Recruitment and Retention of Psychiatrists in Non-Metropolitan Public Positions in Queensland: Research on ‘Queensland Health's Response’

Abstract

Objective: To evaluate Queensland Health's recruitment campaign of 15 full-time psychiatrists to non-metropolitan areas between July 1992 and December 1993. Method: A detailed 170-item Likert-type questionnaire was designed and mailed to all 15 psychiatrists. Thirteen questionnaires were completed and followed-up by a face to face interview. Results: Findings indicate that most of those recruited were experienced senior specialists who came to the positions as result of personal contact and were attracted to non-metropolitan positions because of ‘lifestyle’ and ‘professional challenge’ variables. ‘Lifestyle’ and ‘professional’ variables were identified as major contributors to their retention. They reported that ‘bureaucracy’ and ‘social and family’ reasons would be the most likely cause of them considering leaving their current positions. Conclusions: While the recruitment campaign was evaluated as successful, some aspects were clearly more influential than others. It was noted that factors which were likely to influence psychiatrists to leave non-metropolitan public sector positions were more ‘public’ than ‘non-metropolitan’ in nature.