Resources

The 2025 JMI Policy Insights Paper examines strategies to recruit and retain men in nursing in NSW. It identifies barriers like gender stereotypes, lack of male role models, and biased teaching practices. Recommendations include mentorship programs, gender-neutral education, and targeted recruitment to diversify the workforce and address nursing shortages.

The National Nursing Workforce Strategy – Volume 2 Research Report (2024) compiles global data and initiatives to inform Australia's nursing strategy. It emphasizes workforce planning, diversity, digital integration, and leadership development. The report supports evidence-based reforms to build a sustainable, adaptable nursing workforce aligned with evolving healthcare needs.

The National Nursing Workforce Strategy – Volume 1 Research Report (2024) presents findings from consultations with nearly 6,000 stakeholders, highlighting challenges such as workforce shortages, burnout, and limited career progression. It underscores the need for systemic reforms in education, leadership, and workplace culture to ensure a sustainable nursing workforce.

This resource from SSI provides information and strategies for recruiting and supporting an aged care workforce for the future.

The Productivity Commission’s 2022 report reviews aged care employment, finding most workers are already directly employed. It warns against banning indirect employment, which could reduce workforce flexibility and worsen shortages. The report recommends improving job quality and training across all employment types to strengthen the sector and ensure quality care.

The 2020 SkillsIQ discussion paper examines vocational education and training (VET) student work placements in Australia's aged care sector. It highlights the need for standardised, high-quality placements, stronger collaboration between education providers and industry, and flexible models to better prepare students for the workforce. International comparisons suggest increasing practical training hours

This review conducted by Korn Ferry w based on the objective to analyse the current state challenges in the Australian aged care workforce with a focus on workforce architecture, leadership, remuneration, and attraction and retention.

The 2022 IZA study used a Discrete Choice Experiment to assess job preferences among Australian aged care workers. Key valued attributes included training opportunities, adequate staffing, and job autonomy. Nurses prioritized professional development over pay increases, while casual workers emphasized sufficient staffing. These insights inform strategies for workforce attraction and retention

The 2025 TasCOSS Care Workforce Archetype Report introduces five care worker archetypes—Bridge, System Warrior, Idealist, Philomath, and Creator—to better understand motivations and challenges in Tasmania’s community services sector. It highlights systemic issues like burnout, low wages, and undervaluation, and offers tailored strategies to improve recruitment, retention, and workforce sustainability.

The HumanAbility Aged and Disability Sector Profile outlines workforce trends, noting high female participation, part-time work, and growing demand. Key challenges include high turnover, burnout, and training gaps. The report emphasizes the need for sustainable workforce strategies to meet rising care needs driven by population ageing and expanding disability support services