More than 3,400 graduate nurses and midwives will start work across metro and regional NSW public hospitals this year, providing a significant boost to health services across the state.

Health Minister Ryan Park will welcome some of the more than 200 graduate nurses and midwives commencing work across Sydney Local Health District at Sydney Olympic Park today.

The graduates will gain invaluable experience across a broad range of clinical settings, as well as in community healthcare.

Today's announcement comes as the NSW Government is undertaking an ambitious plan to strengthen the state's health workforce, including through:

• Implementing safe staffing levels of nurses and midwives beginning in our emergency departments;
• making permanent 1,112 nursing roles temporarily funded by the former government;
• abolishing the wages cap and delivering record pay increases for nurses, paramedics and other health workers as well as salary packaging;
• beginning to roll out 500 additional paramedics in regional, rural and remote communities; and
• increasing the rural health workforce incentive scheme package from $10,000 to up to $20,000 for recruitment to our hardest to fill roles
• Introducing a total of 12,000 tertiary health study subsidies of $4,000 a year over three years for newly commencing students, or one off $8,000 for existing students paid upon commencement in a role in NSW Health, to assist with the cost of study and to attract health graduates to work with the NSW public health system.

Quotes attributable to Minister for Health Ryan Park:

“I welcome these graduates who are about to begin their professional journey with NSW Health and thank them for their commitment to providing high quality, compassionate healthcare to the people of NSW.

“NSW has one of the best health systems in the world, and throughout their career I am determined to give these new nurses and midwives the support they need to make it even better.

“We are investing and boosting our health workforce to improve health outcomes, it's as simple as that."

Quotes attributable to Member for Parramatta Donna Davis:

“I want to extend a warm welcome to the graduates and thank them for choosing a rewarding career in the NSW public health system.

“This is exciting for many nurses and midwives starting their careers, and I also know these graduates starting will be a welcome support to the current workforce."

Quotes attributable to Member for Strathfield Jason Yat-sen Li:

“I am thrilled to see over 3,400 graduate nurses and midwives are starting their careers in NSW and I want to pass on my thanks for choosing such a rewarding career.

“The NSW Government is making important investments in our public health system and these graduates are a vital part of our focus on supporting our frontline health workers."

Quotes attributable to NSW Health's Chief Nursing & Midwifery Officer Jacqui Cross:

“These graduates will have the opportunity to work in the multidisciplinary team alongside our experienced and highly skilled staff in one of the world's best health systems."

For more information on careers in nursing and midwifery, visit Careers in nursing and midwifery - NSW Health website.