The nursing and midwifery workforce will receive a boost in the Victorian budget. Photo: Victorian Department of Health.
The Victorian Government has announced support for the state’s nurses and midwives with funding and policy reform.
The support, to be included in the 2025/2026 Budget, was announced by Health Minister Mary-Anne Thomas at Joan Kirner Women’s and Children’s Hospital.
The $95 million package includes:
- Embedding new nurse practitioner roles across the state’s public health services.
- Support for new, qualified enrolled nurses to enter the workforce through the Enrolled Nurse Transition to Practice Program.
- Support for 1100 nursing and midwifery undergrad students to work while studying.
- Delivering professional development and clinical training for 200 urgent-care nurses working in rural and remote communities.
“Our nurses and midwives are at the core of our health system – and we’re backing them with the extra resources, training and the career opportunities they deserve,” Ms Thomas said.
Joan Kirner Women’s and Children’s Hospital will receive $1.3 million to expand its successful Maternity Connect Program, which provides clinical placements in larger hospitals to rural and regional midwives and nurses.
The program helps to develop the skills and clinical experience of nurses and midwives.
Victoria’s Labor Government said the policy was in line with its support for the nursing and midwifery workforce. Earlier this year, it introduced a safer nurse-to-patient ratio to ease pressure on workers and deliver better care to Victorians.
A massive 28.4 per cent pay rise for the nursing and midwifery workforce was also a large component of the government’s support, incentivising long-term careers in the Victorian public health system.
The government has also spent $270 million on the Making It Free To Study Nursing And Midwifery Initiative, a program that has attracted 5800 nurses and midwives since May 2022, bolstering the workforce.
