The ACT public health workforce is continuing to grow with more than 360 new graduate health professionals joining Canberra Health Services in recent weeks.
This latest cohort of health professional graduates includes more than 200 nurses and midwives, who have joined 96 Junior Medical Officer interns and 59 Allied Health graduates starting their first year of supported practice in Canberra's public health system.
Minister for Health Rachel Stephen-Smith said it was an exciting time to join Canberra Health Services, as the government continued to bolster the health workforce and deliver modern, state-of-the-art infrastructure and equipment to support patient-centred treatment and care.
"It is great to see so many graduate nurses, midwives, doctors and allied health professionals from our local universities and across the country starting their careers in Canberra's public health system. They will be supported to learn and grow in our hospitals and community health care facilities, treating patients and working alongside more experienced team members," Minister Stephen-Smith said.
"Each and every graduate plays an important role in our health service and contributes to the quality care that is provided to our community. Through these graduate programs we are continuing to build and develop our workforce, with our expert senior staff providing guidance and support."
The graduate nurses, medical interns and allied health professionals will be placed across Canberra Health Services including at Canberra Hospital, North Canberra Hospital, University of Canberra Hospital, Justice Health, outpatient clinics, community health care centres, Hospital in the Home, and South-East NSW, where they will experience a broad range of specialities across their rotations.
Canberra Health Services' graduate nurses are joining as part three programs – the graduate Transition to Practice Program, North Canberra Hospital's existing graduate program, and the new Novice Nurse Consolidation Program, which offers an alternative pathway to join the nursing workforce for those who may only be able to work part-time or hold a working visa – but are doing their orientation together for the first time.
"Holding one orientation for all our graduate nurse programs is a great way to coordinate the dedicated support services for our newest team members, as well as building cohesion and belonging," Minister Stephen-Smith said.
"This is also the first time that Canberra Health Services has centralised its allied health graduate recruitment into one program and Canberra Health Services is one of the few health services in Australia to offer a centralised, coordinated and comprehensive allied health graduate program across different professions."
The Government's $8.5 million investment in the 2023-24 Budget to develop and strengthen the Junior Medical Officer workforce will also mean more dedicated resources are available to our trainee medical officers to support and retain them in Canberra Health Services.
"I warmly welcome all our new graduates and trust that with the teaching, mentorship and supports available, they will have an exciting and fulfilling journey ahead in Canberra's public health system," Minister Stephen-Smith said.
Quote from Kellie Lang, Executive Director of Nursing, Midwifery and Patient Support Services, Canberra Health Services:
"It is exciting to have so many nurses and midwives join our organisation. I look forward to watching them put their passion for caring into practice as they begin their nursing and midwifery careers.
"We have a lot of hardworking teams who are really looking forward to sharing their expertise and knowledge with them to support their entry into the workforce and ongoing development."
Quote from Judy Ryall, Executive Director Nursing and Midwifery, North Canberra Hospital, Canberra Health Services:
"Welcoming the newly graduated nurses and midwives is always a real pleasure for North Canberra Hospital.
"The new starters bring a great amount of enthusiasm and energy into our services and teams, and it is hugely fulfilling for all our staff to support and guide these new health professionals at a critical time in their career."
