Workforce boost for Queensland indigenous nurses

The State Government will boost the ranks of indigenous nurses in Queensland by offering 40 cadetships worth a total $600,000 to nursing students, Health Minister Stephen Robertson said today.

In addition, 12 scholarships each worth up to $10,000 are also on offer for Indigenous registered nurses to undertake postgraduate studies in midwifery and child health in 2008.

Mr Robertson said the indigenous ‘nurse cadets’ would each be paid $15,000 for 12 weeks work in public hospitals throughout Queensland to financially support them while they complete their university course.

“The first 20 ‘nurse cadets’ have already commenced work in Brisbane, Caboolture, Ipswich, Toowoomba, Mackay, Thursday Island, Cairns and Townsville,” Mr Robertson said.

“The remaining 20 will be appointed next year and be placed in a hospital with close, appropriate supervision so they can gain extra on-the-job experience while completing their nursing degrees.

“This is an important workforce initiative that will ultimately increase the number of indigenous nurses working in our public hospitals.

“Of the 20,000 registered nurses employed by Queensland Heath, only around 230 or 1.2 percent are indigenous.

“They are significantly under-represented considering last year 7.7 percent of Queensland Health’s hospital admissions were indigenous patients.

“And while the number of indigenous students studying a Bachelor of Nursing has increased from 77 in 2001 to 154 this year, completion rates are low at around 33 percent.

“We believe a financial incentive that benefits both the student and Queensland Health in the form a 12-week cadetship will go a long way towards addressing this workforce shortage in Queensland.”

Mr Robertson said indigenous patients better respond to indigenous health professionals and experience better health outcomes as a result.

“Through these cadetships, indigenous nursing students are more likely to graduate and if their work placement is successful they may eventually find a full-time position in the region when they graduate,” he said.

“And through the midwifery and child health scholarship, indigenous nurses will be paid up to $10,000 to further their career in these crucial areas of the health sector.

“Of the 857 midwives working for Queensland Health only 9 are indigenous.

“Offering post graduate scholarships in midwifery and child health will boost Queensland Health’s indigenous midwifery sector.

“Courses may include Masters in midwifery, Masters in child health or Post Graduate Certificates in midwifery and child health.

“Both schemes are excellent examples of the Bligh Government’s commitment to build and develop our nursing workforce.

“Through the $10 billion Health Action Plan we are also introducing new nursing roles, such as nurse practitioners who are trained and qualified to carry out enhanced duties to take some of the clinical pressure off our doctors.

“We are offering another 24 scholarships next year for Queensland nurses to study and train to become nurse practitioners.

“This will take our overall scholarships provided to more than 50 since the Health Action Plan in 2005.”

28 December,  2007
MEDIA: Joshua Cooney 3234 1185 or 0409 069 056