Tuesday, 30 July 2024

Ministers statements: healthcare workforce

Mary-Anne THOMAS (Macedon – Leader of the House, Minister for Health, Minister for Health Infrastructure, Minister for Ambulance Services) (14:16): I rise to update the house on how the Allan Labor government is supporting Victoria’s current and next generation of nurses and midwives to get the education that they need to grow and pursue their careers right here in Victoria. The Allan Labor government knows how hard our nurses and midwives work, and we respect their skills and knowledge. That is why we have always had their back, growing the workforce by 36 per cent since we came to government and supporting a once-in-a-generation pay rise that improves gender wage equity and truly recognises the work of this female-dominated workforce. And it is why we have invested $270 million in our Making It Free to Study Nursing and Midwifery program. I am pleased to advise the house that applications for the third round of this program are now open to students of nursing and midwifery at universities right across our state.

Of course we have already made opportunities available for nurses and midwives who are already working in our system, with scholarships for postgrad nurses to complete studies in specialty areas like intensive care, paediatrics and cancer care; scholarships to enable enrolled nurses to upskill to become registered nurses; and scholarships to support the training and employment of 100 new nurse practitioners.

And our investments are working. I am pleased to inform the house that this year alone another 3600 ‍nurses have joined our public health system. Only an Allan Labor government can be trusted to support the education and training and support the development of our nurses and midwives, and only an Allan Labor government truly respects our nurses and our midwives to deliver the world-class care that Victorians expect.