New nurses coming to Gilgandra MPS

Adrian Fahy, WNSWLHD director of quality, clinical safety and nursing, extended a warm welcome to this year’s intake of 168 graduate nurses, which marks a significant increase from last year.

“We are incredibly excited to welcome such a big group of graduate nurses, many of whom have already started work in the district this week through their orientation process,” Mr Fahy said.

“To continue building our nursing workforce, we significantly increased the number of graduate nurse positions available in 2023, and have an additional 67 compared to last year’s intake of 101.

“We’re also thrilled that more than 50 of this year’s intake will begin their career in small, rural facilities, which will provide an incredible boost to those areas and their communities.

“Over the next 12 months our new nurses will gain valuable experience across a range of different areas of nursing, and in many specialities we have not been able to offer before.”

Isabella Meere is one of the 53 graduate nurses that will begin in a rural facility. Following orientation in Dubbo, Ms Meere will spend the next 12 months working at Walgett Multi-Purpose Service.

“I’m from Canberra originally, but I did two professional experience placements in my third year at Walgett with uni and I absolutely loved it.

“I learned so much and wanted to spend 12 months there to further build my skills,” Ms Meere said.

“They have an emergency department, a renal dialysis unit, residential aged-care and community health service, all operating from the MPS, which is a really good opportunity for career growth.”