Together with a group of innovative New Zealand health tech companies, we visited three of Australia’s most respected research institutions:

• The Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health
  
  
• Orygen – Australia’s Centre of Excellence in Youth Mental Health
  
  
• Murdoch Children’s Research Institute (MCRI)
  
  

Each visit offered powerful insights into how Australia is tackling the complex challenges of youth mental health through world-class research, early intervention programs, and technology-enabled care.

A true highlight was the participation of Hon. Matt Doocey, New Zealand’s Minister for Mental Health and Associate Minister of Health. Minister Doocey’s presence not only elevated the importance of the discussions but also reinforced the New Zealand Government’s commitment to cross-border collaboration in mental health innovation.

For those unfamiliar with Minister Doocey’s work, this Q+A interview provides a compelling look into his role and priorities:
Meet New Zealand’s First Mental Health Minister – Matt Doocey (Q+A 2024)

As a company deeply embedded in healthcare workforce transformation, Core Schedule was proud to be part of today’s delegation, exploring how better systems and partnerships can support the well-being of future generations.

The post A Day of Insight and Impact: NZTE Trade Delegation Explores the Future of Child and Youth Mental Health in Australia appeared first on Core Schedule.

We were thrilled to welcome dozens of attendees from across Australia and New Zealand, including RMO Unit managers, Medical Workforce leaders, Clinical Educators, and Hospital Admin teams. The strong turnout confirmed what we’ve been hearing from the sector: the demand for better systems to support junior doctors is urgent—and growing.

Together with Dr. Stephen Pool (Core Schedule) and Tom Collins (MedApp), we explored:

• How to build safer, more flexible rosters

• The importance of clear, timely communication

• Streamlined onboarding and education for new cohorts

• Tools that reduce admin burden and support staff wellbeing

  
  

The Q&A session highlighted the importance of professional services and onboarding processes, with thoughtful questions and shared challenges that many organisations face—especially those still relying on manual processes or disconnected systems.

As one attendee shared: “Absolutely inspiring, redirecting and insightful.”

The feedback and engagement reinforced that smarter solutions aren’t just a ‘nice to have’—they’re a must-have.

If you missed the live session, the replay is available, please email sales@coreschedule.com to receive the link. And if you’re interested in exploring how Core Schedule and MedApp could support your team, we’d love to chat.

Thanks again to everyone who joined us—we’re excited to keep this important conversation going.

The post Webinar Recap: Smarter Roster Planning & Clinical Communication for Junior Doctors appeared first on Core Schedule.

With 86% of senior doctors and dentists voting in favour of strike action, the stage is set for a 24-hour nationwide walkout. This isn’t just a protest—it’s a disruption that cuts to the core of how we manage our hospitals, our staff, and our patients.

And while the focus is rightly on fair compensation and safe staffing levels, hospital leaders now face an urgent question:

Are we prepared to protect patient safety during service interruptions?

Disruption Is Inevitable. Chaos Is Not.

Every health system faces moments of crisis—strikes, pandemics, natural disasters.

What defines resilience is contingency planning and compliance control.

At Core Schedule, we offer two powerful modules to support healthcare organisations when operations are under stress:

Core Compliance

Your safety net for clinical, contractual, and regulatory coverage.

Built to manage complexity, Core Compliance helps:

• Validate Life Preserving Services (LPS) rosters
• Track union vs. non-union staffing
• Maintain compliance with SECA and health & safety standards
• Provide audit-ready transparency
• Coordinate with CDs, HODs, and service managers
• Flag risks before they become failures

Core Contingency

Your toolkit for building dynamic, crisis-ready rosters.

Whether it’s a strike, flood, or staff shortage, Core Contingency supports you to:

• Build emergency rosters in minutes
• Create surge plans for key departments.
• Fill gaps using best-fit matching.
• Identify cross-cover potential
• Respond to staff availability changes in real-time.

Strikes Are a Stress Test

This industrial action is a clear call for change—better working conditions, better resourcing, and better support.

But it’s also a stark reminder for operational leaders: we must be ready for the unexpected.

Core Compliance and Core Contingency were designed for exactly these moments—because crisis management shouldn’t start when the crisis hits.

Let’s not wait for the next emergency to build better systems. Let’s plan forward.

The post Healthcare Strikes & the Power of Preparedness – Why Contingency and Compliance Matter appeared first on Core Schedule.

