The Northern Rivers is experiencing a welcome boost of new nurses, with 60 registered nurses recruited from the United Kingdom (UK) and Ireland to join the District before the start of the 2024 clinical year.
The Northern NSW Local Health District (NNSWLHD) has welcomed the first of these new registered nurses who are now settling into the district's hospitals.
The increase in local nurses follows an international recruitment drive to attract nurses to Northern NSW, boosting the ranks of local healthcare teams.
The Minister for Regional Health Ryan Park said the nurses would be warmly welcomed by the community.
"There's no doubt that our regions are facing a challenge in recruiting and retaining health workers," said Minister Park.
"It shouldn't matter where you live, everyone should be able to access quality healthcare, and that means experienced and skilled healthcare staff."
"We are embracing a holistic and comprehensive suite of initiatives to address the healthworker shortage in our regions, and international recruitment is one component of that."
Director of Nursing and Midwifery at NNSWLHD Katharine Duffy said the incoming nurses will provide a significant boost to the local health workforce, with experience in areas such as emergency, theatres, intensive care, and medical nursing.
"The majority of our new nurses are Registered Nurse year 8, which means they're bringing a wealth of experience to our facilities and communities," Ms Duffy said.
"We are continuing to support around 100 further overseas-based nurses through the visa and immigration process for positions in a range of facilities across the region."
Nurse Meera Krishnan, who arrived from the UK in October, said the support from the NNSWLHD Nursing and Midwifery team has helped her quickly settle into Lismore Base Hospital's Surgical Ward.
"We were very stressed when we were moving over to a new country, because it's a new place, we don't know how it will be, and the workplace will be very different," Ms Krishnan said.
"But when we came, the people here welcomed us like their own, and we feel so comfortable, even on the first day.
"Actually, there was nothing to worry about, everything was at ease. I'm so happy for being here."
Ms Krishnan's colleague, Tessy Thomas, said the liveability of the region was a huge drawcard in helping them decide to make the move to Australia.
"The climate in the UK is too cold. We were searching for a good climate, and we got very lucky. It's almost like the Indian climate, so I'm very happy to live here," Ms Thomas said.
Indian national Kavitha Mathew, is settling in to work at Kyogle Multi-Purpose Service, having been drawn to the combination of acute care and aged care, which matches her previous experience.
"I'm very happy to work in Kyogle," Kavitha said.
"I like to live in a small town, because it's not rushed, it's quiet and calm. Australia is the dream destination," Ms Mathew said.
Member for Lismore Janelle Saffin said she was proud that these nurses had chosen to call the Northern Rivers home.
"This is a beautiful part of the world, and I know the community will warmly weclomed these much needed and valued nurses."
