Victoria’s healthcare workforce will receive the largest boost in history under a comprehensive new plan announced recently by the Victorian Nationals.
As a key part of the Nationals’ plan to fix the health crisis, a new $325 million Future Health Workforce Plan will recruit, upskill, better manage, and support the staff we need to return confidence to our health system.
The plan will deliver an additional 18,000 new and upskilled nurses and midwives across the public and private sectors, on top of the 22,000 promised by the Andrews Labor Government.
The $325 million Future Health Workforce Plan, will deliver;
- 25,000 scholarships to fully offset the upfront HECS debts of nursing and midwifery students
- 10,000 scholarships for existing nurses and midwives to upgrade their skills with postgraduate and specialist training fully paid to upskill to new roles
- The immediate recruitment of 5,000 new nurses and midwives and 2,000 new other health workers by funding re-training fees and establishing a new visa subclass for international health workers.
Nationals Member for Ovens Valley, Tim McCurdy, said that the plan will help to alleviate pressure points in the local health system right across the Ovens Valley.
“This is a plan that will have a real impact in the Ovens Valley. Our health system is on its knees thanks to the Andrews Government, and we will fix it.
“Because we will shelve the Cheltenham to Box Hill rail line, we will be putting every cent back into health, particularly in regional Victoria.
“Our current health staff are run off their feet, and need more support, and more staff to maximise patient care.”
Mr McCurdy continued, stating that the regional hospitals will greatly benefit from the extra skill and knowledge that will be available under this plan.
“By giving scholarships for post-graduate learning, we are encouraging local nurses and doctors to upskill, and to bring that knowledge back into the health system.
“For far too long this Government has forgotten about the community in regional health. Only a Nationals Government will ensure that the local community is at the forefront of health”