Dr Madhan Balasubramanian and his team have garnered international recognition for their efforts in addressing the challenges of the future health workforce. We caught up with him to talk about his mission to reshape the health workforce landscape. 

What is your role at Flinders?

I am a Senior Lecturer in Health Care Management at the College of Business Government and Law. I also serve as the Business Research Lead and HDR Academic Advisor in the College. In my role I am involved in training the next generation of health care leaders, and I work closely with the Dean Research and Discipline Research Leads in driving research concentrations and interdisciplinary research within the Business discipline. As HDR Academic Advisor I manage the milestone process for HDR Students, working closely with the HDR Coordinator.

Tell us a little about your journey to Flinders

I hail from the southern region of India, where I stood out as an anomaly in my family, proudly becoming the first member to relocate to Down Under in 2003! Well, I am a proud Australian now, and a global citizen.

I moved to Flinders University from the University of Sydney, where held a prestigious NHMRC Sidney Sax Fellowship in Public Health and Health Services. Previously, I have also worked at Kings College London (UK), University of Adelaide, University of New England, University of Queensland, Griffith University and Apollo Hospitals (India).

Returning to Adelaide held a special significance for me, as it felt like a homecoming, having spent a considerable part of my formative years at the University of Adelaide. Notably, this is where I completed my PhD, started a family, and welcomed both of my children into the world!

What led to your fascination towards health workforce research?

The health workforce serves as the cornerstone of robust healthcare systems, playing a pivotal role in achieving Universal Health Coverage and advancing Sustainable Development Goals. As the saying goes, “There is no health without the health workforce.”

My research on health workforce has gradually evolved to cover key issues such as migration of health professionals, practice activity studies, health workforce planning, collaborative practice, interprofessional education, new models of care and regulatory approaches.

Fascinatingly, my initial foray into health workforce research was funded by DFAT through an Australia India Council Fellowship (2008-09), which I pursued at the University of Queensland. This endeavour focused on the migration of oral health professionals. Subsequently, my interests were honed during my time at the University of Adelaide, where I had the privilege of collaborating with experts conducting AIHW funded health services research including national dental labour force surveys and longitudinal studies on dentist practice activity.

Over time, my focus evolved from oral health to encompass integration models within the broader health workforce. My Endeavour Research Fellowship (2016-17) and later NHMRC Sidney Sax fellowship (2017-21) served as a pivotal stepping stone, enabling me to delve into the broader landscape of health workforce planning, regulation, and the development of innovative care models.

More recently, I was team lead (at University of Sydney), working with an international team of researchers, involved in developing the first WHO global guidance on health practitioner regulation.

I frequently find that health workforce research is a realm prone to misconceptions, with many believing they are contributing, yet often lacking a systematic approach and holistic perspective. My work is focussed on addressing some of these challenges and aligning future health workforce models more closely to meet the needs of the population.

How has your research interests transitioned here at Flinders?

Flinders bring unique strengths in health and aged care research. Together with colleagues based at the Colleges of Nursing and Health Sciences, Medicine and Public Health and Education, Psychology and Social Work, I lead studies focussed on addressing innovative home care workforce models of culturally and linguistically diverse older adults.

I also lead two successful DFAT funded studies on health and aged care – one focused on the Asia Pacific countries, and in collaboration with the Aged Care Research and Industry Innovation Australia, and other focussed on the Middle Eastern Countries with our interdisciplinary health, law, business and aged care teams.

In my role as the Business Research Lead, I occupy a distinctive position that enables me to proactively foster engagement, cultivate partnerships, and harness the expertise within our research centres and institutes. I am also deeply involved in interactions with Trusts and Foundations, with a primary focus on developing initiatives that resonate with the requirements of our community and stakeholders.

You have recently been in news on the Asia Pacific Aged Care Hub. Can you tell us more about it?

Yes, the Asia Pacific Aged Care Hub or APACH is a capacity building initiative for aged care in the Asia Pacific region. This is a unique initiative by Flinders University College of Business Government and Law, College of Nursing and Health Sciences, and Aged Care Research and Industry Innovation Australia (ARIIA). This is an intermediate outcome of our DFAT supported project, aimed to build networks of influence and leadership across the Asia Pacific.

We are working with 15 high achieving fellows from 12 leading organisations in six Asia Pacific destinations (India, Nepal, Bangladesh, Indonesia, Malaysia and Philippines) to build a unique partnership to deal with aged care challenges in the region. Workforce issues are a unique theme we tackle in the program, as part of a thematic scientific series.

What do you love about working at Flinders?

Flinders provides me with a unique environment that allows me to engage with the field of health from a distinct perspective, as I am primarily situated within the Business discipline with the healthcare management team. This distinctive positioning offers me the advantage of thinking creatively and innovatively, unburdened by the traditional constraints of a strictly healthcare-oriented role. Moreover, it facilitates enhanced networking opportunities, enabling me to forge meaningful connections and collaborate closely with stakeholders and industry experts. Surely, an enviable role from my point of view!

In addition, Flinders University has always stood as a bastion of excellence in health management education and research, and the opportunity to join Flinders was truly a delight. The close-knit health management team has maintained its tradition since the early days of Health Care Management, and the uniqueness of program here remains unparalleled across Australia.

What do you do in your free time?

I engage in guest lectures and mentorship for students from low and middle-income countries, aiming to positively influence their academic trajectories. Moreover, I also serve as a Justice of the Peace (JP), with a particular focus on assisting Tamil language communities and addressing advanced care directives.

For more information about Madhan please visit his staff page or check out his Twitter and LinkedIn pages.