The career path that healthcare professionals are overlooking.
Despite medicine being a desired career for many, Australia is facing a healthcare workforce shortage.
This is particularly true when it comes to the primary health care sector. Primary health care workers are the healthcare professionals at the forefront of the community in non-hospital settings – those that people turn to first for health advice and counsel, such as GPs, nurses and allied health professionals, which includes roles such as pharmacists, physiotherapists, psychologist, occupational therapists, podiatrists and many more.
Australia is facing a health workforce shortage. Local doctors are ageing, with many on the verge of retirement. In 2021, 15.6% of GPs were aged 65 or over. Also, the Nurse Supply and Demand Study 2024 estimates a shortfall of more than 21,000 nurses by 2035.
Recognising the shortage and widespread misconceptions about careers in primary health care, practitioners in the industry are coming together to end these misunderstandings and encourage more workers in the sector.
The common misconception that those working in primary health care require less skills or knowledge is addressed by Chinese GP Dr Dong Hua. Dr Hua says that primary health care professionals are equally skilled, inspiring, and trusted, delivering exceptional medical care and guidance: “People tend to think that GP’s just do scripts and referrals, but it’s much broader than that. We are managing complex conditions utilising skills from all kinds of specialties… I want to address the patient’s whole health and not [just] a piece of it.”
Although primary health care roles offer several pathways for career growth, many students believe roles are limited, and so, neglect to pursue them. In reality, there are diverse and dynamic options – from specialisations to management roles. Nepali aged care nurse, Shrijana Gautam, dedicated ten years in the sector and moved from being a registered nurse to a clinical care manager. She is now a general manager with over 180 staff. “Working in the primary health sector… has given me so many opportunities to grow my career.” she says.
Primary health care professionals also have the flexibility to work from major cities or rural and remote areas, while building long lasting relationships with their communities. Dr Huachose to set up a clinic in the neighbourhood where he grew up. “I’m really proud of what we have achieved here. I have treated their parents, their kids, and their kid’s kids,” he says.
Some may mistakenly view primary health care as less rewarding than other healthcare professions, as it often focuses on non-urgent conditions. In truth, primary health care professionals play a vital role in the local community, building long-term relationships with patients and making a profound impact on their overall well-being. India-born GP, Dr Lester Mascarenhas, has been serving the refugee community for many years which he finds exceptionally rewarding: “For me personally, it’s building trust with the patients and seeing them improve and get better with time,” he says.
A career in primary health care often offers people a clear sense of purpose. Vietnamese-born Physiotherapist, Dr Ken Nguyen, shifted from law to actuarial science, and finally found the right fit in primary health care: “You deal with work accidents, elderly patients, children with abnormal development, and witness their progress all the way back to full function. It’s quite rewarding to see that kind of progress.” he says.
For many, being part of a growing cohort of multicultural primary health care professionals gives a sense of belonging and allows them to push for better health outcomes within their communities. When Turkiye-born clinical psychologist/neuropsychologist Firdevs Tat first “started practising [psychology], there were two registered Turkish-speaking psychologists.” According to the most recent Census data, there are approximately 100 Turkish-speaking psychologists across Australia, who work to support the wider community and de-stigmatise mental health care.
Iraq-born optometrist, Mohammed Alebrahimi, shares the same sentiment: “It’s an amazing job. I recommend it to anyone who wants to help people [by] working alongside clinicians from different disciplines to provide service to the community,” he says. Alebrahimi offers services nationally and has been advocating for the primary health care sector as a hidden gem to make an impact “one person and one case at a time.”
To learn more about a career in primary health care, visit www.health.gov.au/primaryhealthcarecareers
