The agency's performance (DHW 2023-24 Annual Report)

Performance at a glance

*Executive tenure refers to Local Health Network Chief Executive Officers and Department for Health and Wellbeing Deputy Chief Executives (within own Local Health Network/Department for Health and Wellbeing). Includes tenure of positions where Chief Executive Officers were in executive positions prior.

Since the publication of the previous annual report, some 2022-23 figures in Table 1 have been updated due to coding delays and data being retrospectively updated.

Agency objectives

Investment in SA Ambulance Service

Indicators

• Construction of new SA Ambulance Headquarters and Station, staffed with two 24/7 16-person crews.
• Recruitment of 350 paramedics and ambulance officers.
• Ambulance Station expansions or upgrades – Aldinga, Elizabeth, Goolwa, Bordertown, Two Wells, Marion, Mount Gambier, Peterborough, Wallaroo and Whyalla.
• Ambulance Station rebuilds and expansions – Campbelltown, Gawler, Mount Barker and Victor Harbor.
• New Ambulance Stations – Edwardstown, Golden Grove, Norwood and Woodville.
• Purchase an additional 36 ambulances.

Performance

• Site location secured, with early site works commenced. Project proceeding in line with key milestones.
• Recruitment of 186 additional SAAS staff, comprising paramedics, ambulance officers, emergency support service officers, dispatchers and clinical leads.
• Expansion/upgrade stations – projects in various infrastructure phases – pre‑concept, design and tender.
• Rebuild/expansion stations – projects proceeding in line with key milestones.
• New stations – Norwood and Woodville achieved practical completion. Construction works proceeding in line with key milestones on Edwardstown and Golden Grove.
• 18 new ambulances operational.

Workforce Recruitment and Planning

Indicators

• Develop a long-term plan to address workforce shortages, including identifying our state’s needs, gaps and risks, and planning for the training requirements we will need for services in both the short and long term.
• 212 additional nurses recruited and commenced by 31 December 2025.
• Women’s and Children’s Hospital: 12 speciality cancer and mental health nurses recruited.
• 76 additional nurses recruited and commenced by 31 December 2025, including 21 specialty nurses committed to under various commitments/grant funding with NGOs.
• Country Doctors: 2 specialist doctors quickly employed and brought online from July 2022, progressing to meeting the full quota of 10 doctors in 2025.
• Women’s and Children’s Hospital: 17 senior specialists, 15 advanced resident doctors, 12 resident doctors and 4 clinical academics positions funded and filled, including 1 FTE trainee paediatric rheumatologist, to commence within 2 years.
• 15 resident doctors quickly employed and brought online from July, progressing to meeting the full quota of 50 doctors in 2025.
• 5 additional paediatric psychiatrists, and 10 additional child psychologists employed over the next 4 years.  The development of a psychiatry workforce plan.

Performance

• SA Health Workforce Strategy is being developed and progressed to ensure a sustainable, well trained and competent workforce into the future.
• Recruitment:

112.2FTE additional nurses: 

• Women’s and Children’s Hospital: 6.0FTE Mental Health nurses and 6.0FTE Cancer nurses
• 4/4 Parkinson’s nurses
• 3/3 Epilepsy nurses
• 1/1 Arthritis nurse
• 4/4 Lung nurses
• 10/10 Palliative care nurses
• 56.2FTE Modbury Hospital
• 16FTE Gawler Hospital
• 4FTE Community Mental Health Nurses
• 2FTE Community Hospital in the Home Beds.

66.6FTE additional doctors:

• 2.87FTE Country Doctors
• Women’s and Children’s Hospital:
  • 12.14FTE Consultants
  • 10.5FTE Advanced Trainees
  • 10.5FTE Basic Trainees.
• 24/38 resident doctors
• 3.0FTE Psychiatrists
• 3.55FTE Psychologists.

