KERANG District Health will be among close to 30 hospitals to benefit from the creation of 1000 more part-time jobs for nursing and midwifery students across Victoria.
Premier Daniel Andrews last week announced that Kerang District Health was one of 29 health facilities to share in the first 1000 new undergraduate student nurse positions funded in the 2022/23 budget.
The government has invested $59 million into the program, which will create 1125 registered undergraduate student nurse positions per year for two years and provide $9.8 million to create 75 registered undergraduate student midwife positions.
Mr Andrews said the program provided immediate support to Victoria’s existing nursing workforce, which was facing record demand due to a challenging flu season, a rise in hospital admissions caused by the emergence of new COVID variants, and an increasing number of unwell healthcare workers, while also investing in the healthcare system for years to come.
“We know there is a lot of pressure, a lot of challenge in our health system at the moment, and that is because we have so many staff that are away sick, so many patients that need treatment,” he said.
“Our nurses, hospitals and universities all agree this student employment model is making a real difference, giving our experienced nurses extra support and giving our students the experience to deliver the best possible care.”
Working under the supervision of a registered nurse or midwife, students will help with showering, feeding and transferring patients and, over time, will take on more complex tasks, such as monitoring vital signs, testing blood glucose levels and dressing minor wounds.
Health Minister Mary-Anne Thomas said the program was all about ensuring the government was delivering and supporting the heath care workforce of the future and assisting the existing workforce.
“What a great opportunity for our student nurses, student mid-wives to be able to take on paid employment here in a hospital setting, a real life setting, working with very experienced staff,” she said.
