In a bid to attract midwives to regional NSW, the state government os offering a $20,000 sign-on bonus to those who choose to relocate and start work in rural, regional and remote NSW, as part of a trial starting later this month.

The trial, which forms part of the NSW Government’s Rural Health Workforce Incentive Scheme, will run for six months from 30 September 2024 to 31 March 2025, and is aimed at boosting the regional midwifery workforce to better support mothers, their babies, and families.

The one-off payment will be available for midwives relocating and starting new roles in Modified Monash Model level three to level seven facilities.

Attracting health workers to regional, rural and remote locations is a challenge for all health jurisdictions and governments.

The Rural Health Workforce Incentive Scheme is supported by a broad suite of initiatives introduced by the Minns Labour Government to further strengthen the state’s health workforce, including:

• Implementing the Safe Staffing Levels initiative in our emergency departments
• Providing permanent funding for 1,112 FTE nurses and midwives on an ongoing basis
• Abolishing the wages cap and delivering the highest pay increase in over a decade for nurses and other health workers
• Beginning to roll out 500 additional paramedics in regional, rural and remote communities.
• An investment of an additional $200.1 million to deliver more health worker accommodation in regional, rural and remote communities.

For more information on eligibility for the sign-on bonus and to apply for a midwifery position, visit the NSW Health website.

The Nurses and Midwives Association have been striking to increase wages by 15%, which is claimed to be the lowest wage in the country. Some Northern NSW nurses and midwives have left NSW to work in Queensland hospitals due to the higher pay. This begs the question, will a $20,000 bonus be enough incentive to attract midwives to Northern NSW?

Minister for Health Ryan Park, “This Government is committed to attracting and retaining more healthcare workers to regional, rural and remote areas to ensure people living in these communities can receive high-quality, timely care close to home.

“I’ve said this countless times, worker shortages in our regional, rural and remote communities is the biggest single challenge facing our health system.

“Midwives support the birth of almost 100,000 babies right across our state each year, regardless of where a family lives the importance of providing women, their partners and families with high quality, compassionate care cannot be underestimated.

“With this innovative trial, we are looking at new ways to fill critical vacancies in our regions so we can build a stronger and more supported regional health workforce.”