The editorial on ‘Right time, Right place: improving access to health service through effective retention and distribution of health workers’ just published [https://www.human-resources-health.com/content/11/1/60/] is opening the thematic series, sponsored by the Health Workforce Australia [https://www.hwa.gov.au/] . This series draws from studies in a range of countries and provides new insights into what can be done to improve access to health through more effective human resources policies, planning and management. The primary focus is on health workforce distribution and retention.