Australia’s population is growing and ageing, putting pressure on a number of different services across the country. By 2020, according to McCrindle Research, Australia’s population will have risen to 24 million and the median age will be 40 years old, up from the 37 currently.
More importantly, there will be more 65 year olds than 1 years old, a trend that could add significant stress to aged and healthcare services if governments don’t react in time. The most recent Queensland State Budget exhibited a new focus towards the frontline services that make up the healthcare sector, a decision that could result in more employment and apprenticeship opportunities for professionals in this sector.
How will frontline services grow?
Queensland’s frontline service staff include a range of different professions, from nurses and doctors through to police officers and firefighters. However, the major focus of this growth will be on healthcare employees. Over the next four years, the Queensland government is expecting 1,000 more nursing graduates per year to emerge from training providers around Australia.
According to the state government, these initiatives will be aligned with population growth to ensure that as Queensland changes, the workforce evolves with it.
New records for healthcare investment
Overall, the Queensland government has planned more than $15 billion in healthcare investment over the course of the next 12 months, According to Minister for Health and Minister for Ambulance Services Cameron Dick, there is a significant focus on growing job opportunities within the state’s hospitals.
“The big increase is to the Hospital and Health Services, which deliver the health services on the ground throughout Queensland,” he explained. “This year’s funding increase will mean more people will be treated in the health system and more staff will be employed.”
The Queensland government has also set aside more than $16 million to address the state’s ambulance services. The investment will be targeted both at replacing existing ambulance stations and building all new ones to ensure the service can cope with demands.
Finally, mental health will also be a significant focus of the Queensland Budget’s healthcare investment. Nearly $10 million in funding will be directed at hospitals’ capabilities to prevent suicide among their patients.
With growing investment in this essential sector, Queenslanders can expect a number of new employment opportunities to arise in the coming years.
By Leanne Macnamara, Public Relations Coordinator
