‘Children of a Common Mother’: Strengthening Health Workforce Migration to Australia and Canada

This cross-national, sector-specific comparative sociological study aims to make an empirical and theoretical contribution to the field of health workforce governance research. Improved governance is essential for countries to work towards achievement of Universal Health Coverage, yet developed countries still rely on skilled migrant health professionals. This cross-national study examines the processes and mechanisms used to attract, integrate and retain migrant health professionals and pathways used by migrant doctors, dentists and nurses to work in underserved sectors. Qualitative interviews in aged care and rural sectors were undertaken with key informants and migrant health professionals who were either a doctor, dentist, or registered nurse. Canada, too, competes for migrant health professionals through comparable permanent, temporary and study pathways from near identical source countries. This paper compares and contrasts Australian and Canadian migration policies as they affect migrant health professionals as a basis for strengthening workforce migration to Australia and Canada.

Crichton, A (1998) Children of a common mother: a comparative analysis of the development of the Australian and Canadian health care systems to 1995, Kensington: University of New South Wales.