FAR West Local Health District welcomed 23 newly registered nurses and midwives this week, as they begin their journey gaining first-hand experience in rural health settings.
The graduates are among the 3600 who will begin work in 130 NSW public hospitals and health facilities this year.
FWLHD’s intake included three local nurses and one midwife, in addition to nurses and midwives relocating from elsewhere in NSW and interstate.
The new graduates joined FWLHD under its GradStart program, which exposes graduates to different clinical and professional settings, thereby enhancing their nursing and midwifery knowledge and clinical skill development.
The GradStart program places nurses in Broken Hill, Wentworth, Ivanhoe, Wilcannia, Tibooburra and Balranald, and introduces a placement in Menindee for the first time.
FWLHD executive director of nursing and midwifery Wendy Gleeson said she was delighted to welcome the new graduates and wished them all the best in their new careers.
“Our new graduates are very welcome to the Far West LHD and are a timely boost to our workforce in the district,” she said.
“It’s exciting to see the next generation of nurses and midwives begin their career, given that many were busily finishing their university education and clinical placements during the COVID-19 pandemic.”
They are supported by clinical nurse educators and will gain experience across a broad range of services including in emergency, intensive and remote care, as well as in community and primary health care.
“The experiences the graduates will gain is invaluable and unique to the Far West,” Ms Gleeson said.
“They gain first-hand experience of working in our remote facilities and engaging with and living within communities, which we hope will encourage them to consider a career in our region.”
The graduates were undergoing orientation during their first week, meeting staff, mentors, and managers who will support their transition from undergraduates to registered nurses and midwives. The orientation includes NSW Ambulance training for those graduates working in remote sites.
