11 February 2025
The Royal Australasian College of Physicians (RACP) is calling on political parties to support its recommendations for a better, fairer health system, as outlined in an election statement released today.
As the population of Western Australia approaches three million, growing the healthcare workforce across the state is a major concern for physicians, patients, and communities.
Dr Helen Van Gessel, Chair of the RACP Western Australian Committee, said major parties’ focus on healthcare in WA is welcome.
Dr Van Gessel says the RACP is urging all parties to support and grow the physician workforce in WA. “We need specific commitments to resource more adult and paediatric specialist training in WA, particularly rural WA, and to train more Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander doctors as physicians.”
“Physicians and physician trainees are crucial for keeping Western Australians healthy, from staffing city and regional hospitals to providing specialist care for vulnerable groups in the community.”
Strategies proposed by the RACP include incentives for physicians to live, work, and train outside metropolitan areas, such as childcare and relocation support.
As well as growing the number of First Nations physicians, the RACP is calling for sustainable long-term funding for Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisations.
“First Nations people face significant barriers to accessing healthcare, and the cultural skills and understanding that First Nations physicians and trainee physicians bring to their work is hugely important when working with First Nations patients, as is the ability to build on existing networks and build trust.
“Physicians want to see a thriving Aboriginal community-controlled health sector because we know the value of quality primary care, which boosts prevention and early diagnosis of chronic disease,” said Dr Van Gessel.
The RACP’s WA Election Statement also calls for:
- a focus on the wellbeing of physicians and trainees
- better access to child development services
- reducing the harms caused by alcohol
- a health-centred approach to youth justice
- adapting the WA health system to better manage the effects of climate change.
“The RACP calls on all political parties and candidates to commit to the health and wellbeing of all people in Western Australia, and to deliver effective evidence-informed and expert-advised health policies,” said Dr Van Gessel.
“We look forward to working collaboratively with all successful candidates to improve the health and wellbeing of all Western Australians.
You can read the full submission here: healthy-workforce-healthy-communities-2025-western-australian-election-statement.pdf