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May
2004
Labour
force data is important
I
recently completed the nursing labour force survey attached to
my renewal of registration form from the ACT Nurses Board.
Some of the questions were straightforward but others were more
difficult. Working for a trade union didn't seem to fit anywhere,
and my primary place of work was not listed alongside hospitals
and residential aged care facilities etc. But I managed to complete
the form, although I know I will be an 'outlier' when the Australian
Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW) analyses the data.
The AIHW collects and analyses data relating to health and community
services. It publishes a series of workforce datasets on medicine
and nursing, hospital statistics, and results about injuries
and illnesses in Australia.
The data collected from nurses is a very important resource as
it is used for workforce planning in both the states and territories
and at the national level.
Good quality data is essential as it calls for better workforce
planning, including funding for additional nursing places in
universities for registered nurses, and in the vocational education
sector for enrolled nurses and assistants in nursing.
The last results published late in 2003 revealed a small increase
in overall nursing numbers (1.2% between 1999 and 2001) and a
slight increase in the number of males in nursing (7.9% in 1999
to 8.4% in 2001).
It also showed the ageing workforce was an important issue, with
more than 40% of the nursing workforce over the age of 45 and
contemplating retirement within the next 10-15 years.
This type of evidence is important for the ANF as we seek to
improve working conditions and plan for future supply of nurses.(1)
In aged care, the report found that almost 9% of nurses who used
to work in the area had stopped doing so. It also revealed the
average age of nurses working in aged care was 47.0 compared
to 41.8 in other clinical areas.(2)
The nursing profession needs access to good quality data about
nursing students, nurses in the workforce, and nurses who are
no longer in the workforce. It is simple to fill out a labour
force survey (unless you work for a trade union in an office
somewhere) but it is very important, so please take the opportunity
to complete these surveys - they are being used to plan your
future!
More information about the AIHW can be found at www.aihw.gov.au
References
1 Australian Nursing Federation, Figures show need for government
action, Media release, 17 December 2003, Available at www.anf.org.au
2 Australian Nursing Federation, Figures show need for government
action in aged care, Media release, 17 December 2003. Available
at www.anf.org.au.
Victoria Gilmore
Federal Professional Officer |
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