The program for key healthcare roles is to be expanded across NSW over the next three years.
A highly successful regional, rural and remote deployment program for key healthcare roles is set to be expanded over the next three years.
The NSW Health initiative recruits nurses, midwives and allied health professionals to short term placements across the state.
The NSW Health Deployment Program was first established in May 2023 to create a pipeline of skilled health professionals for short-term roles.
The short-term positions of between two and 13 weeks offer healthcare professionals the opportunity to travel and work in regional, rural and remote parts of NSW they may never have visited, with accommodation and travel costs covered.
The department is seeking healthcare workers from more than 20 professions including nurses, midwives and allied health professionals for a range of short-term positions in hospitals and health facilities across NSW.
So far the program has seen 90 staff undertake hundreds of deployments across the state in priority roles such as nursing, midwifery, occupational therapy, podiatry, speech pathology and physiotherapy. This number is to be increased to about 400 places to further strengthen support to regional, rural and remote areas.
NSW Health Rural and Regional Health deputy secretary Luke Sloane said the deployment program offered a “fantastic career opportunity for a range of healthcare staff who are seeking new experiences and a career reset as well as a great lifestyle change”.
“It’s also an incredibly rewarding personal experience, with many who take part forming new friendships in close-knit communities who welcome them with open arms,” he said.
NSW Health Deployment Program participant speech pathologist Saffron Foy said she joined the initiative because she wanted “a bit of a change and I loved the experience of working in unique and supportive rural communities”.
“At first it was a little nerve wracking, but the teams I was deployed to were so welcoming and inclusive that the nerves were shaken pretty quickly,” she said.
“I really recommend giving it a go and experiencing something new because it lets you experience a different lifestyle and allows you to improve and expand your skills.”
Regional health minister Ryan Park said recruitment and retention of healthcare staff in rural, regional and remote hospitals was one of the biggest, if not the biggest issue the state health system faced.
“This is a fantastic and unique opportunity for staff to expand their skills and also immerse themselves into a new community,” he said.
“This innovative program is not only attracting health workers to regional, rural and remote communities but also strengthening these areas by maintaining essential health services.
“These deployments give health workers the chance to explore and immerse themselves in new communities, and pleasingly I’ve heard stories of many health professionals who have found the experience so rewarding they’ve chosen to stay, providing lasting benefits for patients, the community and the health system.”
Healthcare workers seeking a role with NSW Health or current staff are encouraged to register their interest via the NSW Health website.