Queensland Health is working to strengthen supports for its medical workforce, guided by the voices of clinicians working on the frontline across the state.
The Queensland-first Medical Workforce Wellbeing Survey was undertaken last year among Queensland Health clinicians to provide a better understanding of their wellbeing and help target interventions where they are most needed.
More than 2,000 doctors responded to the survey from across Queensland with 33 per cent of respondents from regional, rural and remote areas.
Queensland Chief Medical Officer Dr Catherine McDougall said the survey results are guiding the development of new programs and processes to support the wellbeing of medical officers statewide.
“It is our responsibility to ensure the wellbeing of our workforce. This survey is just one of the many ways we are working to improve wellbeing, support workforce retention and ensure we continue to provide high quality care,” Dr McDougall said.
“The survey not only highlighted the great work already underway to support staff but also provided us with detailed feedback on how doctors feel about their work environment and where improvements can be made.
“One of the key results was that 49 per cent of clinicians surveyed met the threshold for risk of burnout, with burnout risk higher in rural and regional areas compared to metro areas.
“We know burnout in the medical profession is not unique to Queensland and it is an issue being faced by health systems across the globe.
“We recognise more needs to be done to support our workforce, and this survey is guiding meaningful change for the wellbeing of our medical workforce no matter where they are in Queensland.”
Dr McDougall said the survey data and insights were now being turned into tangible outcomes.
“System level reform combined with targeted local initiatives are needed to address the survey results, but it is important these are introduced with extensive engagement and collaboration with staff,” Dr McDougall said.
“Tailored reports will be provided to individual Hospital and Health Services for local leadership to review and action as an important first step.
“This will complement the workforce plan currently being developed following the Workforce Gap Analysis that identified significant shortages in key areas across the system.
“The new workforce plan will be the road map to grow the health workforce by 46,000 extra workers by 2032 and help build a future ready workforce that feels supported and professionally fulfilled.”
AMA Queensland President Dr Nick Yim welcomed the survey and acknowledged it as a key strategy to help identify and address the wellbeing of doctors in Queensland.
“It tracks with our own 2025 Resident Hospital Health Check in showing higher levels of burnout and lower levels of professional fulfilment,” Dr Yim said.
“We need to address these indicators to make sure we don’t lose the doctors we already have.”
Dr Yim said a welcome revelation of the department’s survey was that non-metropolitan doctors reported significantly higher rates of professional fulfilment.
“We know doctors find enormous satisfaction in being trusted members of a community where they can see the positive impact of their work,” Dr Yim said.
“Finding ways for purpose to reduce pressure – both on the system and doctors - would be a powerful step forward,” he said.
Survey results included:
- Participants ranked workload as the key workplace driver that most negatively impacted their wellbeing, followed by organisational processes, resources, culture, support and supervision and professional development.
- Among the changes that the medical workforce wanted to see was an increase in staffing, flexible work arrangements, and improved access to leave and relief cover.
- Rates of fulfilment were significantly higher in rural/remote locations compared to metropolitan and regional locations.
It is expected the survey will be undertaken again within two years to assess how Queensland Health is progressing to implement change and improve wellbeing.
ENDS