The Territory Labor Government has this week welcomed 63 graduate nurses and midwives, who have begun orientation at hospitals across the Top End.
Minister for Health, Natasha Fyles said 58 have commenced at Royal Darwin Hospital and Palmerston Regional Hospital, while five have started at Katherine Hospital.
“The Northern Territory has remained the safest place in the country during the pandemic, and this has led to an increase in health staff looking to take up work in our hospitals,” said Minister Fyles.
“We welcome the addition of these new nurses and midwives into our hospitals across the Top End.
She said the health care workers were undertaking an intensive six-day orientation to ensure they are ready to transition into their new workplaces.
As part of their orientation program, the nurses and midwives will undergo essential training requirements that focus around the delivery of safe and high-quality patient-centred care.
More than half of the staff are from the Northern Territory, while the others have relocated from Queensland, Victoria, Western Australia, NSW and South Australia.
Together with 27 experienced nurses who have already commenced in the Top End in 2021, the new additions brings the total number of new nurses and midwives to 90.
“We know how important our frontline staff are, and we recognise the important work they do for our community,” said Ms Fyles.
“Over the next week, these new health care workers will receive important information and training to help support them as they transition into their careers.”
In addition to the graduates, NT hospitals are expecting to welcome a high number of nursing staff across multiple fields this year, many of which have worked in the Territory before.
The Minister said many of the returning staff had cited the COVID-19 pandemic as a reason for their return. She said all staff – new and returning – undertake training before commencing rostered work.
