By James Merlino
We know that the pandemic continues to place unprecedented pressure on our healthcare workers. And with unprecedented demand, we need unprecedented growth in our workforce.
That’s why the Andrews Labor Government has announced a significant boost to our healthcare system. To relieve the pressure the pandemic continues to put on our healthcare system, we’re making it free to become a nurse or midwife in Victoria from 2023.
More than 17,000 nurses and midwives will be recruited and trained as part of a massive hiring and upskilling initiative – building an army of home-grown health workers to care for Victorians.
This means that more than 10,000 students will have the cost of their nursing or midwifery degree paid for, with scholarships available for those who complete postgraduate studies in areas of need.
We will also encourage former nurses who want to return to the profession to do so by paying them $10,000 to study while they refresh their qualifications for free.
The initiative, together with the $12 billion Pandemic Repair Plan brings the number of nurses and midwives being supported to more than 20,000, including 13,000 nursing and midwifery positions and scholarships, and funding the upskilling of 8,500 nurses.
It will make studying nursing cheaper for students, attract new people to nursing and midwifery, and give our healthcare system a much-needed boost.
We know that there is no use building an empty shell if you don’t have the workforce to staff it – and that’s why this investment in our people is so important.
Victoria is home to world leading nurse to patient ratios, we have the hardest working, smartest and most committed healthcare workforce in the world.
A career in nursing is incredibly rewarding. It’s a job that literally saves lives. But we need more pairs of helping hands.
This program will begin when study starts in early next year. So, if you’re in year 12 or considering nursing or midwifery as a career – now is the time to go for it.
Visit Study nursing and midwifery free from 2023 at health.vic.gov.au for more information.
