❓ A parliamentary question seeks detailed information on allied health staffing, vacancies, recruitment strategies, and the impact of efficiency measures in the Pilbara region of Western Australia. The Minister provides specific data on staffing levels, vacancy durations, advertising efforts, and strategies to improve recruitment and retention, while denying any negative impact on training and development.
AnsweredQoN 863Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
Following on from the Minister’s response to allied health services in regional Western Australia, will the Minister detail:
(1) What is the current staffing number of allied health professionals in the following fields based in the Pilbara:
(a) Dieticians;
(b) Health Promotion Officers/Managers;
(c) Nutritionists;
(d) Occupational Therapists;
(e) Psychologists;
(f) Pharmacists;
(g) Physiotherapists;
(h) Social Workers; and
(i) Speech Pathologists?
(2) In which of those allied health services are there vacancies? If so, how many and how long have those positions been vacant, in respect of:
(a) Dieticians;
(b) Health Promotion Officers/Managers;
(c) Nutritionists;
(d) Occupational Therapists;
(e) Psychologists;
(f) Pharmacists;
(g) Physiotherapists;
(h) Social Workers; and
(i) Speech Pathologists?
(3) Of those vacant positions, which of those have been publicly advertised?
(4) What are the strategies the Minister says the government is implementing to address the issue of recruitment and retention?
(5) How are the three percent efficiencies imposed by the Government affecting the provisions made for professional support, increased access to training and development opportunities for allied health staff?
(1) What is the current staffing number of allied health professionals in the following fields based in the Pilbara:
(a) Dieticians;
(b) Health Promotion Officers/Managers;
(c) Nutritionists;
(d) Occupational Therapists;
(e) Psychologists;
(f) Pharmacists;
(g) Physiotherapists;
(h) Social Workers; and
(i) Speech Pathologists?
(2) In which of those allied health services are there vacancies? If so, how many and how long have those positions been vacant, in respect of:
(a) Dieticians;
(b) Health Promotion Officers/Managers;
(c) Nutritionists;
(d) Occupational Therapists;
(e) Psychologists;
(f) Pharmacists;
(g) Physiotherapists;
(h) Social Workers; and
(i) Speech Pathologists?
(3) Of those vacant positions, which of those have been publicly advertised?
(4) What are the strategies the Minister says the government is implementing to address the issue of recruitment and retention?
(5) How are the three percent efficiencies imposed by the Government affecting the provisions made for professional support, increased access to training and development opportunities for allied health staff?
AnswerView source ↗
Answered
9 June 2009
Responded by
Minister for Health
Response time
27 days
(1) The Current staffing number of allied health professionals based in Pilbara for the following fields are as follows:
(a) Dieticians: 3
(b) Health Promotion Officers/Managers: 6
(c) Nutritionists: 0
(d) Occupational Therapists: 6
(e) Psychologists: 0
(f) Pharmacists: 2
(g) Physiotherapists: 10
(h) Social Workers: 3
(i) Speech Pathologists: 6
(2) (a) Dieticians: 1 has been vacant for 4 months
(b) Health Promotion Officers/Managers: 1. The new incumbent starts 2 June 2009.
(c) Nutritionists: Not applicable.
(d) Occupational Therapists: Port Hedland 0.4 FTE vacant for 6 months and Karratha: 0.4 FTE vacant for 4 months.
(e) Psychologists: Not applicable.
(f) Pharmacists: Nil.
(g) Physiotherapists: 1 FTE vacant for 3 months.
(h) Social Workers: 1 FTE vacant for 17 months.
(i) Speech Pathologists: Nil.
(3) The following positions have been advertised.
Health Promotion: The position has been recruited to and will be filled in June 2009.
Physiotherapist: The position has been advertised three times without suitable applicants each time.
Social Worker position: The position is being reconfigured to an Aboriginal mental health promotion officer.
(4) The WA Country Health Service (WACHS) is actively implementing strategies to enhance the recruitment and retention of allied health professionals including:
Increasing students understanding of rural and remote health.
Support for students to undertake clinical placements in country Western Australia.
Promoting country allied health careers to new graduate and graduate allied health professionals.
Enhancing the provision of education and training for allied health staff.
Building professional networks and supports between allied health staff.
(5) There has been no impact on the provision or access to training and development opportunities for allied health staff. Due diligence is applied to each application to ensure the development opportunity will build capacity for the organisation and the community.
To support more efficiency in health, the development of online education packages is being considered and where possible training is arranged in the Pilbara to reduce the costs of travel.
Notice: This document is created or edited using unregistered or evaluation copy of rtLib valid for testing or development purposes only. To use it for productive or any other purposes please register it. You may purchase the license on
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(a) Dieticians: 3
(b) Health Promotion Officers/Managers: 6
(c) Nutritionists: 0
(d) Occupational Therapists: 6
(e) Psychologists: 0
(f) Pharmacists: 2
(g) Physiotherapists: 10
(h) Social Workers: 3
(i) Speech Pathologists: 6
(2) (a) Dieticians: 1 has been vacant for 4 months
(b) Health Promotion Officers/Managers: 1. The new incumbent starts 2 June 2009.
(c) Nutritionists: Not applicable.
(d) Occupational Therapists: Port Hedland 0.4 FTE vacant for 6 months and Karratha: 0.4 FTE vacant for 4 months.
(e) Psychologists: Not applicable.
(f) Pharmacists: Nil.
(g) Physiotherapists: 1 FTE vacant for 3 months.
(h) Social Workers: 1 FTE vacant for 17 months.
(i) Speech Pathologists: Nil.
(3) The following positions have been advertised.
Health Promotion: The position has been recruited to and will be filled in June 2009.
Physiotherapist: The position has been advertised three times without suitable applicants each time.
Social Worker position: The position is being reconfigured to an Aboriginal mental health promotion officer.
(4) The WA Country Health Service (WACHS) is actively implementing strategies to enhance the recruitment and retention of allied health professionals including:
Increasing students understanding of rural and remote health.
Support for students to undertake clinical placements in country Western Australia.
Promoting country allied health careers to new graduate and graduate allied health professionals.
Enhancing the provision of education and training for allied health staff.
Building professional networks and supports between allied health staff.
(5) There has been no impact on the provision or access to training and development opportunities for allied health staff. Due diligence is applied to each application to ensure the development opportunity will build capacity for the organisation and the community.
To support more efficiency in health, the development of online education packages is being considered and where possible training is arranged in the Pilbara to reduce the costs of travel.
Notice: This document is created or edited using unregistered or evaluation copy of rtLib valid for testing or development purposes only. To use it for productive or any other purposes please register it. You may purchase the license on
http://www.rtlib.com
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