Across the state, more than 3,400 graduate nurses and midwives will commence work in the NSW public health system.

The graduates will gain invaluable experience across a broad range of clinical settings, as well as in community healthcare.

The NSW Government is undertaking an ambitious plan to strengthen the state's health workforce, including through:

• Implementing safe staffing levels of nurses and midwives beginning in our emergency departments;
• making permanent 1,112 nursing roles temporarily funded by the former government;
• abolishing the wages cap and delivering record pay increases for nurses, paramedics and other health workers as well as salary packaging;
• beginning to roll out 500 additional paramedics in regional, rural and remote communities; and
• increasing the rural health workforce incentive scheme package from $10,000 to up to $20,000 for recruitment to our hardest to fill roles
• Introducing a total of 12,000 tertiary health study subsidies of $4,000 a year over three years for newly commencing students, or one off $8,000 for existing students paid upon commencement in a role in NSW Health, to assist with the cost of study and to attract health graduates to work with the NSW public health system.

Quotes attributable to Health Minister Ryan Park:

“I welcome these graduates who have chosen a rewarding career not only with NSW Health but also Illawarra Shoalhaven LHD and thank them for their commitment to providing high quality, compassionate healthcare to the people of NSW.

“NSW has one of the best health systems in the world, and throughout their career I am determined to give these new nurses and midwives the support they need to make it even better.”

Quotes attributable to Member for Wollongong Paul Scully:

“This is great news for Wollongong and Wollongong Hospital. Our hospital has been under considerable pressure for over a decade, and the addition of these nurses will enhance health services in the growing region.

“I’m thrilled these new graduates have chosen to begin their meaningful careers in Wollongong and have no doubt their skills will develop quickly as they work alongside our region’s skilled health professionals.”

Quotes attributable to Member for Shellharbour Anna Watson:

“It’s wonderful to have so many graduate nurses and midwives join the health care profession in this fast growing region.”

“My community is very grateful to our amazing Health Minister, Ryan Park MP, for delivering on the Minns Labor Government’s promise to strengthen the healthcare workforce so we can all access high quality healthcare across the Illawarra and Shoalhaven.”

Quotes attributable to Member for Heathcote Maryanne Stuart:

“I am so proud to be a member of the NSW Minns Government implementing safe staffing levels, abolishing the wages cap and recruiting new health workers to the NSW public health system.

“Congratulations to the new graduate Nurses and Midwives – welcome!”

Quotes attributable to Member for South Coast Liza Butler:

“I am proud to be part of a government that is listening and focused on improving healthcare for the community and putting people first, especially in regional areas.

“I congratulate all the new graduates and wish them a long and rewarding career in the health care sector in NSW.”

Quotes attributable to Sarah Kaine MLC:

“Our healthcare workers from the Kiama electorate, and the Illawarra Shoalhaven LHD more broadly, work incredibly hard to ensure that patients receive the care they need, but we know they’ve had to contend with an unfair wages cap and 12 years of Liberal-National neglect of our healthcare system that have led to problems with recruitment and retention of workers.

“We know we need more healthcare workers in the Illawarra Shoalhaven LHD and these 173 graduate nurses and midwives will be a welcome boost to the local healthcare workforce.”