This paper looks at what incentives might help policymakers to address the unbalanced supply of doctors across specialties. A number of studies suggest there is an over-supply of specialists and an under-supply of GPs in many developed countries. Previous econometric studies of specialty choice from the US suggest that a number of factors play a...

The Australian Government has committed to establishing a national network of primary health care organisations, known as Medicare Locals. This paper specifically addresses the following areas: What will Medicare Locals do? What will Medicare Locals look like? How will Medicare Locals interact with patients and providers? The aim of this paper is to provide information...

The supply of employed medical practitioners increased between 2004 and 2008, from 283 to 304 full-time equivalent practitioners per 100,000 population. The increase reflected a 20.5% rise in practitioner numbers. The gender balance continued to shift, with women making up 35% of practitioners in 2008 compared to 33% in 2004. The average hours worked by...

Reestablishing local hospital boards is wrongly described as a quick fix for the problems in the Australian public hospital system. The trilogy of essays in this collection describes the negative impact the bureaucratisation of the system has had on staff and patients in the last 30 years. The authors argue that unless accountable pro bono...

This report advocates for a long-term model of care for survivors of sexual violence. The Australian Government has shown a strong commitment to the prevention of violence against women. The recommendations presented in this paper seek to address a gap in the national agenda relating to the long-term healthcare needs of the one in three...