Nurses and midwives at the now-public Northern Beaches Hospital will be able to access additional career development opportunities, NSW Health has confirmed.
A range of specialty development programs in critical care, aged care, neonatal intensive care, acute care and palliative care are now available to hospital staff under the public health system.
Nurses now also have access to professional development days, which provide opportunities for them to connect, share knowledge and build expertisel while early career nurses will benefit from leadership programs, structured mentorship, clinical supervision, coaching and teaching across Northern Sydney Local Health District.
“As these nurses join the NSW public health system, they now have access to professional development, education and support that reflects the value we place on their skills and dedication,” said Health Minister, Ryan Park.
“This is about creating clear pathways for nurses and midwives to grow their healthcare careers, whether that’s stepping into leadership, specialising in a clinical field, or contributing to innovation and research.”
Additional funding to support nursing and midwifery-led projects, as well as scholarship opportunities through Northern Sydney Local Health District and NSW Health are also be available.
Research will be supported through access to the NSLHD Nursing and Midwifery Research Centre, which provides masterclasses in research development, statistics, writing and publication.
In addition, nurses and midwives now have access to a range of internal conferences and showcases, including the Person-Centred Care Showcase, Nursing and Midwifery Research Conference, and specialty-specific development days for areas such as neonatal and renal nursing.
“I want to acknowledge the NSW Nurses and Midwives Association for their long-time advocacy to bring the hospital into public ownership,” said Minister Park.
The Government also confirmed there has been a positive resolution to the issue of tax treatment of transferred annual leave.
The Commissioner of Taxation has approved a variation which will allow staff to transfer unused annual leave balances to NSW Health without tax being withheld at the point of transfer and then again when the annual leave is used. The arrangement ensures staff are not financially disadvantaged when NBH transfers to public ownership.
