Future Health

The Future Health Podcast features thought-provoking discussions with subject matter experts and thought leaders about current and emerging trends in healthcare and the future of work for the NSW Health workforce and beyond.

This season on the Future Health Podcast, we shine a spotlight on the Change Makers driving progress and redefining the Australian healthcare landscape. Our host, Dr Louise Messara is joined by a line-up of innovators, visionaries, and disruptors who are shaping the future of healthcare.

Join us as we uncover how these change makers are navigating uncertainty, leveraging emerging trends, and breaking new ground to enhance healthcare for all. From leadership strategies and generational shifts to climate impacts and technological marvels, this season is a journey through the dynamic intersection of innovation and care.

You can also watch the podcast at the NSW Health YouTube Channel.

Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this content are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the position of NSW Health. Any content provided is for informational purposes only and should not be interpreted as endorsement or approval by the organisation.

It’s a stark reality, some of us are likely to be working well into our 70s. To run a work marathon and run it well, workers will have to stay physically and holistically well. So, what does the latest research tell us we need to start doing TODAY so we can “work well” right to the end of our careers? What adjustments does the system need to make NOW when it considers harnessing a workforce aged between 18 and 75. In this episode we focus on some of the tools we may need to help us navigate the marathon that is work – especially if the finish line is not as close as we thought.

You can also watch the podcast at the NSW Health YouTube Channel.

Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this content are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the position of NSW Health. Any content provided is for informational purposes only and should not be interpreted as endorsement or approval by the organisation.

Over a decade ago, a regional hospital, with a struggling emergency department, reliant on FIFO locums, with unfilled junior shifts and stretched nursing staff, took a gamble on a group of young consultants with a plan. When a “squad” of clinicians with a ready-made culture of trust, accountability and camaraderie came to town, they transformed the service in under two years and many of them have become permanent fixtures in the hospital and the regional community.

Does our current model of recruiting individuals miss the opportunity derived from a BYO squad model? What if recruitment took more of a team approach? What if spouse employment was also considered a critical part of the recruitment strategy? Let’s talk about what happened and if it should happen again in a town near you?

You can also watch the podcast at the NSW Health YouTube Channel.

Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this content are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the position of NSW Health. Any content provided is for informational purposes only and should not be interpreted as endorsement or approval by the organisation.

Universities are busily preparing to prepare students for an uncertain future. The futurists of higher education are not only grappling with a series of challenging questions about what employers will need but also an emerging set of expectations from future students about what they will want from a university degree. COVID-19 gave us an insight into one version of what tertiary education could look like, but it also provided visionaries with the chance to design something better.

You can also watch the podcast at the NSW Health YouTube Channel.

Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this content are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the position of NSW Health. Any content provided is for informational purposes only and should not be interpreted as endorsement or approval by the organisation.

Technology, nanotechnology, precision medicine, a focus on patient empowerment and the rise of the consumer, will put far more control of the patient’s health in the patient’s hands, but is the health system prepared to job-share care?

Should we aim for a future that is more about partnership and less about power struggle? Is there any impact on healthcare careers, job satisfaction or meaning and purpose, when the patient is the leader?

Government policy is increasingly driven by the impetus to give patient’s autonomy and control but not all community members are equipped to access or harness the potential benefits of this transition. So, as we explore the evolving relationship between clinicians and patients, we also need to consider the risks and benefits of any shift in the leadership of the care team.

You can also watch the podcast at the NSW Health YouTube Channel.

Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this content are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the position of NSW Health. Any content provided is for informational purposes only and should not be interpreted as endorsement or approval by the organisation.

We know that the health sector is facing major transitions in changing skills and roles for its workforce. We all understand some roles will become redundant and some jobs, requiring entirely new skills, will emerge. This will require a lifelong learning culture, identified career pathways, skills planning, clear communication about the future from organisational leadership and employee engagement.

But how do we know what skills we will need in 2-, 5- and 10-years’ time?

You can also watch the podcast at the NSW Health YouTube Channel.

Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this content are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the position of NSW Health. Any content provided is for informational purposes only and should not be interpreted as endorsement or approval by the organisation.

In response to unprecedented demand for acute health services during the COVID-19 pandemic, there was a relaxation of regulatory and funding blocks and a subsequent explosion of hospital avoidance models around the world.

As parts of the healthcare industry were able to utilise technology to normalise the delivery of hospital level care in the home, the Hospital at Home model was able to garner the support of published evidence of improved outcomes, increased patient satisfaction, and decreased resource utilisation.

So, will innovation and technology increasingly give us the tools to deliver hospital level care in non-hospital environments here in Australia, and are we are prepared to invest the effort, governance, and workforce to help people heal at home?

You can also watch the podcast at the NSW Health YouTube Channel.

Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this content are those of the author(s) and

If Taylor Swift wears a new belt to lunch with Travis Kelce today, it is sold out tomorrow. If we could motivate that same level of reliably responsive behaviour in our community around healthy behaviours, surely, we could significantly impact the creation of a healthier population.

Personal devices and social media platforms are creating new channels for public and population health communications, but what health issues are we tackling? And who are our trusted messengers? No matter how technologically advanced health care becomes, prevention will always be more impactful and cost effective than cure – so what is the future of public health and population health campaigns?

At a moment in time when it feels like people have never been so influenceable how can we influence people to do the right thing for a healthier future?

You can also watch the podcast at the NSW Health YouTube Channel.

Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this content are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the position of NSW Health. Any content provided is for informational purposes only and should not be interpreted as endorsement or approval by the organisation.

Lots of smart people spend a lot of time discussing the relative value of different models of leadership. But does the future of work and the emerging role of workforce wellbeing, as a movement, call out for a new wellness focussed leadership model? Or will future health leaders simply prioritise decisions and behaviours that promote workforce engagement and professional fulfilment?

In this episode we examine some of the organisational and individual capabilities our health leaders will need to cultivate to establish a well workforce, and explore what it might be like, and feel like, to work in that future.

You can also watch the podcast at the NSW Health YouTube Channel.

Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this content are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the position of NSW Health. Any content provided is for informational purposes only and should not be interpreted as endorsement or approval by the organisation.

After four popular seasons, our host Dr Louise Messara is back for Series 5 and is joined by a fantastic line-up of guests to discuss the future of work in healthcare, exploring topics with “What if…”.

Each episode will increase the listeners exposure to the research, analysis and insights, generated locally and from across the world, that will challenge us to consider where we are and where we could be going.

The narrative-based, relatable content will resonate with the curious listener looking to learn from others and be inspired and open-minded in a fast-changing world.

Episode 1 of the new season will be released on the 15th of May 2024.

You can also watch the podcast at the NSW Health YouTube Channel.