Australian Minister Sanderson concludes mission to India, forging strong healthcare partnerships
Western Australian government prioritizes attracting healthcare workers, promoting employment opportunities for doctors, nurses, and aged care workers
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Hyderabad: Minister for Health and Mental Health, Amber-Jade Sanderson, from Western Australia (WA), recently concluded a mission to India focused on strengthening links in the healthcare, medical, and life sciences sectors.
Accompanied by a delegation focused on health skilling and business, Minister Sanderson wrapped up her mission in Hyderabad from Feb 25 to 27, 2024. The delegation actively engaged with representatives from various industries such as health and life sciences, medical technology, digital health, and biotech.
The Western Australian government places a high priority on attracting healthcare workers, with projections indicating a need for an additional 5,000 doctors and nurses by 2033. During her mission, Minister Sanderson promoted employment opportunities in Western Australia's healthcare sector, particularly for nurses, doctors, and aged care workers. She held important meetings with dignitaries including Damodar Raja Rajanarasimha, Minister of Health, Medical & Family Welfare, Science and Technology, to discuss collaboration and investment in healthcare.
A Health Skilling Symposium, in collaboration with Rainbow Hospital and Telangana Overseas Manpower Company (TOMCOM), facilitated discussions and initiatives to enhance skills and capacity-building in healthcare.
As part of her mission in Telangana, Minister Sanderson also met the CM of Telangana Anumula Revanth Reddy, and Duddilla Sridhar Babu, Minister for IT, Industries & Commerce and Legislative Affairs.
Sanderson highlighted Western Australia’s healthcare advancements and promoted potential investments, emphasizing initiatives like the Skilled Migrant Job Connect Program. The Western Australian Premier’s University Scholarship was also showcased to support students in healthcare-related courses, aiming to bolster the skilled workforce.
An agreement between ECU and Charkos Global was announced during the mission, focusing on facilitating education and migration of nurses. This partnership aims to support Indian nurses through transition courses at ECU, including the International Adaptation Program (winner of AAUT INTERNATIONAL Teaching Excellence Award in 2022). ECU will also accredit specialist postgraduate courses for nurses in India working in pediatrics, mental health, and oncology nursing.
In her keynote address at the 21st Bio Asia 2024 Summit, the WA minister stated that Western Australia is keen to team up as a "Global Partner" with Telangana in the Healthcare and Life Sciences sector. Reflecting on the engagements in Hyderabad, Minister Sanderson stated, "Through our mission, we've established valuable connections and groundwork for collaborations between Western Australia and India. Our shared commitment to medical innovation and skilled workforce exchange lays a foundation for addressing healthcare challenges and driving economic growth. I'm proud of the outcomes achieved and anticipate continued growth from these partnerships."
