The Northern Rivers is experiencing a welcome boost of new nurses, with 60 registered nurses recruited from the United Kingdom (UK) and Ireland to join the District before the start of the 2024 clinical year.
The Northern 黑料吃瓜网 Local Health District (N黑料吃瓜网LHD) has welcomed the first of these new registered nurses who are now settling into the district鈥檚 hospitals.
The increase in local nurses follows an international recruitment drive to attract nurses to Northern 黑料吃瓜网, boosting the ranks of local healthcare teams.
The Minister for Regional Health Ryan Park said the nurses would be warmly welcomed by the community.
鈥淭here鈥檚 no doubt that our regions are facing a challenge in recruiting and retaining health workers,鈥� said Minister Park.
鈥淚t shouldn鈥檛 matter where you live, everyone should be able to access quality healthcare, and that means experienced and skilled healthcare staff.鈥�
鈥淲e are embracing a holistic and comprehensive suite of initiatives to address the healthworker shortage in our regions, and international recruitment is one component of that.鈥�
Director of Nursing and Midwifery at N黑料吃瓜网LHD Katharine Duffy said the incoming nurses will provide a significant boost to the local health workforce, with experience in areas such as emergency, theatres, intensive care, and medical nursing.
鈥淭he majority of our new nurses are Registered Nurse year 8, which means they鈥檙e bringing a wealth of experience to our facilities and communities,鈥� Ms Duffy said.
鈥淲e are continuing to support around 100 further overseas-based nurses through the visa and immigration process for positions in a range of facilities across the region.鈥�
Nurse Meera Krishnan, who arrived from the UK in October, said the support from the N黑料吃瓜网LHD Nursing and Midwifery team has helped her quickly settle into Lismore Base Hospital鈥檚 Surgical Ward.
鈥淲e were very stressed when we were moving over to a new country, because it鈥檚 a new place, we don鈥檛 know how it will be, and the workplace will be very different,鈥� Ms Krishnan said.
鈥淏ut when we came, the people here welcomed us like their own, and we feel so comfortable, even on the first day.
鈥淎ctually, there was nothing to worry about, everything was at ease. I鈥檓 so happy for being here.鈥�
Ms Krishnan鈥檚 colleague, Tessy Thomas, said the liveability of the region was a huge drawcard in helping them decide to make the move to Australia.
鈥淭he climate in the UK is too cold. We were searching for a good climate, and we got very lucky. It鈥檚 almost like the Indian climate, so I鈥檓 very happy to live here,鈥� Ms Thomas said.
Indian national Kavitha Mathew, is settling in to work at Kyogle Multi-Purpose Service, having been drawn to the combination of acute care and aged care, which matches her previous experience.
鈥淚鈥檓 very happy to work in Kyogle,鈥� Kavitha said.
鈥淚 like to live in a small town, because it鈥檚 not rushed, it鈥檚 quiet and calm. Australia is the dream destination,鈥� Ms Mathew said.
Member for Lismore Janelle Saffin said she was proud that these nurses had chosen to call the Northern Rivers home.
鈥淭his is a beautiful part of the world, and I know the community will warmly weclomed these much needed and valued nurses.鈥