Communities across NSW are benefitting from a major boost to the state’s medical workforce – with more than 1000 medical graduate interns starting work in NSW public hospitals this month.
Minister for Health Ryan Park today met with some of the more than 120 new junior doctors working across hospitals in south-western Sydney.
Interns are medical graduates who have completed their medical degree and are required to complete a supervised year of practice in order to become independent practitioners.
The interns will work with and learn from NSW Health’s experienced and highly skilled medical staff in one of the world’s best health systems.
The new doctors starting their internship will be entering a training program with networked hospitals throughout the state, providing formal and on-the-job training.
They receive 2-year contracts to rotate between metropolitan, regional and rural hospitals to ensure the diversity of their experience.
They also rotate across different specialties during the intern year, including surgery, medicine and emergency medicine.
The NSW Government is undertaking an ambitious plan to rebuild the state’s health workforce, including through:
- implementing safe staffing levels of nurses and midwives beginning in our emergency departments
- saving 1112 temporary nurses by making them permanent
- 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
- doubling the health worker study subsidies.
Minister for Health Ryan Park said:
“I wish these new junior doctors all the very best for a long and rewarding career in the NSW public health system.
“NSW employs more than 170,000 people in public hospitals across the state – making us the largest health system in Australia and a very attractive choice for young doctors looking to train in a diverse range of clinical settings.
“From doctors, to nurses, paramedics and allied health professionals – we are rebuilding an engaged, capable and supported workforce.
“When we boost and support our health workforce, we will see improved health outcomes, it’s as simple as that.”