Communities across Southern NSW Local Health District (SNSWLHD) are to benefit from the addition of 12 nurses over the next month who will take up roles at Moruya Hospital, Batemans Bay Hospital and South East Regional Hospital.

Minister for Regional Health, Ryan Park said the new nurses were recruited from the UK as part of the Rural Health Workforce Incentive Scheme (RHWIS) which offered incentive packages of up to $20,000 to attract health workers to regional NSW.

“Communities across NSW are welcoming skilled health workers in a range of disciplines, from interstate and overseas. It is wonderful to see the impact our investment is making to the NSW Health workforce," Mr Park said.

Dr. Michael Holland, Member for Bega, offered a warm welcome to the nurses from the UK to the beautiful South Coast and Sapphire Coast and thanked them for their most valued contribution to our healthcare workforce.

“You have moved to the other side of the world, left your families, friends and communities behind to embrace new experiences and communities here in Southern NSW and we are grateful for that."

“Congratulations to the NSW Government for their initiative to attract international healthcare workers to the regions with the Health Workforce Incentive Scheme to address the acute healthcare workforce shortages left by the previous government."

The new nurses were recruited as part of an overseas recruitment drive that will result in more than 80 nurses moving to Southern NSW from the United Kingdom (UK) in 2024.

Elizabeth Vinu, a child and family nurse who commenced in Moruya on 8 January, travelled from London in the UK to start a new life on the south coast of NSW. Originally from India, Elizabeth says she has felt more welcomed on her arrival in Moruya than anywhere else in her career – which has seen her work across three countries over 14 years.

“The team at Moruya Hospital and the Local Health District are really supportive and I've felt welcomed by the community of Moruya as well. I feel this is the place I'm meant to be," Elizabeth said.

Elizabeth is an experienced registered nurse and has a passion for helping mothers and families through the journey of pregnancy, childbirth and after the birth supporting mothers with breast feeding as a lactation consultant.

SNSWLHD Chief Executive Margaret Bennett said workforce shortages had been a significant challenge for health services across Australia over the past few years.

“The response to our overseas recruitment drive has been overwhelmingly positive," Ms Bennett said.

“Our staff and local communities are rolling out the red carpet for our wonderful new UK nurses."

“I am sure our new recruits will love living and working in regional NSW, especially in our beautiful coastal towns from Batemans Bay to Eden."