The Scope of Practice Review[1] recommended the development of a skills matrix for all health professionals. A skills matrix will increase transparency for health consumers and between professions on the skills and capabilities that each profession holds. The skills matrix will also be used to help inform health workforce design, planning and development by identifying gaps and overlaps in service delivery and help health care practitioners work towards their full scope of practice.
What is Osteopathy Australia advocating for?
A robust skills matrix that is developed in consultation with professional associations, educators and relevant stakeholders. The Government must also commit to funding the development and implementation of the matrix.
Why this benefits Australians
- Improves access and equity for Australians to healthcare.
- Increases access to multidisciplinary team care.
- Reduces the impact of current workforce shortages acknowledged across Australia and improves the distribution of the health workforce.
- Reductions in delays in accessing healthcare as practitioners are enabled to work to the top of their scope of practice.
Policy issues and barriers
For the skills matrix to be a robust, usable document, adequate funding must be allocated by the government for its development. The skills matrix document must be developed in collaboration with each profession, professional association, educators and relevant stakeholders with continuous review and feedback systems in place to ensure that information is contemporary, relevant and future focused.
[1] Department of Health, Disability and ageing. Unleashing the Potential of the Health Workforce – Scope of Practice Review. [Internet]. 2025. Available from: https://www.health.gov.au/our-work/scope-of-practice-review?language=en