The Minister for Health, Mental Health and Ambulance Services Shannon Fentiman is excited to announce that 13 new graduate nurses have launched their careers with the Central West Hospital and Health Service.
The 13 graduate nurses will each undertake a six-month rotation at Longreach, Blackall, Barcaldine, and Winton as part of their 12-month graduate transition program and are a welcome addition to the region’s workforce.
At the end of their first six-month rotation, they will have the opportunity to work at another facility, with Longreach rotating with Winton and Blackall rotating with Barcaldine.
The graduate nurses will work in clinical areas including hospital wards and emergency departments, as well as in primary health care and mental health.
This year, four of the new graduate nurses have family connections in the region, while others previously had undertaken student placements in the Central West.
Central West Health is also partnering with the Queensland Ambulance Service for the first time to support the rotation of two dual-degree nursing/paramedic graduates in the region.
These nurses will do a rotation at Alpha Multipurpose Health Service to support the hospital-based ambulance there and then they will be posted to a QAS station elsewhere for a rotation with QAS.
The Miles Government is committed to bolstering Queensland Health’s workforce, investing $40.6 million in the 2023-24 budget to attract and employ more staff.
Quotes attributable to Minister for Health, Mental Health, and Ambulance Services Shannon Fentiman:
“Right across Queensland, we are recruiting new doctors, nurses, and other clinicians to continue the delivery of world-class healthcare to rural, remote, and regional communities across the state.
“I’m so excited for these 13 new nurses who are embarking on a year of learning within the Central West Hospital and Health Service and gaining unique skills in rural healthcare.
“Our frontline workers do a wonderful job providing world-class healthcare to our community and I know the 13 new interns are a much-welcome boost to the workforce.
“Their passion and dedication towards meeting the health needs of their communities is inspiring and I wish them all the best for the year ahead.”
Quotes attributable to Central West Hospital and Health Service new nurse graduate Kelsey Salmond from Barcaldine:
(Born in Barcaldine, Ms Salmond did her nursing degree with Central Queensland University and completed the degree over the past year while also working as an Enrolled Nurse at Barcaldine.)
“It’s really exciting moving on now to the next stage of my professional career while still being able to live and work here in my hometown in Barcaldine,’’ she said.
“I’ve always been interested in health care and it’s really rewarding working in a rural community, where you get to know everyone well.’’
Quotes attributable to Central West Hospital and Health Service new nurse graduate Eleanor Orchard-Gibb:
(Ms Orchard-Gibb is from Ashwell, near Ipswich. She did her nursing degree through the Australian Catholic University in Brisbane and has close family connections in Blackall.)
“My grandma and grand-dad and my mother are from Blackall, and I still have family and friends there that I’m keen to catch up with,’’ she said.
“Originally, I planned to train as a vet. But my mum and dad said I would make a great nurse as I really care for people and love looking after them, which got me thinking.
“I also realised it was a career choice I could travel with and work anywhere.
“So, during O week, I decided to change courses and study nursing.
“I’m so excited to be heading out to Blackall now to start my career and reconnecting with everyone there.’’