Member for Barwon, Roy Butler, spearheaded a meeting in Nyngan last Friday, in response to Bogan Shire Council’s need for medical and nursing staff in the town, which is leaving beds closed and putting the community at risk. 

Mayor Glen Neill who has pinned this issue at the top of his list, is very concerned for his constituents and was only too pleased to be able to work with Mr. Butler, in a culmination of resources, beginning with the introduction of an advisory panel to address the problem and to look at ways to overcome the staff shortages facing Nyngan and surrounding area. 



Under the guidance of Josh Carey Western NSW LHD, Executive Director, Service Delivery and Jenny Griffiths Nyngan Health Service Manager, those present were provided with statistics currently affecting the local Health system and how the lack of nursing staff in particular was putting pressure on not only the nurses themselves but patient care and availability of beds for those in acute and non-acute situations, as well as use of ambulance services and patient transfer for the town.  

Roy Butler who facilitated the first meeting, was joined by John Clements, Miranda Fry and Troy Lennon from his team, to provide the group with information that may assist to reach their goals. 

“The Working Group on Nyngan MPS had its first meeting last Friday,” said Mr. Butler. “The panel was made up of a range of community stakeholders including local farmers, a mining representative, members of the Bogan Shire Council, the Aboriginal Land Council, and medical staff from the Local Health District.” 

“The working group discussed the number of beds available in Nyngan, patient transfers, the challenges with recruiting new staff, retaining existing staff, accommodating staff and some possible ways forward.,” he said.  

“Hopefully the group will help generate some useful solutions to Nyngan’s issues that I can take to the health minister. It was great to work with the council on facilitating the first meeting.” 

The panel (The Working Group on Nyngan MPS) which will be headed by former Bogan Shire Mayor Ray Donald, will be looking at recruitment methods via advertising through local Social Media and Recruitment agencies and coaxing qualified International Nurses to the town, already in the pipeline, even discussing a FIFO (fly in fly out) option that may be more attractive to some.  

PHOTO: Derek Francis General Manager Bogan Shire Council  

With Nyngan currently desperate for Registered Nurses, the Shire is encouraging locals to hop on board by applying for bursaries and nursing scholarships, school-based traineeships and Indigenous grants that could ultimately earn them a spot at the Hospital. 

The group also discussed infrastructure difficulties that needed to be addressed such as accommodation for staff and childcare if needed, highlighting the big picture for recruiting people to small, rural communities. 

“As a community we appreciate our local state MP Roy Butler’s commitment to helping resolve this long-standing issue, “ said Bogan Shire Council General Manager Derek Francis. 

“Both Council and our community acknowledge the impact that the last few years in particular have had on our local nurses, and we appreciate the hard work and dedication of the team at the Nyngan MPS.” 

“We understand that the shortage of nurses is an Australia-wide problem and we have been assured by senior management from the Western NSW Local Health District that they are doing all they can to recruit nurses to the Nyngan MPS,” he said.  

“We look forward to the Panel achieving some results in our search for Nurses and we will continue to use all of our resources to bring this to fruition,” said Bogan Shire Mayor Glen Neill.  

“We know there is work to be done but with the experience and skills of those on the Panel we are sure we can make headway into this pressing issue,” he said.