❓ Mr Britza asks the Minister for Health about the uptake and benefits of the Department of Health's community service leave program. The Minister responds positively, detailing the program's structure, participating countries, application numbers, costs, and perceived benefits for staff and international relations.
AnsweredQoN 500Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH — COMMUNITY SERVICE LEAVE PROGRAM
500. Mr I.M. BRITZA to the Minister for Health:
I understand that about two years ago the Minister for Health
launched a community service leave program for the Department of Health. Can
the minister please update the house on the uptake of this program and its
benefits in providing charitable community services?
500. Mr I.M. BRITZA to the Minister for Health:
I understand that about two years ago the Minister for Health
launched a community service leave program for the Department of Health. Can
the minister please update the house on the uptake of this program and its
benefits in providing charitable community services?
AnswerView source ↗
I thought I would get to inform my side of what we have done
as well! This is a fantastic program, and one of which I am very proud. We
started this a couple of years ago and it is called a community service leave
option. All medical staff working within the Department of Health, including
doctors, nurses, physiotherapists and occupational therapists, who are able to
provide a medical health–related service to patients who require it,
are able to access community service leave. I based the program on something
that I used to do in the old days, which was Army Reserves. As a medical
employee at the time, I was able to take two weeks paid leave from the health
department to do Army Reserve work. We modelled this scheme along the same
lines. It allows our health workers to provide aid to help the health needs of
other countries. The countries where some of our staff have gone include
Cambodia, South Africa, China, Ethiopia, India, Kenya, Madagascar, Malawi,
Myanmar, Papua New Guinea, Nepal, Philippines, Rwanda, Sierra Leone, Tanzania,
Thailand, Vietnam and Timor. We have a fantastic program in Tanzania where our
midwives assist in training people in midwifery. In 2011–12, there were
36 applicants for the community service leave program and in 2012–13
that number increased to 53. It costs us about only $2 500 for each person to
go, or $150 000 in total. That amount largely funds air fares and, of course,
the participants are paid their leave entitlements while they are gone. I hope
this program will expand considerably. We hope to get 100 applicants next year.
I encourage health department staff to do international aid work. Not only does
it strengthen our relationship internationally, but also it is great for our
workers. They experience the very poor conditions in Tanzania, for example,
compared with the conditions in Western Australia. People are able to come back
with a better perspective on life and on management, a better appreciation of
the quality of service that they provide and a much better relationship with
the patients. It has been a fantastic program and I hope that it will continue
to grow.
as well! This is a fantastic program, and one of which I am very proud. We
started this a couple of years ago and it is called a community service leave
option. All medical staff working within the Department of Health, including
doctors, nurses, physiotherapists and occupational therapists, who are able to
provide a medical health–related service to patients who require it,
are able to access community service leave. I based the program on something
that I used to do in the old days, which was Army Reserves. As a medical
employee at the time, I was able to take two weeks paid leave from the health
department to do Army Reserve work. We modelled this scheme along the same
lines. It allows our health workers to provide aid to help the health needs of
other countries. The countries where some of our staff have gone include
Cambodia, South Africa, China, Ethiopia, India, Kenya, Madagascar, Malawi,
Myanmar, Papua New Guinea, Nepal, Philippines, Rwanda, Sierra Leone, Tanzania,
Thailand, Vietnam and Timor. We have a fantastic program in Tanzania where our
midwives assist in training people in midwifery. In 2011–12, there were
36 applicants for the community service leave program and in 2012–13
that number increased to 53. It costs us about only $2 500 for each person to
go, or $150 000 in total. That amount largely funds air fares and, of course,
the participants are paid their leave entitlements while they are gone. I hope
this program will expand considerably. We hope to get 100 applicants next year.
I encourage health department staff to do international aid work. Not only does
it strengthen our relationship internationally, but also it is great for our
workers. They experience the very poor conditions in Tanzania, for example,
compared with the conditions in Western Australia. People are able to come back
with a better perspective on life and on management, a better appreciation of
the quality of service that they provide and a much better relationship with
the patients. It has been a fantastic program and I hope that it will continue
to grow.
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