Mr David Stanyer1, Mrs Melissa Brimelow1, Mr David Wellman1
1Health Workforce Qld, Brisbane, Australia
Biography:
Driven by a commitment to effect positive change, David shifted his focus in 2023 to addressing the needs of disadvantaged populations. Since joining Health Workforce Queensland, he has worked to identify workforce and service gaps among remote and rural healthcare practitioners. Through research and analysis, David seeks to bridge critical gaps in primary healthcare delivery, ensuring isolated communities receive the care they deserve. He advocates for sustainable, evidence-based solutions to workforce challenges in underserved areas, contributing to a healthier Queensland.
Abstract:
Little is known about how rural AHPs perceive their current Health and Wellbeing (H&W) and whether H&W is being supported by health service organisations. Further, we do not know what the barriers are for rural AHPs to access mental health (MH) support. Identification of barriers for rural AHPs and family members could encourage innovative MH solutions.
An online survey was conducted of AHPs in MM 2-7 Queensland (October 2024-February 2025) using Swarbrick’s (1997) eight dimensions of H&W (financial; social; physical; emotional; spiritual/cultural; occupational; environmental; and intellectual). Participants rated each dimension for their current wellbeing and for workplace support using a 101-point wellbeing rating scales (‘0=Not at all well’ to ‘100=Extremely well’). Participants were asked to comment on what would make/has made it difficult for them and/or their family to access MH services.
There were responses from 310 AHPs. Current H&W means were highest for the intellectual (M=75.21) and environmental (M=73.65) dimensions, and lowest for the financial dimension (M=64.80). AHPs felt most supported by their current workplace along the intellectual (M=74.69) and vocational (M=72.30) dimensions, and least supported along the spiritual/cultural dimension (M=67.38). MH barrier comments highlighted workforce shortages (GPs, MH practitioners, and AHPs) and privacy/confidentiality concerns.
AHPs current H&W ratings suggest that AHPs perceived their current H&W to be good along each dimension. Workplace support for H&W was also good. MH barriers identified workforce shortages as the central issue across GPs, MH practitioners and AHPs. Addressing workforce shortages and privacy/confidentiality concerns would improve access to MH services.