EScan 2013:  The Care Industry - A Time for Action!

The 2013 Environmental Scan findings build on themes identified in previous EScans, such as the growing emphasis on primary health, person-centred service work models and the need for greater investment in workforce planning and development.

The issues identified in this EScan have significant implications for the Community Services and Health industry. CS&HISC is the recognised national advisory body on skills and workforce development.

As the major industry body, we will continue to consult and engage with industry stakeholders and policy makers to ensure that Australia has the workforce it deserves, to best meet the challenges of a growing population which demand affordable, accessible high quality care.

KEY CHALLENGES

Community services and health is Australia’s largest industry grouping, employing 9 per cent of the workforce. Industry employment is projected to grow by at least 35 per cent over the next ten years.  Health expenditure has increased by (53 billion from $77.5 billion in 2000-01 to $130.3 billion in 2010-11).

The 2013 Escan has identified that the workforce will need to respond to five significant challenges:

Challenge One: high demand for care from the community, driven by growing expectations, increasing co-morbidity, the contribution of technology and an ageing population

Challenge Two: ambitious government reforms to move the industry towards a client-led model of funding and care, beginning with the Aged Care Reform Package (DoHA 2012a) and the National Disability Insurance Scheme (COAG 2012a)

Challenge Three: given the constraints in health funding and the growth in roles within our industry a crucial issue will be to ensure that qualifications match the actual jobs skills required

Challenge Four: development of more sustainable workforce development models that make more efficient use of higher education and Vocational Education and Training (VET) based roles, and which provide more fluid pathways for workers to move between sectors and from VET-based to higher education-based roles and vice versa

Challenge Five: ensuring that training packages respond to industry need and then reach industry in the most efficient time.

Download a copy of the 2013 Environmental Scan by clicking on the image.

Click to go to CS&HISC website