May 2023

Welcome to the latest edition of the 2023 On the Horizon newsletter from the Workforce Policy and Development Unit (WPD). On the Horizon provides a snapshot of the key trends and developments that have the potential to shape and impact our future workforce, workplace and ways of working.

On the Horizon is part of the Focus on the Future Workforce Initiative, which aims to support the health system to ensure a resilient and digitally enabled workforce that can adapt to the changes in the system caused by technology and other disruptions. By focusing on not just the now, but also the future, NSW Health can ensure that we meet the needs of the community now and into the future.

Please note that the opinions shared in On the Horizon are those of the respective authors, and may not reflect the views of WPD Unit or NSW Health.

Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander readers are advised that this edition may contain images of people who have passed away.

As we fast approach the second half of next year, the team has been busily working behind the scenes on some exciting developments for the Focus on the Future Workforce Initiative. I am thrilled to share that production for Season 4 of the Future Health podcast is well underway. This season, we have some exciting guest speakers lined up to chat to our host Dr Louise Messara about the latest future of work trends and insights. We will be sharing new episodes of the Future Health podcast here, so keep your eyes peeled so you don't miss a thing.

In this month's edition of On the Horizon, we're exploring a range of trends that will impact our future workforce, including climate change, diversity and inclusion in the workplace, healthcare transformation, and extended reality. I encourage you to use the questions included to prompt some deeper reflection on what these trends could mean in the NSW Health context.

- Tamara Lee and Natasha McGarrell

Workforce Policy and Development

In its State of the Climate 2022 Report, CSIRO reported that Australia will experience ongoing changes to its weather and climate in the coming decades, including more extremely hot days, longer periods of drought, ongoing rises in sea level and an increase in the risk of natural disasters from extreme weather.

Climate change is already impacting healthcare and the health workforce in several ways. Illness and injury caused by an increase in extreme weather events is leading to a rise in demand for healthcare services and professionals. Changes in disease patterns and the psychological impacts of climate change will also require healthcare professionals with new and emerging expertise. Increases in extreme weather conditions could also pose a risk to occupational health and safety, as health workers respond to growing emergencies and public health challenges. 

Read more on this trend:

How can we ensure that our workforce is prepared and supported to overcome the challenges caused by climate change? How might the impacts of climate change and workforce needs differ in metro, regional and rural areas?

Syndio’s 2023 Workplace Equity Trends Report explains that “the pressure is ramping up further as companies face mounting demands from all sides to achieve progress on diversity, pay equity, and transparency.” Like many industries around the world, the healthcare sector is increasingly recognising the importance of diversity and inclusion strategies in the workforce, with many employers working to create more inclusive and equitable workplaces.

This trend is being driven by evolving employee expectations, and the understanding that a more diverse workforce can lead to improved employee satisfaction and retention, better patient outcomes, improved access to care for underserved communities, and more innovative solutions to complex healthcare challenges.

Read more on this trend:

What opportunities to improve diversity, inclusion and equity have you noticed in your workplace? How might we use NSW Health’s Future Health Strategy and Health Workforce Plan 2022-23 to guide efforts to strengthen diversity in our workforce and decision-making?

In its Healthcare Horizons report, KPMG argues, “A fundamental change in course is needed in the ways that healthcare systems operate, and urgent action is needed to help healthcare organisations survive and thrive amid successive waves of crises and challenges.” Calls for healthcare reform and transformation are on the rise globally as health systems struggle to cope with rising costs, increasing service demand, changing demographics and workforce shortages.

Emerging reform strategies reflect a growing recognition that traditional healthcare systems are no longer sustainable and that new approaches are needed to meet the evolving needs of patients and populations.

Read more on this trend:

How might we best support and prepare our workforce for the changes that come with healthcare transformation? What steps can be taken to ensure that healthcare professionals are equipped with the necessary skills, knowledge and resources to adapt to these changes and continue to deliver high-quality care?

Extended reality (XR) refers to immersive technologies such as virtual reality (VR), augmented reality (AR) and mixed reality (MR). XR has the potential to transform the way we deliver healthcare, train health professionals, and educate patients.

These technologies can provide immersive, interactive learning experiences for healthcare professionals, allowing them to practice complex procedures in a safe and controlled environment. XR can also provide patients with a more engaging and interactive way to learn about their conditions, treatment options and self-care strategies.

Read more on this trend:

What opportunities or challenges might XR bring to future health education and service delivery? What new skills will be required of healthcare professionals to effectively leverage XR technologies in patient care?

Future Health is a podcast about the way we work and how technology will influence the future of NSW Health. 

This month, we're putting the spotlight on our conversation with Dr Fatima Cody Stanford, an award-winning obesity medicine physician scientist, educator and policymaker at the Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School. In this episode, Fatima showcases her expertise in obesity and nutrition, discussing the potential impact of our new future ways of working on our health. She also explores diversity and inclusion within healthcare and what more we should do as a society.

Listen to our conversation with Dr Fatima Cody Stanford and other episodes here.

The Future Health Podcast is a creation of NSW Health. All episodes are also available to watch on the NSW Health YouTube Channel.

For more info on NSW Health visit: health.nsw.gov.au.

While every effort is taken to validate the currency and accuracy of the content presented in the newsletter, NSW Health does not make any representations and  warranties with respect to the accuracy and completeness of the information contained herein. The content is represented as information only and readers should undertake their own research and enquires with respect to the specific details and information contained in this newsletter.

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