Summary
We identified substantial fragmentation in Australian federal health workforce policy. The absence of a unified federal health workforce strategy exacerbates policy fragmentation, undermining coordinated workforce planning and equity. Adopting a consistent policy nomenclature and reducing imbalances in strategic focus are critical for effective health workforce reform. Our findings provide a baseline for analyses of policy processes and governance in Australian health workforce policy making.
Topp, S.M., Nguyen, T. and Elliott, L.M. (2025), Federal health workforce policy in Australia and its implications: a descriptive policy document review. Med J Aust. https://doi.org/10.5694/mja2.70021
