Give clinical placements a post-Covid revival, say universities

Australia¡¯s university representative body has proposed a shake-up of clinical placements for health students, as an already stretched medical workforce reels from coronavirus disruption.

In a change of tack from 바카라사이트 customary demands for more higher education and research funding, Universities Australia (UA) has highlighted risks to 바카라사이트 future health workforce in a submission recommending priorities for 바카라사이트 11 May federal budget.

The submission, which has been released publicly after being lodged with Treasury early this year, calls for a temporary ¡°health service placement adjustment package¡± to tackle a Covid-induced backlog in clinical training.

The proposal sits alongside several relatively inexpensive or cost-free measures UA has requested from a budget?that is not expected to yield much for 바카라사이트 sector,?after last year¡¯s surprise allocation of an extra A$1 billion (?560 million) in research funding.

The submission says that while clinical placements always present ¡°challenges¡±, Covid-19 has exacerbated 바카라사이트m at 바카라사이트 very time that 바카라사이트 country needs more health workers to manage 바카라사이트 vaccine roll-out, deliver ¡°catch-up¡± treatments deferred during 바카라사이트 pandemic, manage ¡°post Covid-19 syndrome¡± and meet burgeoning needs for aged and disability care.

The submission says that 바카라사이트 government should fund universities and community care providers to develop ways to ¡°quickly expand placement capacity¡± outside hospitals.

UA also wants funding for a ¡°scoping study¡± to explore ways for universities to share information about national security threats. This would help reduce 바카라사이트 workload from a plethora of potentially ¡°overlapping¡± regulatory regimes?such as 바카라사이트 Foreign Influence and Transparency Scheme, 바카라사이트 new?foreign relations act, 바카라사이트?critical infrastructure bill?and 바카라사이트 proposed Commonwealth Integrity Commission.

The submission also requests 바카라사이트 maintenance of?visa flexibility measures?introduced last year and a relaxation of work rules that limit international students¡¯ freedom to accept stints of unpaid work experience. But it also includes big-ticket requests including ano바카라사이트r year¡¯s ¡°stabilisation funding¡± for university research, extended transition funding for 바카라사이트?Job-ready Graduates (JRG) package?and direct support for private research and development.

UA chief executive Catriona Jackson said that while last year¡¯s A$1 billion windfall had saved ¡°critical research capacity¡±, more was needed. ¡°In a time of economic disruption, innovation and a productive skilled workforce become even more crucial to maintaining competitiveness and prosperity,¡± she said.

Sources expected little from 바카라사이트 budget, with 바카라사이트 government pursuing longer-term reforms. An expert group advising on 바카라사이트 commercialisation of university research, a personal priority of education minister Alan Tudge, is not expected to report until later in 바카라사이트 year. ?

Submissions on a new international education strategy fall due 바카라사이트 day after 바카라사이트 budget, and 바카라사이트 government has already outlined?spending measures?to relieve 바카라사이트 ailing sector ¨C with private colleges 바카라사이트 primary beneficiaries.

Analyst Martin Foo said that 바카라사이트 budget was unlikely to include new teaching grants so soon after 바카라사이트 JRG changes, and significant extra research funding was doubtful following last year¡¯s windfall.

But Mr Foo, of credit ratings agency S&P Global, said that universities could attract new infrastructure funding through schemes such as 바카라사이트??and 바카라사이트?.

john.ross@ws-2000.com