Health workforce issues and how these impact on Indigenous Australians

Indigenous Australians suffer a disproportionate burden of ill health estimated to be 2.5 times higher than other Australians. A number of complex and multifaceted factors impact not only on health inequity but also imbalance in the health workforce. Addressing workforce issues for both Indigenous and non-Indigenous health workers is vital in decreasing the gap in health and social outcomes for Indigenous Australians. It is widely recognised that the capacity of the Indigenous health workforce is a crucial factor in responding effectively to Indigenous health needs. Using the typology of workforce imbalances proposed by Zurn and colleagues, this paper critically analyses issues within Australia impacting on the health workforce, arguing that it is impossible to consider workforce issues for Indigenous health without regard for global, sociodemographic, cultural, geographic and economic factors.