Doctors, nurses, midwives and allied health professionals will be offered incentives of up to $10,000 to fill critical jobs in rural and regional Victoria under a new plan from the Liberals and Nationals.
The Liberals and Nationals will invest $40 million over four years to establish a Victorian Rural Health Workforce Incentive Scheme, helping regional hospitals attract and keep the health workers they desperately need.
Under Labor, many health workers are competing for jobs in Melbourne while hospitals outside the city struggle to fill critical vacancies.
Under the scheme, eligible health workers will receive upfront financial support of up to $10,000 and receive further incentives of up to $10,000 for each year they remain in the role.
Financial supports may include direct cash payments, or payments to cover relocation and accommodation costs and will be based on a successful model operating in New South Wales.
The Liberals and Nationals will also tackle one of the biggest barriers to attracting workers to the regions: somewhere to live.
Where suitable, accommodation for health workers will be incorporated into new regional hospital developments, including West Gippsland Hospital and Mildura Base Public Hospital.
It means more health workers in regional hospitals, fewer critical vacancies and better access to healthcare closer to home.
Leader of the Opposition Jess Wilson said: “Regional Victoria is a fantastic place to live, work and build a career, and we want to create more opportunities for our brightest health professionals to do just that.”
“More doctors, nurses and midwives in our regions means stronger local hospitals, better care closer to home and less pressure on our entire health system.”
Shadow Minister for Health Georgie Crozier said: “We want to better connect our growing health workforce with the rural and regional hospitals that need them.”
“This is about filling critical vacancies today, while building a strong and stable regional health workforce for the future.”
Shadow Minister for Mental Health, Emma Kealy said: “This is a great chance for some of Victoria’s best and brightest health professionals to get ahead by setting themselves up in regional Victoria.”
“Regional Victorians are crying out for a fair share and deserve to have the same mental health resources available to those living in metropolitan areas.”
