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Australian Health Review Australian Health Review Society
Journal of the Australian Healthcare & Hospitals Association

Just Accepted

This article has been peer reviewed and accepted for publication. It is in production and has not been edited, so may differ from the final published form.

The evolution of the health workforce: lessons from the past for the future

Anthony Scott, Peter Brooks 0000-0001-7733-7750

Abstract

Despite a doubling of the number of medical graduates almost 25 years ago, shortages and persistent distribution problems remain. Policies to direct graduates to areas and specialties of greatest population need have been too little too late. Rural and areas with high need continue to be underserved, yet the gulf between GP and specialist numbers widens. Recommended reforms have been slow and fragmented, with limited success in addressing fundamental distribution challenges across geography, specialties, and professional types. Current reforms need to move much more quickly and require significant additional investment so patients don’t have to suffer the harms of shortages and surpluses for the next 25 years.

AH25107  Accepted 19 August 2025

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