Anew toolkit aimed at helping regional and rural councils attract and retain health workers to their communities has been launched by the Local Government Association of SA amid the ongoing shortage of health professionals across regional South Australia.

The Regional Health Workforce Toolkit has been developed in conjunction with medical professionals as a guide for councils to create support systems and facilitate ways to make regional jobs more attractive and rewarding, along with ways to advocate for better funding.

The toolkit identifies where direct action falls within the scope of local government, such as supporting infrastructure for regional health services.

It also looks at how local government can facilitate action, such as bringing together key stakeholders, establishing or maintaining support networks and securing state and federal funding and identifies opportunities for regions of councils and the LGA to play a role in advocating for better outcomes.

LGA President Mayor Dean Johnson acknowledged the challenging and complex nature of the health system, and the supporting role councils often play to deliver good outcomes for communities.

“While councils are not directly involved in the provision of health services, these are vitally important for the wellbeing of communities and councils will often have a close understanding of the gaps in healthcare needs,” Mayor Johnson said.

“We need multi-government collaboration to begin to resolve health worker shortages and ensure regional communities get better access to health professionals and care.

“In my local community of Kimba, I have seen first-hand the challenges of attracting qualified health workers and the strategies needed to get workers to take up opportunities in the country.

“Even when council is the driver, successful workforce attraction and retention requires support from across the community – like other employers, real estate agents, childcare providers and schools.

“The Regional Health Workforce Toolkit has been created to give councils some guidance on the processes they can follow to foster attractive, supportive environments for GPs, nurses or other health workers who are considering career moves to regional areas.

“In developing the toolkit, we have considered successful models and methods, had discussions with regions that are doing it well, and tested the principles with regional councils.”