More than 200 new graduate nurses, midwives and doctors will start work across the Central Coast this year, providing a significant boost to the growing region's health services.
A total of 138 new nurses and midwives will gain experience in a variety of clinical settings, including emergency departments, acute services, maternity, mental health, and a range of other specialities across the Central Coast Local Health District.
They are among the more than 3,200 graduate nurses and midwives who will commence work across the NSW public health system this year in multidisciplinary teams, alongside experienced staff who will support them to gain the skills and knowledge required to care for the state's diverse communities.
They join the 69 new graduate intern doctors who are now calling the Central Coast home, having joined the Local Health District in recent weeks.
Having completed their orientation, the junior doctors are already providing care to local patients and much needed support to the region's hardworking health staff.
Interns are medical graduates who have completed their medical degree and are required to complete a supervised year of practice in order to gain general registration.
The interns will work with and learn from NSW Health's experienced and highly skilled medical staff in one of the world's best health systems.
The new doctors starting their internship will be entering a training program with networked hospitals throughout the state, providing formal and on-the-job training.
They receive two-year contracts to rotate between metropolitan, regional and rural hospitals to ensure the diversity of their experience.
The interns also rotate across different specialties during the intern year, including surgery, medicine and emergency medicine.
This is part of the Minns Labor Government's plan to build an engaged, capable and supported workforce, by:
- Abolishing the wages cap and delivering the largest wage increase to healthcare workers in a decade
- Implementing ratios in our emergency departments
- Saving 1,112 nurses which the Liberal Government planned to sack
- Supporting our future health workforce by providing them with study subsidies.
Minister for Health, Ryan Park said:
"I want to thank each and every one of these graduate nurses and midwives for choosing to work here in Australia's largest health system, where they will have the opportunity to work with and learn from some of the very best.
"These new nurses and midwives will provide a welcome boost to the NSW Health workforce, delivering essential support to patients, their families and carers.
"The Minns Government is recruiting more nurses, doctors, paramedics, and allied health professionals, rebuilding the health workforce to deliver better patient outcomes."
Minister for the Central Coast and Member for Wyong, David Harris MP said:
"It is fantastic to welcome all these new graduate nurses, midwives and doctors to the Central Coast.
"Our growing population is putting increasing pressure on our region's health services and this influx of healthcare professionals will go a long way to ensuring Central Coast patients continue to receive the care they need and our frontline staff are supported.
"This boost to our local health workforce builds on the successful recruitment efforts, especially in specialst maternity staff at Gosford Hospital in the past year and the recently completed $200 million redevelopment of Wyong Hospital."
Member for Swansea, Yasmin Catley MP said:
"This is great news for the Central Coast welcoming 138 new graduate nurses and midwives.
"It builds on the work already completed including the $200 million Wyong Hospital redevelopment to ensure healthcare services are accessible for residents right here on the Coast. Every day we are fighting to improve services on the Coast."
Member for The Entrance, David Mehan MP said:
"This is a significant boost to our local health services.
"Our region continues to grow, and strengthening our local health workforce is essential to meeting that demand.
"By building a supported and engaged workforce, we're ensuring local families can access the high-quality care they deserve, close to home."
Member for Gosford, Liesl Tesch MP said:
"On behalf of the Central Coast community, I send a heartfelt welcome to the over 200 new graduate nurses, midwives and doctors who have started their journey in the Central Coast healthcare system.
"With the safe staffing initiative now in place at Gosford Hospital, this additional workforce boost will help our community receive timely care when it matters most, while backing in the dedicated frontline teams who care for them every day."
