May 2025

Welcome to the latest edition of the 2025 On the Horizon newsletter from the Future Workforce Unit (FWU). 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 FWU or NSW Health.

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

"All water has a perfect memory and is forever trying to get back to where it was."
— Toni Morrison

From Colorado’s Rockies to the vibrant streets of New Orleans, my recent travels through the US highlighted a powerful truth: water shapes everything – its beauty and its dangers. The Louisiana’s Strategic Adaptations for Future Environments (LA SAFE) initiative, a bold flood-risk planning program, engaging community in the plan, is a clear reminder that the future is being shaped now, by communities acting with foresight. While in New Orleans, I had the opportunity to talk with residents of the flood prone city about their experiences in the past and their hopes for a future.

Back home, the NSW floods brought that message even closer. Many of us have witnessed firsthand the impact of those floods on our own communities, and our families. Our thoughts go to those who have been impacted in recent and possible past flooding events. These repeat events remind us of the importance of our community – and why a resilient health system is essential. As the recovery efforts continue, one thing is clear: resilience through innovation and adaptation must be at the heart of our response to climate and health challenges.

Technology played a vital role during the floods. In a national first, a NSW SES drone delivered urgent medical supplies to two cancer patients stranded in Harrington. Thanks to palliative care nurse Tiffany Willis who assisted with the deliveries, both patients received timely care. It’s a powerful example of how tech – especially AI – can support healthcare teams to focus on what matters most: patients.

We also explored these themes at a recent TEDx event in Sydney, on climate change, gaining fresh insights into innovation, sustainability, and community resilience.

The NSW Health Beyond Tomorrow report makes it clear: building and increasing resilience in an unpredictable world demands bold, transformative action – especially in tackling climate change and health inequities. In this edition, we explore how AI is empowering frontline healthcare teams, why adaptability is key to the future workforce, and how multi-generational teams – especially those including younger voices – are essential for future-ready systems.

Your insights are invaluable. We invite you to share your perspectives as we work together to shape a more resilient and responsive healthcare future. Please reach out to us via email or connect with us on social media.

- Tamara Lee

Director, Future Workforce

All aboard the buzzing AI bus!

Recent moves in the Australian business landscape show a clear rise in AI ambition. A major signal came with Microsoft Australia, Managing Director Steven Worrall stepping into a new role to lead Telstra’s InfraCo AI strategy. This shift highlights Telstra’s serious investment in AI and could have major flow-on effects for Telstra Health, including innovations in telehealth and AI-powered tools to improve diagnostics and administrative efficiency.

Meanwhile, Australian AI startups like Relevance AI, which focuses on agent-based AI solutions, and Blinq, known for its digital business cards, show how local innovation is thriving. These ventures reflect a growing national confidence in AI which may open doors for healthcare through cross-industry collaboration and tech sharing.

At the same time, a recently reported valuation of $200 million for HotDoc, a popular GP booking app, underscores the rising dependence on digital tools in healthcare. This digital shift puts new demands on the health workforce: adapting to emerging technologies while staying focused on equity, privacy, and security for all patients.

A headline that caught national attention recently read: "Heidi Health is growing faster than Canva." This bold claim highlights the rise of Heidi Health, an AI-driven medical transcription service that’s reshaping how healthcare could operate today and in the future.

Heidi Health’s value proposition is simple but powerful: imagine a clinician who gives you their full, undivided attention. By using AI to handle administrative tasks like note-taking and documentation, clinicians are free to focus entirely on the patient spotting important cues, building trust, and improving the overall care experience. In this way, AI acts as a smart scribe, enhancing not replacing the human touch in healthcare.

While AI adoption accelerates, (one in five UK GPs now use AI), several challenges remain. Ethical concerns, upskilling needs and the growing pressure on both current and future health workers to keep pace with rapid technological change are critical issues. The biggest question for health systems now is: How do we balance innovation with equitable access, data privacy and robust security? The answers will shape the future of care.

How this fits into NSW Health’s future
Within NSW Health, the Agency for Clinical Innovation (ACI) is already looking ahead. Its Critical Intelligence Unit (CIU) monitors global trends and clinical advancements, including the role of AI in healthcare delivery. Through its Artificial Intelligence Living Evidence platform, the CIU provides up-to-date, evidence-based resources on the use of AI for tasks like:

Automating clinical documentation
Supporting indirect care and admin workflows
Planning effective, safe AI system implementation

Together, these developments point to a future where technology strengthens, not sidelines the connection between clinicians and patients.

What strategies can help embed the use of ethical AI such as protecting patient privacy, ensuring transparency, and avoiding bias?

How are frontline workers engaged in the design and rollout of AI solutions to ensure tools are fit for purpose?

How can we leverage innovation to ensure equitable access, especially for patients and communities that are digitally excluded or under-resourced?

