Limelight People offers rewarding locum roles With an extensive network of healthcare providers, Limelight People offers rewarding locum roles for nursing and allied health professionals. We can help connect you with an opportunity, and then support you so you can make the most of it. In a locum role, you’ll fill in for a permanent staff member while they’re away for an extended period of time, usually 3 months or more, but some roles can be as short as 4 weeks. Roles can be personally and professionally rewarding, and can pay well too – hourly pay rates are often higher than for casual and permanent roles. Nurses and allied health workers are some of the best placed professionals to take advantage of the opportunities that come with locum roles.  What opportunities does a locum role provide? When you take on a locum role, you can: Connect with a community You’ll … Continued

Over the last decade, there have been numerous governmental enquiries into how Australia can better resource its healthcare and aged care industries. We’ve known for a long time that our country’s demand for nurses will exceed supply with a projected shortfall of approximately 85,000 nurses by 2025, or 123,000 nurses by 2030, under current settings. And, according to the Australian Bureau of Statistics, in 2020, the nursing profession was the largest occupational group in the healthcare and social assistance industry, representing around 29% of all workers.  Traditionally, Australia has structured its nursing workforce with two levels: registered nurses (RNs) who hold a Bachelor’s degree and enrolled nurses (ENs) who hold a Diploma. RNs practise independently and delegate care to ENs and other healthcare workers, including a rising number of assistants in nursing (AINs) and personal/patient care assistants (PCAs).  The need for assistants in nursing and patient care assistants One of … Continued

In the wake of R U OK day and with October being National Mental Health Month, I’m reminded of the need to rethink our society’s approach to tackling mental health. And, it all starts with multidisciplinary teamwork. Australia is an advancing society with good access to medical care, meaning that we’re enjoying higher life expectancy rates each year. While this is welcome news, it also means that we have a growing number of older people in our society. The Australian Institute of Health and Welfare graph below indicates how the older population will grow over the next 75 years. Australia’s mental health statistics According to the World Health Organization (WHO), mental health and wellbeing is a key component of overall health and wellbeing. WHO defines mental health as ‘a state of wellbeing that enables people to cope with the stresses of life, realise their abilities, learn well and work well, … Continued

Would you like a career that makes a difference to vulnerable people’s lives? Have you considered using your skills and training to benefit the lives of older Australians? With a booming job sector, varied career prospects, and many different roles on offer, working in aged care may be the perfect choice for your next move. The aged care industry at a glance Australia is an advancing society with good access to medical care, meaning that we’re enjoying higher life expectancy rates each year. While this is welcome news, it also means that we have a growing number of older people in our society. The Australian Institute of Health and Welfare graph below indicates how the older population will grow over the next 75 years. Thanks to this ageing population, a growing need for skilled staff, and lower rates of younger people entering the sector, there are now abundant opportunities for … Continued

Australia’s response to Covid 19 has been considered successful by many in terms of keeping some of the lowest infection rates of any country. Despite Australia’s best efforts, the impacts of Covid-19 have taken their toll on the country and Australia has been quick to respond to the impacts on mental health due to what the lockdowns and closed borders has had on the population. The need for a response to the Covid-19 pandemic was addressed in a number of ways by governments around the world and we will explore the strategies put in place by Australia through this article. In both Australia and New Zealand concern over the mental health impact of the lockdown approach has risen over the course of the pandemic, and it is important for us to understand exactly what that impact has been and how as a country we can move forward. Lockdown Pressures There … Continued

              the current situation     IDENTIFYING AND RECTIFYING THE GLITCHES IN THE SYSTEM   The ABC reported a recent review highlighted the NDIS as ‘frustrating, difficult to understand’ and ‘bogged down in red tape and bureaucracy’. Initial teething issues continue to be addressed as the scheme evolves and grows. The full launch in 2016 was considered a disaster with many administrative problems plaguing the roll out. An IT meltdown saw long delays in care packages being approved, critical staff were untrained, and the processing of applications ground to a halt. As a result, a huge backlog of applications emerged. There were then rushed and approved over the phone with inconsistent packages being approved and implemented. Today, the NDIA internal processes remain under scrutiny with the scheme’s IT systems still struggling to facilitate it’s demands. Following the 2019 May election, the Federal Government commissioned … Continued

          the current situation     When demand outstrips supply   The issue is that demand has outstripped supply. Those requiring aged care assistance are facing long waiting lists for the allocation of care. Recent data shows that 2, 141 Tasmanians have been approved for home care yet are waiting on the implementation of their approved package. Looking at Australia as a whole, 129, 000 people are on an aged care waitlist. (ABC News). 60% are waiting for an initial assessment whilst 40% are waiting on allocation of approved care.       Where have our aged care workers gone?   The issue lies in supply of aged care workers and it is reaching a critical point. A recent national survey of 500 nursing students aged between 18-23 showed a staggering 68% were unlikely to consider a career in aged care. The negative perceptions of the … Continued

The 2019 budget was handed down by Federal Treasurer Josh Frydenberg, with forecasts of a A$7.1 billion surplus, tax cuts and very importantly, delivering on their promise, and highly welcomed, $328 million package towards family violence and protection, $700 million to mental health with $461 million to young people and $84 million in support for carers. The funding is a welcome announcement with a concerted move towards boosting preventative services across the nation. But at what cost has it come and how much ground do we need to make up for the years gone by?         Scott Morrison has announced a $78 million family violence package in a renewed plan to address family violence and violence against women. A federal investment of $60 million will be dedicated to emergency housing for women and children, to protect them from family violence, and an additional $18 million on State … Continued

There has never been a better time to be a healthcare Professional. Want some stats to back it up? Sure thing – we have a number of examples to share with you: (Source: Kate Heeligan) Quite an impressive list of statistics, right? There are many reasons the healthcare profession remains one of the most banked-upon professions for continued job growth and prosperity. #1: We cannot live without it. The world will always need healthcare professionals. Unlike some booming, fad careers that may stay on trend for 5 or 10 years, health will always be a staple. There will always be a need for nurses, midwives, psychologists, podiatrists…. the list goes on. Because when it comes down to it, we are in the field of people. And people are complex and ever-changing. We age, we change, we develop new diseases and ailments – we are always in need of treatment. And … Continued

Australia’s rigorous regulatory framework that supports and controls the complementary health sector is regarded as gold standard. Run by the Therapeutic Goods Administration, it’s also why consumers here and in Asia are opting for regulated products they can place their trust in. But what is far less appreciated are the economic health dividends that can flow when regulatory settings that assists industry good standing as well as putting in place controls. One of the reasons Australia boasts such a developed and innovative vitamins, minerals and supplements market is because of its mature and responsive regulatory settings. Based on firm scientific evidence, Australia treats this group of therapeutic products as low risk in consumer safety terms, whilst ensuring they are only made to the highest global standards. “This puts Australia’s federal government in a trusted and beneficial position to reach out and help educate global regulators in other countries to achieve … Continued