Eleven graduate nurses and midwives have begun their careers across eight hospitals and Multi-Purpose Service (MPS) within the Cootamundra electorate, in a major boost for the local community.
Member for Cootamundra Steph Cooke said that the new graduates are amongst a record 3,600 nurses and midwives set to commence working across 130 NSW public hospitals and health services this year.
“The work that nurses and midwives do is at the very heart of the public health system, caring for people in our hospitals, at home and in our communities,” Ms Cooke said.
“I am incredibly pleased to welcome the 11 new recruits along with the additional ten recruits to commence later in the year.
“I know that they will make a big difference to the health and wellbeing of our community.
“These enthusiastic graduates have a unique opportunity to play a vital role in our healthcare system at a time when it continues to adapt and innovate to the changes and challenges brought by the COVID-19 pandemic.”
Hospitals to see new graduates in this first intake are:
- Temora District Hospital – 2 graduate nurses
- Narrandera District Hospital – 1 graduate nurse
- Cootamundra District Hospital – 2 graduate nurses
- Murrumburrah-Harden – 2 graduate nurses
- Coolamon MPS – 1 graduate nurse
- Boorowa MPS – 1 graduate nurse
- Young District Hospital – 1 graduate nurse
- Junee MPS – 1 graduate nurse
Six more graduates are expected to commence in local facilities in May 2023:
- Temora District Hospital – 1 graduate nurse
- Cootamundra District Hospital – 1 graduate nurse
- Young District Hospital – 1 graduate nurse
- Junee MPS – 1 graduate nurse
- Boorowa MPS – 1 graduate nurse
- Murrumburrah-Harden – 1 graduate nurse
And a further four graduates are expected to commence in August 2023:
- Murrumburrah-Harden – 1 graduate nurse
- Young District Hospital – 1 graduate nurse
- Boorowa MPS – 1 graduate nurse
- Coolamon MPS – 1 graduate nurse
Minister for Regional Health Bronnie Taylor said more than a third of the record number of graduates beginning their careers with NSW Health have chosen to work in our rural and regional hospitals.
“It is so wonderful to see so many nurses and midwives either choosing to move to the bush or returning home so they can care for their communities,” Mrs Taylor said.
The latest statewide intake of graduate nurses and midwives is an 18 per cent increase on last year. It is also the largest intake of any state or territory in Australia.
NSW Health has the largest health system in the country and employs more than 53,000 nurses and midwives, more than ever before.
Overall, between mid-2012 and mid-2022 NSW Health increased its workforce by an additional 25,700 full time equivalent staff – an increase of 25.2 per cent, including 9,340 more nurses and midwives, 4,140 more doctors, and 2,490 more allied health staff.
The NSW Government recently announced the largest workforce boost in the nation’s history in the 2022-23 Budget with a $4.5 billion investment over four years for 10,148 full-time equivalent (FTE) staff to hospitals and health services across NSW.
