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Preston 9 June,2022(TIE)The Andrews Labor Government is giving greater support for Victoria’s healthcare workers as they prepare for the busiest winter ever, with the sector continuing to do outstanding work to protect the community.
A Healthcare Worker Winter Retention and Surge Payment, as well as other practical assistance such as free lunches, will soon be available to Victoria’s healthcare workers, giving much-needed assistance and assisting in the recruitment and retention of vital professionals.
All employees working in public hospitals and ambulance services, including nurses, midwives, doctors, allied health professionals, paramedics, ward clerks, and patient services assistants, will receive $3,000 as part of the $353 million package.
Health services have had difficulty filling night shifts in recent months, which is why the package will also include free meals for workers who volunteer to work overnight from July to the end of the year.
These measures, while clearly not resolving Australia’s persistent labour difficulties, are a small but significant step towards supporting and retaining healthcare employees in the public sector.
Workers must be engaged by a public health agency by July 1 and still be employed on September 30 to be eligible for the complete package. Payments will be made in two stages, one after the 15th of August and the other after the 30th of September.
Those who begin between July 1 and September 30 will be entitled for a pro-rata payment, which will serve as an added incentive to lure more staff to our public hospitals.
Since August of last year, more than 440 overseas healthcare workers have joined public hospitals, with the $12 billion Pandemic Repair Plan training and hiring up to 7,000 more.
Furthermore, the government is relieving pressure on the system by providing free flu vaccinations.
