Trevor Adem, Kellie Byron-Gray, Dr Annemari Newth and Rex Prabhu at a recent Connecting the Docs event.
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A program designed to support the medical workforce in northern Victoria is seeing growth, with local benefits expected.
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Connecting the Docs was established in 2022 to help address the ongoing medical workforce crisis in the Loddon Mallee region.
Echuca Regional Health executive director of medical services Dr Annemarie Newth said multiple health services in the region were collaborating on the program.
“There is a crisis in regional Australia everywhere you go in terms of workforce, recruitment and retention,” she said.
“The program is, essentially, a collaboration between seven health services to try to bridge that gap of regional workforce recruitment and retention in the medical space.”
Under the program, the services are no longer competing for candidates, and are instead sharing training and employment opportunities.
“All of a sudden, you’ve created a job for a year for somebody,” Dr Newth said.
Dr Newth is a founding member and executive sponsor of Connecting the Docs, and ERH is the program fund holder, meaning it employs those involved in it.
Dr Annemarie Newth says a program to attract and embed medical staff in regional Victoria is growing.
One of the program’s main goals is to embed medical staff moving to regional Victoria into the community, increasing the likelihood they’ll stay in the job.
The program offers a holistic employment service to medical candidates, considering visa, housing, family, childcare and even spiritual requirements.
“There’s lots of recruitment agencies out there. There’s none like this, and our difference is that bespoke, end-to-end, holistic approach that other people don’t have,” Dr Newth said.
“The research does show that if you can get somebody staying for 12 months, the retention is over 50 per cent. Anything less than that and they’re less likely to stay.”
Two spots in ERH’s junior doctor recruitment program have now been earmarked for candidates from the program for next year.
“That would put two doctors here, and we would be looking to see if we can support them through either career transition in Australia or potentially career development and staying in Echuca,” Dr Newth said.
“It really is working to strengthen our medical workforce, but ensure we have an ongoing workforce pipeline for Echuca.”
The program also helps candidates navigate Australia’s complex healthcare system, whereas other agencies only work with those who are already fully qualified.
The Department of Health recently granted Connecting the Docs funding, allowing the program’s team and reach to grow.
Dr Newth said services of various size in Bendigo, Gippsland, and Bairnsdale had shown interest in the program.
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