The Association welcomes the 3400 new nurses and midwives entering our workforce this year, after completing their university studies.

Given the staffing pressures nurses and midwives are continuing to face, this is a critical boost across our hospitals and health services. NSWNMA General Secretary, Shaye Candish, said the graduates will help ease shortages being felt right across the state. “Our graduate nurses and midwives are the future of health care in NSW.

We must ensure they are well supported through better pay and working conditions, including safe nurse-to-patient ratios, to ensure their long-term success in our hospitals and longevity in their careers,” Shaye said. “There are predictions that by 2025, Australia will have a nursing shortfall of 85,000 nurses, based on health needs and the ageing workforce.

These new graduates are more important than ever to enhancing the nursing and midwifery workforce here in NSW.” NSWNMA Assistant General Secretary, Michael Whaites, said ensuring graduate nurses and midwives have the right support is critical. “The need for more clinical nurse and midwife educators to support, train and mentor new nurses and midwives has never been greater, and the government must invest in this critical support if they are to properly address the issues of retention of this workforce,” Michael said. “We look forward to working with these new nurses and midwives throughout their career in the public health system.” “These new graduates are more important than ever to enhancing the nursing and midwifery workforce here in NSW.” — NSWNMA General Secretary, Shaye Candish