Shortages in the professions make graduands attractive
26 April 2008
It has been a week of discussions from Ministerial to local level about the serious shortages of health professionals in particular, but also of teachers in key areas. National data show clearly that the current situation is going to deteriorate further unless steps can be taken urgently to arrest these trends.
The prospect of seeing disciplines disappear from school curricula, or new health facilities being created but not fully staffed to meet the escalating demand, is deeply worrying.
Much work needs to be undertaken to ensure the future of these professions, with a continuing flow of graduates, attracted and retained both in higher education institutions and subsequently in the professions themselves, adequately supported and remunerated, with clear opportunities for advancement.
In this context it was pleasing to see graduate, our largest group of graduands at the Graduation Ceremony on Thursday. There were over a thousand of them in a range of degree programs, confirming our place as one of Australia’s fastest growing universities.
The ceremony itself was a huge logistical exercise this year, made moreso by 3,000 people involved in the ceremony, in one way or another, having to move from the main University spine to the new Sports Stadium, but next to a major building site. On that site, our newest Health and Sports Tower is nearing completion. Next year there will be much less distraction as the whole complex will be complete, for the time being, unless there is a decision to embark on a new swimming pool. But that initiative is still on hold pending a lot more data gathering, especially funding.
The Graduation Ceremony is so important an annual event for all of us, but mostly of course, for the graduands, many of whom already have good jobs, and mostly on the Coast. They are swelling the ranks of much needed professionals.
This ceremony marks the end of long study periods, but the graduands can take satisfaction in the knowledge that their learnings and degrees are going to give them powerful standing in this century, when their expertise will be called upon more by the year.
We at the University wish them well and look forward to hearing of their many successes.
Professor Paul Thomas AM is Vice-Chancellor at the University of the Sunshine Coast.