Tasmania’s health system has welcomed over 1,500 new staff members since April.
The influx includes professionals from interstate and overseas and marks a milestone in the government’s “largest ever recruitment blitz”, according to Health Minister Jacquie Petrusma.
Among the new recruits is registered nurse Nimmy John, who relocated to Tasmania from the United Kingdom after previous stints in India and Saudi Arabia.
“The place is calm and quiet with lots of natural beauty and I think it’s a good place to raise the kids over here,” she said.
“At the moment I’m happy to work here and I don’t think of moving somewhere else.”
Petrusma said John and her colleague Robert Wanjiru are one of many new recruits, which includes registered nurses, midwives, paramedics, doctors, allied health professionals, cleaners and other health care professionals.
“Both Nimmi and Robert are very experienced nurses with skills and experience in working in other countries and places around the world,” she said.
Department of Health Secretary Dale Webster said they currently have a turnover of about 10% each year, or 1,600 staff, through a mixture of retirements, fixed-term contracts and other alternative career opportunities.
“I’d love it to be lower but it’s consistent with other health services across Australia,” he said.
“It’s the reality of the modern workforce,” he said. “People are far more portable. People coming out of graduating might do a year or two with us and then decide to check out WA or Queensland.”
“But hopefully we can attract them back.”
