The Department of Health is calling on retired healthcare workers to return to the sector as it works to reduce the spread of COVID-19.
Minister for Health, Jenny Mikakos has launched a new website on which people with the skills to assist in the health system can register their interest in returning to the workforce to boost numbers during the pandemic response.
“Healthcare specialists, including retired doctors, nurses, midwives, paramedics and allied health professionals, are being called on to return to work,” Ms Mikakos said.
“We’re doing everything we can to slow the spread of coronavirus and save lives,” she said.
“But additional support may be needed, which is why we’re asking for skilled health professionals to come back to work and help care for Victorians.”
She said the Government was also seeking expressions of interest from patient care assistants, assistants-in-nursing, and undergraduate students in health-related disciplines to provide essential support to doctors, nurses and midwives.
“To support this recruitment, the Australian Nursing and Midwifery Federation (ANMF Victorian Branch) this week commenced updated workshops for nurses eager to return to the workforce as part of efforts to battle coronavirus,” Ms Mikakos said.
“[The workshops trained] an additional 32 nurses this week with many more to come,”
She said Victoria’s health services were also taking the opportunity to refresh and up-skill nurses and midwives across the State with the support of the Department’s $50 million Nursing and Midwifery Workforce Development Fund.
The Department’s registration form can be accessed at this PS News link.
