Open AccessRecruiting and Retaining Allied Health Professionals in Rural Australia: Why is it so Difficult?
Author(s) -
Janet Struber
Publication year - 2004
Publication title -
the internet journal of allied health sciences and practice
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
ISSN - 1540-580X
DOI - 10.46743/1540-580x/2004.1040
Subject(s) - attrition , workforce , rural area , business , isolation (microbiology) , health professionals , nursing , rural health , public relations , health care , medicine , political science , microbiology and biotechnology , dentistry , pathology , law , biology
Rural communities in Australia have particular health needs, and the recruitment and retention of Allied Health Professionals (AHPs) is a significant concern. Despite the increasing number of AHPs being trained, vacancy and attrition rates in rural areas continue to rise. Professional and social isolation combined with rapidly changing health service delivery structures are identified as major deterrents to long-term rural practice. While strategies are now being implemented, endeavours to resolve the issues lag well behind initiates offered to Medical and Nursing staff. Given the wealth of political, professional and health related issues underlying the recruitment and retention of AHPs to rural areas, total resolution of this issue may not be possible. A unified approach by AHPs combined with concerted effort and collaboration on the part of all the stakeholders may, however, allow management at a level required to sustain a viable rural AHP workforce.