Objective: The median age of people in rural areas is older than those living in metropolitan areas. Harnessing the potential of the mature-aged population in rural communities may present a uniquely sustainable approach to strengthening the rural health workforce system. The objective of this study was to map the rural health workforce system in Australia and identify the current and potential role of mature-aged people in the workforce system.
Setting: Not applicable.
Participants: Not applicable.
Design: Systems thinking, specifically causal loop diagramming.
Results: The causal loop diagram illustrates the interrelated variables in the rural health workforce system. It also illustrates that the potential contribution of mature-aged people living in rural communities has been overlooked in the strategies to address the rural workforce undersupply.
Conclusion: Health workforces in regional, rural and remote communities in Australia have experienced constant undersupply despite ongoing government and community effort. Novel approaches are required to determine potential strategies to harness the capacity of rural mature-aged people to strengthen the rural health workforce.
Keywords: causal loop diagram; health workforce; mature‐aged; rural populations; systems thinking.
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