Exploring a public–private partnership new‐graduate physiotherapy recruitment program: a qualitative study

OBJECTIVE: Difficulty in attracting allied health staff to rural areas is well known. In 2012, a small rural health facility and local private practice created an informal public–private partnership to recruit two new‐graduate physiotherapists. Graduates were employed part‐time in both the public and private sectors. DESIGN: This qualitative case study employed an appreciative enquiry framework to explore this partnership model. Three focus groups were held, and a combination of content and thematic analysis was used to derive and organise themes arising from the data. SETTING: A regional public health service and private physiotherapy practice in the Bega Valley region of south‐eastern New South Wales, Australia. PARTICIPANTS: New‐graduate and second‐year physiotherapists (n = 5), private sector managers (n = 3), and public sector managers (n = 4). MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Perceived benefits of the partnership model and improvements that could be made to further develop the model. RESULTS: Organisational benefits of a shared public–private role included the ability to attract high‐quality applicants to difficult‐to‐fill positions, reduced the risk of new‐graduate attrition due to social isolation, enhanced networking between sectors, and enhanced staff skill development through a broad range of clinical and non‐clinical experiences. The model relied on management flexibility and has potential to expand to other areas and professions. Dedicated funding support, targeted recruitment strategies and increased planning to ease the transition into the workplace would further enhance the model. CONCLUSIONS: An informal public–private partnership to overcome established workforce shortages has proven successful to the benefit of the new graduates and both the public and private sectors.