Rural Resident Medical Cadetship Program Expanded

It is well known that doctors and nurse practitioners are in short supply in regional and rural locations, so news that the Rural Resident Medical Cadetship Program will be expanded is very welcome.

To learn that an additional 32 cadetships across the state, bringing the total scholarships on offer to 50, is good news indeed.

These cadetships are a great opportunity for medical students from metropolitan areas to experience rural medicine in vibrant and close-knit communities, while receiving great support and guidance.

Minister for Regional Health, Bronnie Taylor said the number of nurse practitioners in regional NSW would be doubled to 200 over four years. “Nurse practitioners play an incredibly important role in rural locations where it’s a challenge to attract doctors, and this announcement is an enormous boost for these communities,” Ms Taylor said.

“These are highly skilled nursing professionals that can operate autonomously in complex clinical settings.

“By adding these extra doctors and nurses, we are providing our hardworking regional health workforce with vital backup and ensuring better health outcomes and a brighter future for NSW families.”

The Rural Doctor Scholarships Program is administered by the Rural Doctors Network.

The NSW Government announced the largest workforce boost in the nation’s history in the 2022-23 Budget, with a $4.5 billion investment over four years to recruit 10,148 full-time equivalent staff to hospitals and health services across NSW, with 3,800 of those positions in rural and regional areas.

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