The PH WDP framework
The Public Health Workforce Development Plan (PH WDP) is a response to the need for a co-ordinated strategic plan for public health workforce development to address current and future public health workforce needs. The PH WDP framework has two overarching goals with key themes for each goal. Objectives and actions for the first five-year term (2007-2011) sit within the themes. Evaluation of the PH WDP implementation will inform the second five-year term (2012-2016).
Goal One
Develop an effective and sustainable public health workforce
- Education and Training
- Māori Public Health Workforce Development
- Pacific Public Health Workforce Development
- Public Health Sector Professional Development
- Wider Public Health Workforce Development.
Goal Two
Support public health environments to grow and develop the public health workforce
- Workforce Planning
- Information, Policy and Research
- Supportive Workplace Cultures
- Public Health Careers.
These objectives reflect the priorities identified in the key workforce development documents, foundation research and sector input (see Reports & Resources).
The structure of the PH WDP is premised on work that builds on existing workforce development activities, adapts to emerging challenges in the public health environment and links to and engages with workforce development happening in other sectors. It works at two levels: local action, and national infrastructure and support.
Achieving the objectives will, over time, strengthen local planning and development through:
- regional, district and provider-level workforce plans
- workplace strategies
- a stronger focus on building capacity to address local priorities
- local relationships with tertiary providers.
The PH WDP actions will be supported by national infrastructure development, such as the establishment of generic public health competencies, stronger sector wide professional development and a national training and qualifications framework with new public health training courses and qualifications.