A career in healthcare management has a good future as this field shows strong growth at present and is expected to be the same in the future. Health Executives (HEs) are paid well and play a critical role in Australia’s healthcare system.

Here is a look at the highest-paid HE professions in Australia and a look at this career as a whole.

Healthcare: A changing system

The healthcare industry is changing at a rapid speed, more than most other industries in Australia. It is changing based on how healthcare is delivered, who is offering services, and how healthcare is financed.

Here are some of the current trends that are expected to move in the same direction as they are at present:

• Continuous advancements in medical science technology.
• Integration of healthcare delivery organizations to provide accessible healthcare options to people.
• Well-informed patients requesting high-quality healthcare services.
• Collaboration among healthcare organizations, medical specialists, and other physicians to uplift community health status.
• More emphasis on ailment prevention, and health and wellness promotion.
• An increased growth of the elderly population.

Healthcare Executives: Career opportunities

It is an exciting and opportunistic era for healthcare executives in Australia. Healthcare executives have a chance to make a noteworthy contribution to the communities in terms of healthcare services offered by their respective organizations. Therefore, there are more diverse opportunities for healthcare executives in a variety of healthcare settings, including the following:

• Healthcare agencies
• Ambulatory care facilities
• Hospices
• Home health agencies
• Long-term care facilities
• Integrated healthcare delivery systems
• Healthcare organizations
• Mental health organizations
• Medical group practices
• Public health departments
• Research institutions and universities
• Consulting organizations
• Managed care organizations

There are many significant health executive and leadership positions across various healthcare settings, from head of department (HOD) to chief executive officer (CEO). Senior-level positions in healthcare organizations are demanding and require specific qualifications and experience. However, they offer opportunities to enhance the system of caregiving.

With the ever-increasing diversity in the healthcare system, health executives move on to other settings besides hospitals. It expands their knowledge and skills, broadens their scope, and provides more opportunities to grow.

Choosing a career in healthcare management will mostly put an employee in an entry to a mid-range management role in a specific area such as the following:

• Human resources
• Finance
• Information systems
• Government Relations
• Materials management
• Marketing
• Patient care services
• Nursing Administration
• Medical staff retentions
• Planning and development

Highest paying healthcare executive professions in Australia

A career as a healthcare executive could be lucrative and has potential growth in the future. Below are some of the highest-paying healthcare executive professions in Australia.

Cardiology Manager: 294,000 AUD

A cardiology manager handles the functions of the cardiology department of a healthcare facility. The job role involves ensuring effective and efficient departmental functions, including patient safety, regulatory compliance, and quality control factors. He is also in charge of managing subordinate staff in their daily operations and works as a true first-level manager. The average salary of a cardiology manager is 294,000 AUD.

Breast Center Manager: 290,000 AUD

A breast center manager handles the daily operations of mammography clinics. His responsibilities include training staff, scheduling, marketing, and budgeting. He may also make daily operational decisions in a small department and has come authority over staff actions. A breast center manager generally requires 3 to 5 years of experience in this field. The average salary of a breast center manager is 290,000 AUD.

Chief of Psychology: 286,000 AUD

A chief psychologist specifically oversees the functions of the psychologists with the relevant health facility or department. They oversee the recruitment process and develop and evaluate policies and procedures related to the psychology department and its operations in a healthcare facility such as a hospital. A chief psychologist conducts both administrative and clinical tasks. The average salary of a chief psychologist is 286,000 AUD.

Clinical Director: 251,000 AUD

A clinical director generally oversees staff management, clinical functions, and regulatory compliance procedures in healthcare facilities. Clinical directors in healthcare facilities ensure the delivery of high-quality patients and maintenance of accurate medical records. They contribute directly towards enhancing and supporting the healthcare facility’s growth. The average salary of a clinical director is 251,000 AUD.

Treatment Services Director: 260,000 AUD

A treatment services director conducts therapeutic and administrative tasks in planning, coordinating, and planning treatment programs in healthcare facilities. He may be required to monitor and evaluate the work of subordinates and provide effective recommendations with regard to it to the healthcare facility. A treatment services director earns an average salary of 260,000 AUD.

Emergency Services Director: 240,000 AUD

An emergency services director is responsible for directing the staff and different functional programs in a healthcare facility. He handles the development and implementation of standards, guidelines, and procedures for emergency service programs. He may even manage sun functions within a broader departmental operation. An emergency services director earns an average salary of 240,000 AUD.

Emergency Management Director: 238,000 AUD

An emergency management director plans for accidents and other emergency situations that could arise in a healthcare facility, including natural disasters. He coordinates with leaders in the relevant healthcare setting to assess the probabilities of the occurrence of these disasters and prepares to respond effectively. An emergency management director earns an average salary of 238,000 AUD.

Rehabilitation Services Manager: 236,000 AUD

A rehabilitation services manager oversees the daily functions of facilities that provide care for mental and physical health, or addiction recovery or rehabilitation. He handles routine operations in the facility, which includes recruiting, supervising, and training staff. He also ensures that the facility and its staff are in compliance with all applicable regulations. A rehabilitation services manager earns an average salary of 236,000 AUD.

Radiology Manager: 228,000 AUD

A radiology manager oversees the daily activities of a diagnostic imaging department. He works in close relationships with physicians in a healthcare facility to monitor the progress of a patient’s medical status. He generally specializes in sectors like Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) and monitors equipment to identify their working condition. The average salary of a radiology manager is 228,000 AUD.

Medical Director: 208,000 AUD

A medical director leads and guides the use of medicine in a healthcare organization, including hospital departments, emergency medical services, clinical teaching services, blood banks, and other facilities. He devises the protocols for the clinical staff to assess them while they are in use. The average salary of a medical director is 208,000 AUD.

What you need to become a healthcare executive

Here’s what you need to become a healthcare executive in Australia:

• An educational qualification related to healthcare management such as a bachelor's in health science management.
• Communication and organization skills.
• Adaptability skills.
• Leadership and general management skills.
• Relevant work experience.

Healthcare management is a field with strong future growth in Australia and across the globe. Healthcare executives are paid well in Australia and everywhere in the world, as long as they have the relevant qualifications, skills, and experience.

Medfuture is a global healthcare recruitment agency with a reputation for connecting qualified and skilled healthcare workers and medical specialists with the correct healthcare organizations. Visit the Medfuture job board to view a list of the latest jobs in healthcare across all states and suburbs in Australia.