Ramsay Newsroom

The Government hopes the Summit will find common ground on how to create a more productive workforce, boost real wages and living standards and create more opportunities for Australians.

Ramsay Health Care Australia CEO, Carmel Monaghan, said she was looking forward to being in the room with about 100 Australian business leaders to discuss both immediate and long-term solutions and find common ground on how to build a bigger, better trained national workforce.

“I’m looking forward to the outcomes of the Summit and, in particular, ensuring there is a strong focus on how we continue to ensure high quality health service delivery in regional and rural parts of Australia,” Ms Monaghan said.

“Ramsay is not only Australia’s largest private hospital operator, but also a major employer in more than a dozen large towns and small cities from Cairns to Wangaratta. This gives us a unique understanding of delivery of health services in these communities.

“We must ensure the workforce challenges in rural and regional areas are considered as part of the national conversation so people in these communities can continue to access excellent patient care.”

Ms Monaghan said the private hospital sector plays an important role in Australia’s health care system, with Ramsay treating about one million Australians each year, as well as 100,000 public patients.

“More than 40 per cent of Australian hospital admissions are in the private hospital sector, and two thirds of all elective surgery in Australia is also performed in private hospitals.

“Private hospital operators like Ramsay have the experience and the capacity to offer a significant number of teaching opportunities for medical students to grow this important workforce.

“We currently have 175 medical training positions funded through the Specialist Training Program and Junior Doctor Training Program, and we are very supportive of moves to extend training for doctors in private hospitals, with a particular focus on investing in expanding teaching capabilities in regional and rural communities.

Ms Monaghan said she was also looking forward to discussing ways to speed up visa applications and remove financial impediments to skilled migration.

“In the past 18 months, Ramsay has been investing heavily in initiatives to attract, retain and upskill its health workers.

“This year alone we have had about 800 new graduates commence in our Graduate and Intern Fellowship Program. We have also launched new training programs for undergraduates and future nursing leaders to maximise opportunities and productivity.

The Government has determined five broad themes for the Summit:

• Maintaining full employment and growing productivity.
• Boosting job security and wages.
• Lifting participation and reducing barriers to employment.
• Delivering a high-quality labour force through skills, training and migration.
• Maximising opportunities in the industries of the future.

Ramsay contributes about $5 billion annually to the Australian economy and cares for about 1 million Australians each year.