Health Education England welcomes Australian delegation as part of week-long learning visit

A week-long study visit between Health Education England and an Australian delegation has begun today in London.

The delegates from Universities Australia (Health Professions Education Standing Group - HPESG) and partners are in the United Kingdom as part of a fact-sharing visit to address how both countries are implementing innovative workforce solutions to support their healthcare systems.

Key individuals from health policy, education, research, regulation, accreditation and government will take part in a series of workshops and site visits.

Among the topics discussed during the week will be how to create the ideal future workforce, how we can support changes to workforce education and training and how we can effectively deliver digital health education in remote, rural and coastal areas.

Navina Evans, Chief Executive of Health Education England and Chief Workforce Officer NHS England, said: “This study visit allows us to share valuable insight and ideas with our Australian colleagues.

“While there are many similarities between the two systems, having the opportunity to learn about successful approaches to challenges that both countries face will ultimately lead to better care for patients in England and Australia.

“We hope this week provides us with new ideas, partnerships and collaborations as we continue to look to provide innovative workforce solutions for the future.”

Patrick Mitchell, Director of Digital Innovation and Transformation at Health Education England, said: “Our focus will be learning from our Australian counterparts around how we can improve healthcare in coastal, rural and remote areas, sharing learning on digital healthcare and how we manage a changing demographic and co-morbidities.”

Iain Martin, Vice Chancellor of Deakin University, Universities Australia Lead Vice Chancellor for Health Professions Education and HPESG Chair said: “This week is so important. It gives us the opportunity to talk about the best of the best and to have the honest conversations about what doesn’t work but within the context of current opportunities for reform”.

"To look at what we can take back and do in our own patches – and where there are possibilities for collaboration between our two countries, to imagine what can be done to re-build a health workforce that is resilient, supported and future-proofed and our respective roles in this.”

ENDS