South Australia's health system has been strengthened by more than 4,000 workers above attrition, with more nurses, doctors, paramedics and allied health staff joining the state's health system in the past four years.
New data shows that SA Health has recruited an additional 4,001 full-time equivalent (FTE) health workers since March 2022.
The health staffing boost across public hospitals and health sites shows that from March 2022 to March 2025, the Malinauskas Labor Government has recruited the following FTE staff above attrition:
Additional FTE |
FTE Growth since March 2022 |
FTE growth between March 2025 – March 2026 |
Nurses |
+ 2,091 |
+628 |
Doctors |
+ 933 |
+287 |
Allied Health |
+ 603 |
+218 |
Ambos |
+ 374 |
+73 |
TOTAL |
+ 4,001 |
+1206 |
The 2,091 additional nurses recruited, is more than six times the 300 pledged as part of the 2022 election, and more than nine times the 100 doctors targeted.
The additional staff are supporting over 600 new beds that have come online across the system since 2022, helping to deliver better healthcare South Australians.
The biggest boost has been at the Central Adelaide Local Health Network with 1,789 additional doctors, nurses and allied health workers recruited. The Southern Adelaide Local Health Network has also had a big uplift with 1,044 additional staff.
In the regions, there has been a significant shift in the health workforce, with the Yorke & Northern Local Health Network seeing an 850 per cent jump in doctors – from two in 2022, to 19 in 2026. Similarly, doctor numbers are up 600 per cent at the Eyre & Far North Local Health Network – from three in 2022 to 21 in 2026.
The SA Ambulance Service has recorded a 26 per cent growth in ambos across the state.
Recruiting health workers in regional and remote areas remains a significant challenge due to workforce shortages nationwide, and the complexities of attracting clinicians to smaller communities.
While we have seen some excellent growth in the regions, addressing these challenges requires sustained investment, targeted incentives and a strong focus on building a pipeline of local health professionals.
This is why we have significant retention and attraction incentives including up to $40,000 for doctors and relocation subsidies of up to $15,000.
As put by Blair Boyer
Strengthening our health workforce is core to strengthening our health system, and these numbers show real progress being delivered across South Australia.
These 4,000 additional full-time equivalent staff above attrition have been welcomed into hospitals and health sites across every part of our state and are making a real difference to the lives of our communities.
Seeing such strong growth in regional doctor numbers shows this government is serious about improving health care beyond metropolitan Adelaide. We know there is more to do but this is a great start to ensuring we are strengthening services in regional communities right across the state.
We will continue to invest in our health workforce to ensure South Australians can rely on a world-class public health system.