Across three days, our Chief Customer Officer, Candice Togia,  had the opportunity to connect with clinicians, ICU nurses, managers, allied health professionals, and researchers dedicated to transforming patient care through innovation and collaboration.

Meaningful Conversations with Frontline Leaders

Rich conversations on the intersection of culture, equity, and clinical workforce planning were inspiring. Attendees shared how incorporating cultural competencies, including traditional skills and spoken languages, can enhance care for whānau in crisis. Visibility of these skills within rostering systems emerged as a critical need.

There was strong interest in how Core Schedule could support skill mix visibility, gender and language data, and improved workforce wellbeing — especially among researchers and nurse leaders from across New Zealand and Australia. It was clear that many current systems are not fit-for-purpose in healthcare settings and create more friction than support.

One particular highlight was hearing from a researcher focused on the link between poor rostering systems and workforce burnout — reinforcing the value of purpose-built tools that support both operational efficiency and staff wellbeing.

Positive Reception to Real-World Impact

Attendees were especially impressed by features like:

• Skill mix visibility
• iCal integration for seamless calendar syncing
• Live access to rosters from home or mobile devices
• Templates for repeating shift patterns
• Availability insights for casual staff pools

Our intuitive, user-friendly interface struck a chord with ICU teams tired of relying on WhatsApp chats, physical notice boards, or spreadsheets to manage shift availability and communication.

Health services such as Healthscope, RBWH, Monash Health, Hawkes Bay ICU, and St Vincent’s Hospital showed strong engagement, reflecting a shared urgency for modern solutions that reduce admin burden and return clinical staff to the floor.

System Gaps and Shared Challenges

We consistently heard frustration with existing platforms (non Core Schedule)  — particularly around lack of flexibility, poor integration, and limited cultural sensitivity. Many organisations voiced the need for:

• Better integration with systems
• Compliance with MECA agreements
• Roster rules to manage short-notice cancellations, such as auto-restrictions on future shift availability if someone repeatedly cancels on short notice

These insights are invaluable as we continue evolving Core Schedule to meet the real-world needs of healthcare teams.

In Summary

The ANZICS/ACCCN ASM 2025 conference highlighted just how critical effective rostering is in delivering safe, equitable, and sustainable healthcare. Thank you to everyone who stopped by our booth — your feedback and stories are helping us shape a better future for workforce planning in critical care.

We look forward to continuing these conversations and supporting more ICUs across Australasia and beyond.

– The Core Schedule Team

The post Core Schedule at ANZICS/ACCCN ASM 2025: Empowering Critical Care Teams Through Smarter Staff Scheduling appeared first on Core Schedule.

As healthcare professionals advocate for improved conditions, it’s imperative that healthcare organisations explore innovative, proactive solutions to support both staff wellbeing and operational resilience.

Understanding the Core Issues

Doctors in public hospitals have raised alarm bells about consistently long hours with insufficient rest, leading to burnout and potential risks to patient care.

For example, Henry Crayton, a junior doctor, reported working 135 hours in a fortnight, overseeing more than 150 patients per shift—a workload he described as “completely normal” (SBS News). This scenario is not unique and reflects wider systemic strain across the sector.

Such conditions take a toll not only on the physical and mental health of doctors but also compromise the safety and quality of care delivered to patients (The Guardian, ABC News).

The Role of Core Schedule in Supporting Healthcare Professionals

At Core Schedule, we understand the complexities involved in healthcare workforce management. Our suite of smart scheduling tools is designed to help organisations balance operational needs with the wellbeing of clinical staff.

Core Compliance Module

Adhering to labour laws and organisational policies is essential. Core Compliance automates the tracking of work hours, fatigue limits, rest breaks, and overtime. It offers real-time alerts and detailed reporting to flag compliance breaches—empowering rostering managers to make timely adjustments and prevent chronic overwork.

Core Contingency Module

Unplanned absences, surge events, and industrial action call for rapid response. Core Contingency enables healthcare leaders to activate alternate staffing plans on the fly—drawing from on-call pools, standby teams, or redeploying internal resources. In a climate of unpredictability, this module helps ensure continuity of care while easing administrative burdens.

Core Allocation / Role Assignment Module

Efficient distribution of tasks and equitable workload distribution are essential to prevent burnout. The Core Allocation module facilitates intelligent assignment of shifts and responsibilities, taking into account individual capacities, preferences, and compliance requirements. This strategic approach aids in creating balanced schedules that support both staff satisfaction and optimal patient care.

