A record 25 new graduate nurses and midwives will begin, or have already started, their life-saving careers in the Clarence Valley.
The new graduates are in addition to seven Enrolled Nurses who are also joining the local ranks.
Clarence Nationals' MP Chris Gulaptis, who is not recontesting the March 25 election, welcomed some of the new nurses at Grafton Base Hospital alongside the Clarence Nationals candidate who is bidding to succeed him, popular former Mayor Richie Williamson.
"Chris and I offer you the warmest of welcomes to the Clarence Valley – you have made a choice you will not regret," Mr Williamson said.
"Those of you working in Maclean will be in one of the region's friendliest communities and those of you working here in Grafton will soon be enjoying Australia's newest state-of-the art hospital thanks to a multi-million dollar upgrade secured by the Nationals in NSW Government."
Nationals Minister for Regional Health Bronnie Taylor, a former nurse, said more than a third of the record number of graduates beginning their careers with NSW Health have chosen to work in regional hospitals.
"It is 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 state-wide 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.
The NSW Government 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 staff to hospitals and health services across NSW.
