Walgett will soon have new police officers, nurses, ambulance staff, and Department of Communities and Justice workers under a new Government initiative.  

The NSW Government this month launched a $2.5million pilot project called The Welcome Experience to help boost the number of essential frontline workers moving to regional areas to deliver vital services. 

The Government has included Walgett in one of the eight locations selected for the current 12-month pilot.  

 A spokesperson from the Department of Regional NSW said, "The NSW Government selected a variety of organization types to run The Welcome Experience during a 12-month pilot period, including Local Councils, Non-Government Organisations, and other NSW Government agencies, including Service NSW".   

"In Walgett, the Department of Regional NSW already has a strong presence on the ground and established working relationships in the community," they said.    

"A Local Connector is in the process of being employed and will come with local experience and existing knowledge of Walgett and the surrounding area."  

Minister for Agriculture, Regional and Western NSW, Tara Moriarty, said The Welcome Experience would help professionals such as nurses, teachers, and emergency services personnel move to the regions and encourage them to stay.   

Image: Visit NSW. 

She said the pilot involved essential workers and their families being assigned a 'Local Connector' to provide help on everything from schools, childcare, healthcare, joining sporting clubs, and even securing employment for their partners.

"Establishing connections, developing friendships, and support networks are important. Linking essential workers with locals that can support them every step of the way will ensure their move is a positive experience that will go a long way to helping them fall in love with regional NSW."   

Pilot locations were chosen based on essential worker vacancy rates and in consultation with agencies including NSW Police, NSW Health, Department of Education, NSW Fire & Rescue and the Department of Communities and Justice.   

The hit list

For the initial 12-month pilot period, the focus is on workers from:  

• Department of Education and Training employees, including primary and secondary school teachers and non-teaching staff    
• NSW Health employees, including nurses, allied health professionals, ambulance staff, visiting medical officers and specialists employed through the Local Health District    
• NSW Police Force employees    
• Department of Communities and Justice employees   
• NSW Fire and Rescue employees    

"All staff from the above departments who have moved to the pilot locations within the previous 12 months are eligible to participate in The Welcome Experience program," the Regional NSW Spokesperson said.