Proactive Measures to Prevent Future Disruptions

While the current strike underscores system-wide pressures, the pathway forward requires more than reactive fixes. Implementing robust scheduling, compliance, and contingency frameworks can help identify and address root causes of staff dissatisfaction—before they escalate.

When organisations support equitable rostering and operational flexibility, they build environments that retain top talent, reduce burnout, and consistently deliver high-quality care.

Conclusion

The challenges highlighted by the NSW doctors’ strike reveal a broader truth: sustainable healthcare starts with sustainable staffing.

By leveraging smart solutions like Core Compliance, Core Allocation, and Core Contingency, healthcare organisations can take real steps toward balance, fairness, and future readiness.

Supporting our doctors is not just a moral imperative—it’s a strategic priority.

Sources:

• SBS News 
• The Guardian: NSW Doctors Strike
• ABC News: NSW Doctor Workload Crisis

The post Better Workloads, Better Care: The Role of Smart Scheduling in Healthcare Reform appeared first on Core Schedule.

Amy’s journey with Core Schedule began in August 2023, when she joined us as a SaaS Onboarding Specialist. Even before that, she was a valued Core Schedule admin at Hutt Valley Hospital starting January 2022. Her hands-on experience in the healthcare environment has given her deep insight into the challenges and opportunities of workforce scheduling.

In her role as a Resident Medical Officer (RMO) Coordinator at a public hospital in the Hutt Valley, she managed operations behind the scenes, coordinating junior doctors across departments from the Emergency Department to Medical. Her strong track record with our RMO Unit customers and her work rolling out the Core Allocation module have uniquely positioned her to enhance our solutions within that cohort.

In her new role as Solution Specialist, Amy will be instrumental in:

• Solution Implementation & Configuration: Analysing client requirements and tailoring our system to meet diverse needs.
  Customer Support & Training: Providing comprehensive training and support to ensure seamless onboarding.
  Product Expertise & Optimisation: Keeping up with product updates and advising clients on best practices.
  Collaboration & Continuous Improvement: Working closely with our sales, development, and customer success teams to drive continuous improvement.
• Provide Professional Services and Consulting: Work with customer sites that require extensive support, guidance and recommendations on best-practice staff scheduling workflows and processes.

Please join us in congratulating Amy on her new role. We are excited for her to help lead our clients on their Core Schedule journey!

The post Announcing Amy Bell – Our New Solution Specialist appeared first on Core Schedule.

We’re excited to announce that Taranaki Base Hospital, part of Te Whatu Ora – Taranaki, is expanding its use of Core Schedule to include General Medicine outpatient clinics and Geriatricians!

With Emergency already using Core Schedule, this expansion means even more hospital teams will benefit from real-time, streamlined scheduling, improved visibility, and seamless workforce coordination across departments.

A Unified Approach to Scheduling

By bringing General Medicine and Geriatricians onto Core Schedule, Taranaki Base Hospital is further unifying its scheduling system, creating a consistent, efficient, and transparent way for staff to manage their rosters.

With Core Schedule, these teams now have:

A streamlined, digital roster  – ensuring clear visibility and easy access for all staff.
Flexible shift management – making roster adjustments and coordination seamless.
Real-time updates & notifications – keeping teams informed instantly.

This expansion marks a significant step in supporting staff with a smarter, more connected approach to scheduling while maintaining high-quality patient care.

Strengthening Workforce Management at Te Whatu Ora – Taranaki

We’re proud to support Taranaki Base Hospital as they continue to enhance their workforce management with Core Schedule. With more departments adopting our intelligent scheduling solution, the hospital is moving toward a fully integrated, hospital-wide approach to rostering.

Want to learn more? Book a demo today! 

The post New Customer Announcement: Taranaki Base Hospital Expands Core Schedule to General Medicine Clinics & Geriatricians appeared first on Core Schedule.

We kicked off on Wednesday at Concord Repatriation General Hospital, where we caught up with the Emergency Department team, including long-time users Phil and Negin. As existing Core Schedule clients, it was great to hear how the platform continues to deliver value in their busy ED environment.

From there, we met with the Medical Allocations and Development Unit (MADU) and the Trainees group, where we had the opportunity to demo Core Schedule, including a closer look at our Core Allocation module—built to simplify complex RMO rotations. The feedback was incredibly positive, and we’re excited by the potential for further collaboration.

