With the resounding health issues in the bush, any efforts to boost the industry is welcomed, yet inevitably met with scepticism following failed attempts of the past. 

The most recent regional health workforce incentive scheme has been dubbed ‘the biggest shakeup of its time’. The community won’t believe it until they see it. 

According to Minister for Regional NSW Paul Toole, the $833 million package to be delivered over four years, the investment will attract and retain staff in rural and regional NSW by transforming the way health clinicians are incentivised in the bush. 

“This package delivers on the NSW Government’s commitment to strengthen the regional health workforce, ensuring that more than three million people who live, work and play in rural and regional NSW continue to have access to high quality healthcare well into the future,” Mr Toole said. 



Among the incentives include a $10,000 sign on bonus, additional leave, relocation reimbursement and study assistance. 

While the big budgets and big plains sound promising, it feels familiar to the federal government’s Workforce Incentive Program, Stronger Rural Health Strategy and the current Allied Health Rural HECS-HELP Incentive Package delivered by the NSW Government. 

Member for Barwon Roy Butler said while any move is welcome, recruitment won’t come easy. 

“It is hard to see how a $10,000 payment is enough to make people uproot themselves, go west and settle down,” Mr Butler said. 

The appeal of recruitment can’t just be achieved through incentivising the jobs, according to Mr Butler, but making rural communities a viable lifestyle shift. 

“The incentive payment needs to be part of a larger package that makes regional areas more attractive places to live, by improving childcare, schools, roads, housing, having retail outlets with access to affordable fresh produce, better telecommunications, working on problems with law and order,” Mr Butler said.

Like Mr Butler, Australian College of Nursing (ACN) Acting CEO Yvonne Mckinlay said a multifaceted approach is necessary.

“This week’s announcement will be a starting point in addressing the complex challenge of growing and maintaining a sustainable nursing workforce," Ms McKinlay said.

“I also welcome the Prime Minister’s announcement today highlighting the visa backlog must be addressed to allow migration to be harnessed to combat skills shortages across the country.”

While nurses and doctors have largely been at the centre of the staffing shortage, the package will focus on a wider range, aiming to attract midwives, paramedics, pathologists and scientific staff, pharmacists and allied health professionals, as well as support and ancillary staff.

The investment is a part of a government goal to attract over 10,000 full-time staff across NSW in four years. 

3,800 of those positions are dedicated to regional areas.

NSW Treasurer Matt Kean says that NSW is providing the nation’s largest ever health workforce boost. 

“We believe that access to the ebay quality healthcare shouldn’t be a postcode lottery,” Mr Kean said. 

The regional health inquiry, however, revealed that more than staff numbers need to change to close the gap between city and country when it comes to health.