Communities across the Hunter and New England regions are set to benefit from a major boost to local health services, with more than 100 overseas registered nurses set to start work in Hunter New England Local Health District (HNELHD).
The nurses have been recruited from the United Kingdom and Ireland, as part of an international recruitment effort led by HNELHD.
Minister for Regional Health Ryan Park said the nurses will start work across the District’s hospitals in the coming months.
“I would like to welcome these experienced and skilled overseas-based nurses, and thank them for choosing a rewarding career with NSW Health,” Mr Park said.
“The NSW Government is committed to attracting and retaining more healthcare workers to regional and rural areas to ensure people living in these communities can receive high-quality, timely care close to home.
“International recruitment is just one of the many strategies the NSW Government is undertaking to attract and retain nurses and midwives to rural areas.
“We’ve also doubled the packages in the Rural Health Workforce Incentive Scheme from $10,000 to up to $20,000, and introduced tertiary study subsidies so new and existing health students can apply for up to $12,000 to support their studies.”
Minister for the Hunter Yasmin Catley welcomed the workforce increase which will deliver better health outcomes for patients and their families in the Hunter and New England regions.
“Moving to a new country is no small feat, but I know these nurses will discover that the Hunter and New England regions are fantastic to have both a dynamic career and an enviable lifestyle,” Ms Catley said.
“Recruitment and retention of healthcare staff in rural and regional locations is an ongoing challenge faced nationally, and the NSW Government remains committed to addressing this issue.”
HNELHD Director of Nursing and Midwifery Elizabeth Grist said the incoming nurses will bring experience in areas such as emergency, surgical care, intensive care, paediatrics, and medical nursing.
“We are currently supporting these nurses through the visa and immigration process, and anticipate their arrival over the coming months,” Ms Grist said.
“Our District is a wonderful part of the world to live in and we look forward to welcoming our colleagues, and their families, into our vibrant communities as well as our workplaces.”
The international recruitment drive is one of a range of initiatives currently underway to attract and retain nurses to HNELHD’s facilities, with other measures including the employment of more than 250 graduate nurses and midwives, the implementation of the NSW Government’s Rural Health Workforce Incentive Scheme, school-based trainee program, and tertiary study subsidies.