On Thursday, we headed to RPA to meet with the Emergency Department team. A big thanks to Tim, James, Deb, and Sandeep for welcoming us. It was a productive session filled with great discussion and future ideas.

Special shout-out to Phil and Tim, who continue to be amazing advocates for Core Schedule. It’s always energising to see the impact our platform is having on their workflows and teams.

“One of the things that really sets Core Schedule apart is their outstanding customer support. The team is incredibly responsive, genuinely listens to our feedback, and always goes the extra mile to ensure we’re getting the most out of the platform.” – Phil, ED Team, Concord Repatriation General Hospital.

These visits remind us why we do what we do—empowering healthcare teams with intuitive, time-saving scheduling solutions that support better outcomes for staff and patients alike.

Thanks again to everyone at SLHD for your time, insights, and ongoing partnership.

The post On the Ground with Our Clients: Sydney Local Health District Site Visits appeared first on Core Schedule.

We’re excited to announce that Core Schedule is now accessible via MedApp! This integration brings together two essential tools for healthcare professionals—intuitive scheduling and critical clinical resources—all in one place.

At the request of numerous clients, we’ve worked closely with the MedApp team to make this happen. Now, clinicians can seamlessly manage their schedules while accessing hospital guidelines, education tools, and communication features—all from the MedApp platform.

What This Means for Healthcare Professionals

Right People, Right Place, Right Time
Managing shifts, swaps, and leave requests has never been easier. With Core Schedule now available in MedApp, hospitals and clinics can ensure optimal staffing, minimize gaps, and maintain compliance with workforce requirements.

Enhanced Efficiency
Clinicians can now check their schedules while staying up to date with key hospital guidelines, education materials, and communication tools—all within the same app.

Safer Clinical Care
A well-structured, up-to-date schedule leads to fewer disruptions, reduced burnout, and improved patient outcomes.

Improved Staff Engagement & Retention
Empowering clinicians with easy access to scheduling and key hospital resources enhances workforce satisfaction, leading to better staff retention.

Collaboration for Better Healthcare

We’re thrilled to provide healthcare teams with the tools they need to work more efficiently and focus on what matters most—delivering exceptional patient care.

Get Started Today

If you’re a healthcare professional using MedApp, you can now access Core Schedule directly from the platform. Not using Core Schedule yet? Let’s talk about how we can help optimise your team’s scheduling and workforce management.

Interested to see how this all works? Sign up for a demo here. https://lnkd.in/gfzMgSc7

#DigitalHealth #MedTech #MedEd #ClinicianWellbeing #CoreSchedule #MedApp

The post Seamless Staff Scheduling & Clinical Resources: Core Schedule Now Available via MedApp appeared first on Core Schedule.

From a Paper Roster to a Digital Solution

Until now, the maternity ward relied on a excel-based “call-only” roster that struggled to keep up with the unit’s needs.

By transitioning to Core Schedule, the maternity ward is leaving those headaches behind. Core Schedule provides a real-time, online roster accessible to all team members. Changes or additions are updated instantly, so everyone stays on the same page. 

Key Benefits for the Maternity Team

With Core Schedule in place, the maternity staff and administrators will immediately notice several benefits:

• Efficiency in Scheduling: Shifts and on-call duties can be organised and adjusted in real-time, saving administrators hours of paperwork and reducing the chance of errors or double bookings.

• Seamless Shift Trading: Core Schedule makes it simple for team members to trade shifts or cover for each other. With just a few clicks, staff can request a swap and managers can approve it digitally, eliminating frantic phone calls and ensuring every shift is covered correctly.

Solving Scheduling Challenges

The move to Core Schedule directly addresses the challenges the maternity ward faced with its old system. Now, any scheduling changes are centralised and visible to the whole team immediately. If someone needs to swap a shift or take leave, the platform is updated immediately. 

The digital system improves communication: staff receive notifications about upcoming shifts or any changes, so nothing falls through the cracks. The result is a more resilient schedule that keeps the ward running smoothly for both the healthcare team and their patients.

We’re proud to support WACHS – Busselton Hospital in this transition. The adoption of Core Schedule by the maternity ward is a testament to the platform’s value in improving healthcare workforce management. We look forward to seeing the positive impact on staff satisfaction, efficiency, and the quality of care delivered to new mothers and babies in the community.

Want to learn more? Book a demo.

The post WACHS Busselton Hospital Maternity Ward Adopts Core Schedule appeared first on Core Schedule.