Leading a health skilling and business delegation, Minister for Health and Mental Health Amber-Jade Sanderson embarked on a mission to India to strengthen WA-India links across the healthcare and education sectors. The delegation actively participated in numerous engagements, featuring representatives from industries including healthcare, health and life sciences, medical technology, digital health, and medical device companies, biotech and pharmaceutical companies.
Western Australia is one third of Australia’s land mass – our health care system spans the largest geographical healthcare jurisdiction on the planet, delivering care in the harshest conditions, in some of the most remote locations. 30% of Western Australia’s state’s budget is invested into the public healthcare system.
Recruiting additional healthcare workers is a key priority for the Western Australia Government, with forecasts predicting WA will need an additional 5,000 FTE doctors and nurses by 2033. The mission, which took place from February 28 to February 29 2024, in Nashik, showcased Western Australia as a destination for health workers and students in these fields to live, work and study. Experienced professionals in nursing and midwifery, medical, allied health and dentistry are being sought to support Western Australia’s workforce, across both the public and private sector.
A key initiative of the mission was to promote employment opportunities within the Western Australian healthcare sector, particularly for professions such as nurses, doctors, and aged care workers. Minister Sanderson participated in the Health Skilling Symposium in Nasik, where discussions were held with representatives from the Maharashtra University of Health Sciences (MUHS) to explore opportunities for collaboration aimed at facilitating research collaboration, academic exchange, student mobility as well as exchange of expertise and resources.
India is the largest source market of international students into Western Australia and has grown 24% post-COVID. International students from India may be eligible to apply for the Western Australian Premier’s University Scholarship, valued at $50,000, with two scholarships available to high-performing international students at each of Western Australia’s five universities. This also includes students wishing to study in the healthcare sector.
The Western Australian Government has established the Future Health Research and Innovation Fund valued at $1.8 billion focused on health and medical research, innovation and commercialisation in WA. The objective of FHRI is to diversify the economy, create jobs and improve the sustainability of the health system and position Western Australia as a leader in research and innovation.
Minister Sanderson highlighted that nurses and medical practitioners, both trained overseas and domestically, constitute a substantial portion of Australia’s registered health workforce. The state’s Health Medical Life Sciences ecosystem has experienced substantial growth, doubling in size over five years from 2017 to 2022, with 21 medical research institutes and foundations, 244 companies, and a workforce of 24,000 people currently operating within Western Australia.
India’s robust healthcare industry, encompassing hospitals, medical devices, research and development, and medical tourism, presents significant opportunities for collaboration with Western Australia. Employers in WA offer highly competitive remuneration, making the region an attractive destination for healthcare professionals.
To address skill shortages and attract talent, the Department of Training and Workforce Development offers support programs such as the $4.25 million Skilled Migrant Job Connect Program. Additionally, experienced internationally qualified health professionals are eligible for incentives of $8,000 or $10,000, depending on their employment commencement date.
Minister Sanderson emphasized the importance of building strong ties between Western Australia and India, which can lead to continuous talent exchange, trade, and investment opportunities. With a significant Indian-born population in Australia, reaching over 710,000 as of June 2021, leveraging India’s strengths in education and skills can effectively address skill shortages and promote economic growth in Western Australia.
Through our mission to strengthen healthcare relations between Western Australia and India, we are forging vital partnerships that will not only address skill shortages but also drive innovation and ultimately improve health outcomes for our citizens and build mutual trust. By leveraging each other’s strengths and fostering collaboration, we are laying the groundwork for a brighter, healthier future for both regions.
Minister Sanderson
