Surgeons Physiotherapy Health Promotion Workers Anaesthisist Dentists Dietician Speech Pathologists Clinicians (mental health) Occupational Therapists Registered midwives Community Support Workers Registered Nurses Disability Workers Indigenous Health workers

16. NMPCP Workforce Partnership Mallee Track Health & Community Services (Ouyen) Robinvale District Health Services (Robinvale) Sunraysia Community Health Services (Mildura) Mildura Base Hospital (Mildura) Mallee Division General Practice La Trobe University Monash University Mildura Rural City Council Mallee Family Care