The state government’s Pandemic Repair Plan has been delivered in full, with more than 2000 overseas highly skilled doctors, nurses, and midwives joining the state’s hospital and healthcare services.
In an announcement on August 4, the government said this global pipeline of workers ensures Victoria’s healthcare system can continue to respond to the unprecedented demand and complex challenges.
International workers now account for more than one-third of the 6200 healthcare employees recruited and trained as part of Victoria’s record workforce investment.
The health workers have moved from countries like the United Kingdom, New Zealand, Ireland, Hong Kong, and Sri Lanka, with more than one in four living in regional Victoria.
Health Minister Mary-Anne Thomas said the state government is thrilled overseas workers have chosen to move to Victoria.
“We said we would recruit 2000 healthcare workers from overseas so our hardworking doctors and nurses can continue to deliver the highest quality care, and that is exactly what we have done,” Ms Thomas said.
“Victoria has a world-class health system, and we are thrilled that thousands of highly skilled healthcare workers have chosen to move overseas and [join] us in providing the best care for Victorians.”
In total, 517 international recruits have taken up a role in regional Victoria, while 1499 started a position in a metropolitan healthcare service.
Of these workers, 44 per cent have medical roles in areas like general medicine, emergency medicine, psychiatry, surgery, anaesthesia, intensive care, and paediatrics.
From the recruits 51 per cent are nurses including midwives, theatre nurses, emergency nurses and mental health nurses.
While four per cent are allied health workers like physiotherapists, occupational therapists and biomedical scientists.