Improve Demand Management and Patient Flow

• 50 Additional Beds at the new Women’s and Children’s Hospital.
• 48 permanent beds at Modbury Hospital. 
• 16 permanent sub-acute beds at Gawler Hospital.
• 20 Homelessness Discharge Beds operational
• Establishment of Preventive Health SA with a mandate to develop evidence based programs and policies to keep South Australians health.

Performance

• On 30 April 2024 the Premier and Minister for Health and Wellbeing attended a groundbreaking event to mark the early works package on the New Women’s and Children’s Hospital site.
• The Master Plan and Concept Design includes the distribution of the 50 additional beds and 20 future expansion beds. This means the new hospital will have a provision for 414 overnight beds – 76 more than the current Women’s and Children’s Hospital.
• 48 beds established and operational at Modbury Hospital.
• 16 beds established and operational at Gawler Hospital.
• Contract with Salvation Army executed with transition of clients to new service to commence shortly.
• Preventive Health SA established February 2024.

Mental Health and Drug and Alcohol Rehabilitation

Indicators

• 4 additional drug rehabilitation beds operational in the Port Augusta community.
• 12 community drug and alcohol rehabilitation beds operational in metropolitan Adelaide.
• 6 additional drug rehabilitation beds operational in the Mount Gambier community.
• Metropolitan Mental Health Beds:
  • 24 beds at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital
  • 24 beds at Modbury Hospital
  • 24 beds at Noarlunga Hospital.

Performance

• In July 2023, service delivery of the drug rehabilitation beds commenced through Aboriginal Drug and Alcohol Council in Port Augusta.
• In April 2024 service delivery of the metropolitan Adelaide drug and alcohol rehabilitation beds commenced through Uniting Communities. 
• In May 2024, service delivery of the Mount Gambier drug rehabilitation beds commenced through Uniting Communities.
• Metropolitan mental health beds are progressing, with a sod turn in June 2024 at Noarlunga.

Enhance role of Community Pharmacy

Indicators

• Three 24/7 pharmacies across Adelaide to enable the community to access medication and advice at any time of the day.
• Provision of mental health first aid training for pharmacists across South Australia allowing an early response to the warning signs of mental ill health.
• Expanding the availability of palliative care medications in pharmacies.
• Implementing a program of medicines reviews for patients with complex medication needs discharging from SA Health hospitals.
• In addition, the government priorities supported better access to health services for South Australian women through the Community Pharmacy Urinary Tract Infection and Oral Contraceptive re-supply services. 

Performance

• In February and March 2024, three pharmacies, located at Norwood, Salisbury Plain and Clovelly Park commenced their extended opening hours. By the end of June 2024, over 50,000 people had attended these pharmacies and almost 20,700 prescriptions dispensed in their extended operating hours.
• Approximately 280 participants completed the mental health first aid training during the first 15 months of the initiative.
• The Palliative Care Medicines Pharmacy Network commenced in February 2024 30 pharmacies across South Australia are providing improved access to palliative care medicines, including after hours access and support for people with life limiting illnesses, their families, and carers.
• The Post Discharge Medicines Service commenced from FMC in June 2024 to refer patients with complex medication needs to community pharmacies for review.
• The Community Pharmacy UTI Service commenced from 1^st March 2024 with over 2600 services provided and 1050 pharmacists trained in 2023/24. The Community Pharmacy OCP Re-supply Services commenced 6^th May 2024 with over 130 services provided, and 404 pharmacists completing the approved training by June 2024.

Corporate performance summary

Corporate Communications

From new hospitals to inspiring stories of care and vital public health messages, the Corporate Communications branch has shown how SA Health is delivering better health to all South Australians.

In 2023-24 the Corporate Communications branch responded to 714 media enquiries; participated in more than 226 interviews; coordinated 127 press conferences; and drafted more than 304 media releases.

The branch also implemented seven paid marketing campaigns to promote SA Health public health messaging and other initiatives, including the influenza vaccination program for young children, the School Immunisation Program, palliative care, mosquito bite prevention, emergency department alternatives, Medicare Urgent Care Centres, and continuing an international and interstate recruitment campaign.

