- McGowan Government supporting WA's healthcare workforce with $28.5 million of new attraction and retention initiatives funded in the 2023-24 State Budget
- HECS-HELP grants of up to $12,000 over three years to attract newly qualified nurses and midwives to work in regional WA
- Wrap-around support to be provided for up to 1200 nurse and midwife graduates at WA public hospitals
- Additional investments strengthen plan to build a skilled workforce for the future and improve Aboriginal employment opportunities
Newly qualified nurses and midwives who go to work at priority remote and regional public hospitals will be eligible for up to $12,000 over three years to pay off their HECS-HELP debt.
The 2023-24 State Budget will include $4.2 million for the HECS-HELP initiative to incentivise newly qualified nurses and midwives to work in regional Western Australia, with priority given to hard-to-staff areas.
The new initiative will be available for up to 350 recently qualified nurses and midwives who commence work in the regions in 2023-24.
The HECS-HELP fee grants are among $28.5 million in new initiatives funded in the upcoming State Budget to bolster WA's valued healthcare workforce.
The State Budget will provide $3.6 million for wrap-around support, such as mentoring, for 1200 newly qualified nurses and midwives.
This measure builds on the McGowan Government's election commitment to increase nursing and midwifery graduate placements by 400 in 2021 and 2022.
In the past 10 years, the number of graduate positions offered in WA has increased by 78 per cent, with 1,449 graduate positions offered in 2022, compared to 814 nurses and midwives accepting a graduate position in 2012.
A further $15 million in 2023-24 has been allocated for incentives to attract and retain health and mental health staff to regional WA.
The McGowan Government will also invest $1 million in 2023-24 to extend the Belong domestic and international advertising and recruitment campaign to continue to recruit healthcare workers for the WA health system. The continuation of Belong will ensure that WA remains competitive with other States that are also seeking to recruit healthcare workers internationally.
In addition, ten Aboriginal Mental Health Workers will be recruited as part of a $5.8 million boost to infant, child and adolescent (ICA) services across the State. These additional workers - a recommendation of the ICA Taskforce - will help with the provision of culturally secure and appropriate services to Western Australians requiring mental health services.
As stated by Premier Mark McGowan:
"We know HECS-HELP debts can be a significant burden for people at the start of their careers and in many cases take years to pay off.
"These new HECS-HELP grants will give nurses and midwives a significant head-start at the beginning of their careers, while boosting the workforces of remote and regional hospitals where it is most needed.
"This Budget includes a range of new initiatives designed to ensure WA is well positioned in building a skilled workforce for the future, and nurses, midwives and other healthcare workers are one of our top priorities."
As stated by Health Minister Amber-Jade Sanderson:
"Our healthcare workforce is the backbone of our public health system and we are investing in a range of measures to continue to bolster its numbers.
"Since 2020, our healthcare workforce has increased by 22 per cent, which is a huge achievement amid global workforce pressures, but we cannot stop there.
"These new initiatives will help encourage new nurses and midwives to take up the exciting challenge of working in some of the most in-demand locations across our vast State."
