The genesis of a ground-breaking Framework in the scenic yet secluded rural regions of NSW. In 2012 Dr. Cath Cosgrave embarked on her PhD journey that would transform rural healthcare management. Her pioneering research delved into the challenges of high turnover among early-career health professionals in regional, rural and remote communities.
What emerged was the Attract Connect Stay (ACS) Framework, a robust model designed to enhance retention by focusing on three critical domains: Workplace/Organisational, Role/Career, and Community/Place. These domains are crafted to not only improve job satisfaction but also weave a fabric of personal fulfilment by fostering a holistic, community-engaged approach.
Attract Connect Stay Framework
Since her PhD completion, Dr. Cosgrave’s research work has taken her deeper into the rural health ecosystem, extending the applicability of her Framework beyond community mental health to a broader rural service settings. Her academic collaborations, notably with Drs. Malatzky and Gillespie from 2017-22, has enriched the ACS Framework with deeper insights into the community and place domain, exploring how elements like place-based governance and the intrinsic social determinants shape health workforce stability in rural settings.
Dr. Cosgrave has recently created the ACS Self-Assessment Checklist, as a transformative tool for rural healthcare and other services or businesses grappling with skilled worker shortages.
This checklist isn’t just a form; it’s a strategic compass that guides organisations to:
Evaluate: Benchmark their practices against proven standards to gauge their current standing.
Identify: Pinpoint strengths and uncover critical areas that need enhancement.
Strategise: Apply evidence-informed tactics to fortify recruitment, integration, and retention efforts.
The checklist’s impact is vividly seen in the story of Western District Health Service, where it has revolutionised attraction strategy onboarding processes, dramatically improving retention rates.
“At Western District Health Service, the Attract Connect Stay Framework has been revolutionary in the way that we do our recruitment. Not only have we gone back and revised all of our recruitment processes, step-by-step, starting from our ideal candidate profiles through to revising our position descriptions, which then feeds into our advertising. Everything that we do has changed for the better. We couldn’t have done it without the help of the Attract Connect Stay team guiding us along the way.”
TROY COX – PEOPLE & CULTURE MANAGER, WESTERN DISTRICT HEALTH SERVICE
Implementation Guide
- Download the Checklist: Start by downloading the Attract Connect Stay Self-Assessment Checklist here. This essential tool is your first step toward enhancing your healthcare practices.
- Conduct a Comprehensive Assessment: Thoroughly review your organisation’s current practices using the checklist. Evaluate your performance, identify areas for improvement.
- Schedule a Consultation: After completing the assessment, book a consultation with Dr. Cath Cosgrave to discuss your results. This session will help you understand the insights from your assessment and provide recommendations for next steps.
Join the Movement – Embrace the Attract Connect Stay Self-Assessment Checklist to address your rural business and/or community’s skilled worker shortages. Start your journey towards a more robust and sustainable rural skilled workforces, especially the healthcare and social care sectors ensuring your community receives the exceptional services they deserve.
