The Australian health system is in crisis.
The establishment of Medicare revolutionised healthcare in Australia, with a focus on providing universal access to the health care people need, when they need it.
However, four decades have now passed and much has changed; in both the health conditions that people manage and in the way care can be delivered. Australian health policies have not kept pace with change and the sustainability of the Australian health system is under threat.
Health care costs are rising, services face inconsistent communication, greater administrative burden and escalating workloads – without timely support and resources.
Significant inequities persist in access to care and outcomes, while climate change threatens to further widen these gaps and increase the strain on our healthcare systems and the people they serve.
To address these challenges, the health system must transition to new, innovative models of care that better align with contemporary needs, supporting the workforce, prioritising equity.
This will require structured consideration of the system as a whole – challenging the processes by which we manage, fund, deliver and receive care.