The branch provided communications support to a range of other communications plans and campaigns, such as National Reconciliation Week, Aboriginal Health Scholarship Program, Healthy in the Heat, Automated External Defibrillators, nicotine poison prevention, mushroom safety awareness, sepsis awareness, blue-green algae, and awareness of pharmacy initiatives such as the new community pharmacy initiatives to assess patients for re-supply of the contraceptive pill or for UTI treatment.

SA Health’s X (Twitter) followers grew 2.9 per cent to 70,764 and LinkedIn followers grew 3.3 per cent to 52,836. Instagram followers decreased by 2.7 per cent to 50,772 and Facebook followers decreased 0.7 per cent to 415,222. However, Facebook post performance remained consistently strong with an average daily reach of 63,000 in 2023-24. In 2023-24, SA Health published 757 Facebook posts, 590 Instagram posts, 169 LinkedIn posts and 100 Twitter posts.

The SA Health website was visited by 7.3 million users who viewed 19.2 million pages across 10.8 million sessions. Total sessions decreased by 18 per cent compared to 2022-23 consistent with a reduction in COVID -19 related traffic. The COVID-19 Chatbot ‘Zoe’ serviced over 24,000 users (-82 per cent), delivering 6,546 minutes of online help until it was retired in March 2024.

Corporate Correspondence

The Corporate Correspondence Team supports the Minister for Health and Wellbeing, as well as Chief Executive’s Office specifically with correspondence received from members of the public, non-government organisations, other governments agencies or member of parliament / legislative councils. This includes allocation of correspondence to areas within the Department for Health and Wellbeing, Local Health Networks and attached agencies such as Preventive Health SA and Commission on Excellence and Innovation in Health.

During the period of 1 July 2023 through to 30 June 2024, the Corporate Correspondence team:

• Allocated a total of 4,900 Chief Executive and ministerial correspondence.
• Finalised 8,591 pieces of correspondence (combination of self-generated, Chief Executive and ministerial correspondence).

Employment opportunity programs

Transition to Professional Practice Program (TPPP)

SA Health offered 758 graduate Registered Nurse and 74 graduate Midwife positions across metropolitan and regional South Australia for the 2024 clinical year.

DHW Graduate Program

As part of the DHW Graduate program, twenty-one (21) graduates commenced within DHW in February 2024. This is a structured pipeline program to strengthen the DHW workforce and provide graduates with varied experience to build their knowledge and skills, while providing professional development and support.

Aboriginal Employment Pool

SA Health has established a special measure national recruitment strategy being the Aboriginal Employment Pool that will be actively used to recruit and retain Aboriginal employees. The Pool is a direct entry point for new employees and a support system for existing employees interested in building their capability through existing/new professional development programs. During 2023-24 Financial year, the Pool has achieved 12 appointments and as at 30 June 2024 had 109 available candidates.

Aboriginal Traineeship Program

SA Health has recorded two (2) identified Aboriginal trainees in WCHN and BHFLHN. 

DHW is procuring a new Aboriginal Traineeship Program to commence in 2024-25.

Agency performance management and development systems

DHW Performance Review and Development (PRD) process

Two (2) designated PRD cycles are established for managers to undertake a PRD conversation with direct reports: the first cycle from August to November and the second cycle from March to June. In addition, two (2) Manager training sessions were facilitated each round to upskill managers in performance discussions. As at 30 June 2024, 59 per cent of employees had registered a PRD conversation within the 2023-2024 financial year.

The Performance Review and Development Policy was reviewed and updated in March 2024, and is consistent with Premier’s Direction and Commissioner for Public Sector Employment Guideline.

Work health, safety and return to work programs

Employee Assistance Program (EAP)

The EAP plays an important role in SA Health’s ongoing commitment to being a mentally healthy workplace. The EAP continued to be available by telehealth or phone counselling during 2023-24, enabling all staff and their immediate family members access to free counselling services.

