Communities in Broken Hill, Tibooburra, Wentworth, Buronga and Dareton are set to benefit from new Key Worker Accommodation which will help attract, recruit and retain more healthcare workers.
The Minns Labor Government will invest $5.1 million in health worker housing in Far Western NSW as part of the Key Health Worker Acccommodation program.
The $200.1 million program supports more than 20 projects across rural, regional and remote NSW.
The funding will secure approximately 120 dwellings across regional NSW, which includes the building of new accommodation, refurbishment of existing living quarters and the purchase of suitable properties such as residential units.
The four-year program will support the recruitment and retention of more than 500 health workers and their families by providing a range of accommodation options.
The program is one of a number of investments the Minns Labor Government is making to strengthen the regional, rural and remote health workforce and builds on the success of the NSW Government's $73.2 million investment in key health worker accommodation across five regional local health districts (Far West, Murrumbidgee, Southern NSW, Hunter New England and Western NSW).
Quotes attributable to Minister for Regional Health, Ryan Park:
"The Minns Labor Government is committed to investing in modern, sustainable accommodation options for key health workers who are the backbone of our regional, rural and remote communities.
“Strengthening our regional health workforce is a key priority for our Government and this $5.1 million investment in accommodation will support attraction of key healthcare staff to Broken Hill, Tibooburra, Wentworth, Buronga and Dareton.
“The Key Health Worker Accommodation program will support Far West LHD in continuing to provide high-quality health services to the community.”
Quote attributable to Member for Barwon, Roy Butler:
“The Key Health Worker Accommodation projects in the Far West LHD will prove invaluable to help attract and retain more health workers in the Far West NSW.
“The availability of health worker accommodation, in a tight rental market, will make the transition much easier for health workers contemplating a move to the Far West. The additional accommodation located on the hospital grounds will help with the supply of rental properties by reducing the number of health workers in the rental market.
“Attracting and retaining health workers will, in turn, have a positive impact on the health and wellbeing of my constituents, through continuity of care and the development of strong relationships with their local health professionals."
Quote attributable to Member for Murray, Helen Dalton:
“It is critical we attract and keep health workers in Far West NSW. A boost to accommodation facilities will hopefully encourage more key health workers to remote and rural locations.
“It is essential that health in rural and remote NSW is not neglected. It is welcome news that the government is investing in the welfare of rural and remote communities.
“These new accommodation units will provide an opportunity to fill vacant health care positions and support communities that are currently in desperate need of quality care.”