HSE in Healthcare

March 13, 2024

HSE in Healthcare

The healthcare sector is one of Australia’s biggest employers of workplace health, safety and environment (HSE) professionals. In January 2024, nearly a quarter (24%) of all advertised HSE jobs were for roles based within healthcare. HSE job opportunities grew significantly following the outbreak of COVID. This aligned with an increased focus on health and safety in the sector. Talent shortages exerted a significant strain on frontline workers.

In addition, consolidation and corporatisation required better risk management and professional delivery

of HSE services within healthcare.

Capabilities required by HSE professionals

Critical Thinking
Judgement and decision making
Problem solving
Customer Orientation
Communication and Influencing
Analytical Assessment

Health sector Temperature check

Health is a fast-growing sector	Australians currently employed in health & social assistance	Health jobs expected to grow
$140b	1.7m	25%
in gov investment planned by 2025–26*	30% work in hospitals^	by 2033#

* ‘Record investment in the future of Australia’s health system’, Department of Health & Aged Care. Pub. 29 March 2022.

^Australian Bureau of Statistics,

‘A Caring Nation’ media release, October 2022. # Employment projections by industry, May 2023 to May 2033, Jobs and Skills Australia.

On the Horizon

The Health sector will continue to be a growing and dominant employer of HSE professionals. It is also unlikely to experience the traditional peaks and troughs of demand in sectors such as Construction and Resources and so it is an attractive long-term, stable sector for HSE professionals. Health also provides HSE professionals with a philosophical alignment with a sector that has a clear purpose that is congruent with their professional mission.

Notwithstanding this, the sector does have challenges in regard to matching the HSE resources, budgets and overall capabilities demonstrated in other sectors, and it will continue to be a challenge-rich environment. As health systems mature and digital transformation becomes common place, HSE professionals in the Health sector will need to upskill effectively to manage an evolving technology environment whilst still maintainingthe appropriate human interface.