Psychosocial Safety, Wellbeing and Fatigue

To assist with hazard identification and prevention of psychological health injuries in the workplace, a new Psychosocial Safety Policy and Standard was developed and released and Managing Psychological Health Hazards in the Workplace eLearning module was updated.

Face-to-face training sessions were delivered to DHW business unit managers, and the training package shared across SA Health. Senior executive and board member psychological training was delivered across SA Health.

An ‘Advancing Healthcare Workforce Wellbeing Across SA Health Action Plan’ led by the Health Chief Executive’s Council Healthcare Workforce Wellbeing Sub-Committee commenced development of consistent metrics KPI’s to benchmark and track change in workforce wellbeing across the system.

The existing Prevention of Fatigue Guide and supporting resources have been redrafted following broad consultation with employees and unions. The content of original documentation has been consolidated with a prevention focus and includes improvements for better readability and implementation. The revised materials will be published and an extensive communications program across the entire SA Health workforce to reinforce strategies for Fatigue Prevention will be launched in early 2024-25. The accompanying eLearning module will be updated to coincide with promotional campaign / communication launch.

Annual Health Care Worker Influenza Vaccination Program

The aim of providing free influenza vaccinations is to protect staff from the flu and to reduce the potential for transmission of the flu virus between workers, consumers, visitors and family members.

The SA Health 2024 Health Care Worker Influenza Vaccination Program officially commenced on 22 April 2024.

53 per cent of SA Health employees have provided a record of having had a 2024 influenza vaccination. This is the same result when compared to last year (2023 – 53 per cent).

Manual Task Risk Management System - Training

DHW provides state-wide manual task training to SA Health workers and coordinates the SA Health Manual Tasks Local Facilitator Training Program. The SA Health MTLF Training Program underpins mandatory manual task practical training to reduce the risk of body-stressing injury.

At 30 June 2024, there are 1,288 active SA Health Manual Tasks Local Facilitators across SA Health providing training, induction and support to their colleagues to reinforce safe work practices. Additional courses and refreshers were scheduled to meet the increased need throughout 2023-24, with focus on rural local health networks.

200 new facilitators completed the two-day practical training and 340 current facilitators attended refresher sessions.

The SA Health Manual Tasks Local Facilitator Training Program and service provision are being reviewed to assess the long-term requirements to meet the needs of the workforce beyond 2024.

Injury Management — Lump Sum Program

The Return to Work Act 2014 (SA) makes provision for the determination and/or payment of lump sum amounts for workplace injuries, specifically relating to economic loss (section 56) and non-economic loss (section 58). The redemption of weekly payments and future medical expenses is authorised by sections 53 and 54 of the Return to Work Act 2014 (SA).

For the period 1 July 2023 to 30 June 2024, the DHW recorded a total payment of $7,969.88 for Lump Sum Redemptions and $292,030.12 for Lump Sum Economic and Non-Economic Loss Payments. An increasing trend overall to Economic Loss Payments are seen as older significant injuries reach Maximum Medical Improvement. (Entitlement to Economic Loss payments came into effect for injuries post 1 July 2015).

Respectful Behaviour Policy (including bullying and harassment)

SA Health has a Respectful Behaviour Policy (including management of bullying and harassment) and an associated guideline which outlines the escalation procedure.

In February 2024, the two (2) supporting online training packages were uploaded onto the DHW Learning Management System, iLearn, and made available to all DHW staff:

• ‘Respectful Behaviour – Creating Safe and Supportive Workplaces’, and
• ‘Respectful Behaviour – Preventing and Managing unacceptable behaviour’.

Workplace injury claims

*number of claimants assessed during the reporting period as having a whole person impairment of 30 per cent or more under the Return to Work Act 2014 (Part 2 Division 5)

Work health and safety regulations

Return to work costs**

**before third party recovery

Executive employment in the agency

• Chief Executive = 1 position
• SAES1 = 52 position
• SAES1 Specialist = 3 positions
• SAES2 = 12 positions 

The Office of the Commissioner for Public Sector Employment has a workforce information page that provides further information on the breakdown of executive gender, salary and tenure by agency.