Four quick questions

For Helen Haines MP, Independent Federal Member for Indi

Melanie Irwin, Primary Times Managing Editor

Source: APNA Primary Times Summer 2024-5

Helen Haines was first elected to federal parliament in May 2019 after a long career as a nurse, midwife and academic in regional Victoria. As the member for Indi, Helen represents constituents throughout the northeast of Victoria. With a federal election looming, we caught up with Helen to see what the future might hold for the healthcare workforce. 

What is your view of the national healthcare system and what kind of improvements would you like to see in the near future? 

In general, I think we have a very good healthcare system, but I’m concerned about the disparities between the cities and the regional areas. In my electorate of Indi, many of our residents live in rural or remote locations. In regional Australia, we have fewer healthcare professionals compared to the cities. This includes doctors, nurses, allied health professionals, dentists and so on. Health care (especially specialist care) is difficult to access and, as a result, health outcomes tend to be poorer. We have higher rates of chronic disease and mental illness. Our life expectancy is shorter.   

And these access issues are compounded by social factors, which tend to be exacerbated in rural areas. For example, our levels of education tend to be lower and our unemployment rates are higher than in the cities. All of these factors add up. 

We need to invest in the infrastructure of the rural health system. This means properly resourcing regional health services to improve access, and improving our capacity for prevention as well as treatment. We also need to invest in training and retaining a strong workforce in rural health. I’d like to see an expansion of healthcare education programs in regional areas so that we can nurture our local talent. 

How do you think nurses' and midwives’ scopes of practice could be better utilised in Australia? 

I’m keen to see all healthcare professionals working to their full scopes of practice so that the healthcare system functions efficiently and provides the appropriate care where it’s needed. I’m strongly in favour of healthcare reforms that will enable nurses and midwives to do more, especially where this will improve access to care for people in rural and remote areas.  

What kind of changes could we expect for the primary health care workforce if the independents hold the balance of power at the next election? 

There are a lot of people who are curious about what kind of changes to expect if the independents were to achieve a minority government at the next election! And my response to this is: my values won’t change, regardless of what happens. I will continue to campaign for a more effective and equitable healthcare system that can cope with future demands for care. 

I’m also particularly interested in supporting mid-career nurses. Nursing and midwifery students have received support recently in the form of free study – and this is great – but I’m thinking about nurses who are in their mid-careers. How can we support them to stay in the profession? Often, they’re required to upskill, and this involves professional development or study. This may mean travelling to the city, which can be expensive. I’d like to see more support for mid-career nurses so that they can advance their careers and the whole system can benefit. 

How can nurses ensure that their voices are heard and their work is appropriately valued by policy-makers? 

One way to ensure that your voice is heard is to enter politics and be part of the solution! Represent your professional community. There are several health professionals in the federal parliament, but I’m one of just two nurses at the moment. And this is why I went into politics: to share my perspective on the issues that matter to me and my community – particularly rural health – and to demand the changes that we need. If more nurses join the debate, and create a presence in Parliament House, we’ll have a greater chance of achieving a sustainable healthcare system that works for all Australians, wherever they live.