How can we ensure AI tools are integrated into clinical workflows without disrupting the human connection between provider and patient, or diminishing critical thinking skills?

What skills will be most valuable for the health workforce in the next 5–10 years?

Adaptability: Healthcare’s essential future-ready skill

In the wake of unprecedented disruptions like the COVID-19 pandemic, adaptability has emerged as one of the most critical skills for both the current and future healthcare workforce.

At its core, adaptability is “the ability to adjust one's behaviour, thinking, or feelings in response to changing circumstances, demands, or environments.” As Andrea Clark puts it, “It’s adaptability that allows us to recognise the signals of change, adjust to new conditions, and apply new thinking to new problems.”

For healthcare organisations, having adaptable leaders and teams is essential. They help guide the workforce through rapid change – particularly in technology – by promoting continuous learning, collaboration, and innovation.

What does it take to thrive in a shifting landscape?
Today’s healthcare professionals need more than just IQ and emotional intelligence (EQ). They need a strong Adaptability Quotient (AQ). Building your AQ starts with adopting these micro-habits into your daily practice:

Cope with and thrive during change
Show flexibility toward themselves and others
Stay open and curious
Unlearn outdated approaches and relearn new ones
Stay resilient under pressure
Delay short-term comfort for long-term success
Solve complex problems creatively
Accept failure as part of the path to success

For NSW Health, adaptability means action
Future-proofing the workforce involves more than embracing digital platforms; it requires education, role adaptation, innovation, and strong change management. These strategies help reduce fear and resistance around new technologies, making room for transformation.

Ultimately, balancing adaptation with innovation is key. Without it, "invisible adaptations" can occur where individuals bypass systems altogether simply because they’re too hard to work with. By committing to both individual growth and system-level improvements, healthcare can build a more resilient, responsive, and sustainable workforce for the future.

Which current clinical or administrative tasks could be redesigned or delegated to better support adaptability and reduce burnout?

Are there existing roles that need to evolve to support adaptability across services?

How can we identify and nurture adaptability in early-career health professionals as a core strength – not just a soft skill?

What organisational or cultural barriers are getting in the way of adaptability in our teams or departments?

How can leaders model adaptability and what support do they need to lead through uncertainty?

Investing in tomorrow: What Gen Z is teaching us about the future of work

As traditional aspirations like homeownership become less attainable, Gen Z is embracing financial adaptability, turning to share investments and redefining what it means to plan for the future. But their influence extends far beyond finance. This generation is also transforming the healthcare workforce.

To effectively attract and keep Generation Z in healthcare, organisations must continue to understand their unique and evolving expectations, creating innovative work environments and benefits that truly resonate with them.

Gen Z, the most digitally fluent generation, brings a fresh approach to work that challenges conventional models. They prefer clear goals, fast and honest feedback, and outcome-based work over clocking hours.

Gen Z is not just efficient, they’re purpose driven. In fact, 86% of Gen Z and 89% of Millennials say having a sense of purpose is essential to their job satisfaction and overall wellbeing. Many are willing to walk away from roles or employers whose values don’t align with their own. The takeaway for employers? Listen, adapt, and evolve, and you'll gain loyalty in return.

Across Australia, Gen Z nurses and allied health professionals are entering the workforce with a clear vision for their careers. According to a recent Australian Nursing and Midwifery Federation study, 78% of Gen Z nurses see ongoing education and skill development as “very important” when making career decisions.

Many are embracing flexible, mobile careers, combining travel (FIFO work) with roles in rural and regional health settings contributing across departments while seeking adventure and impact.

This generation, which makes up nearly 20% of Australia's population, is looking for roles with real-world impact, inclusive, values-driven workplaces and clear pathways for continuous growth. They’re not just showing up for the job, they want to make a difference.

So how can NSW Health attract and retain this rising workforce? Beyond flexibility, communication, and psychological safety, one standout strategy is reverse mentoring—a two-way exchange where Gen Z team members share their tech-savvy mindset, while gaining insight from experienced colleagues about human connection, empathy, and professional depth beyond the screen.

Could reverse mentoring be a game changer for workforce potential?
When done well, reverse mentoring can strengthen multigenerational collaboration, encourage digital confidence across all age groups, and build a more connected, innovative workforce. Investing in a multigenerational workforce isn’t without challenges but it offers a unique opportunity. By creating space for mutual learning and respect, we can shape a workplace culture where every generation thrives.

Let’s not just adapt to change – let’s lead it, together.

What does “purpose-driven work” look like in your role or team—and how can we make that more visible and accessible?

What systems or norms might we need to let go of to retain a more mobile, impact-driven generation?

What workplace structures or habits are we holding onto that no longer serve the needs of the emerging workforce?

How can technology be used not just to improve clinical care—but to build better teams, culture, and communication? How might we rethink attraction, recruitment and retention catering for the generational desires of our workforce?