A recent study by the Menzies School of Health Research has revealed an alarming staff turnover rate of 151% annually in Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Service (ACCHS) clinics across remote regions of the Northern Territory (NT) and Western Australia (WA). This extreme turnover is exacerbating the already high costs and challenges of healthcare delivery in these remote areas.
The study, published in Human Resources for Health, tracked payroll data from 11 of the 39 ACCHSs in the region, covering about 63,500 Aboriginal people across 30 communities from 2017 to 2019. The findings showed that staff turnover increases with remoteness, further straining resources and making it difficult to provide consistent and culturally safe care.
Notably, the study found that turnover among Aboriginal staff was half that of non-Aboriginal staff, suggesting that employing local Aboriginal people could lead to greater workforce stability. However, this requires expanded training opportunities and support to help local Aboriginal people enter and advance in the health workforce.
Dr Prabhakar Veginadu from Menzies School of Health Research emphasised the need for greater local employment. “Increased employment of local Aboriginal people could help improve the stability of the remote health workforce while simultaneously improving cultural safety for patients, as Aboriginal people bring a strong understanding of local culture and context,” Dr Veginadu said.
The study also highlighted the heavy reliance on short-term agency and locum staff due to high turnover, which redirects critical resources into recruitment and orientation. Current primary healthcare funding models do not adequately support the higher costs associated with these challenges, underscoring the urgent need for more equitable, needs-based funding.
Professor Alan Cass from Menzies added, “Growing our own local and skilled workforce is the best way to meet the health needs of communities across the NT. Long-term partnership and support are needed to build pathways and offer opportunities for training and development in remote communities.”
This research is part of a broader initiative to analyse the health and cost impacts of short-term staffing in Aboriginal primary healthcare services, with a focus on creating sustainable solutions for the future.
Ritchelle is a Content Producer for Healthcare Channel, Australia’s premier resource of information for healthcare.
